White House to continue with US Visa and immigration reform

Speaking at a think tank event in Washington, White House Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy Melody Barnes said the president has instructed his team and the White House and cabinet to work to pass comprehensive US Visa and immigration reform.

"Ignoring these challenges may be good for the next elections, but it is not good for our country. It does not help us build long-term prosperity," she said.

One of US President Barack Obama's key proposals for reform includes allowing a path to citizenship for undocumented workers, but opponents to the reforms say this will result in even more illegal immigration.

There is an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States.

Other reforms include increasing border security, improving technology for the verification of legal status, imposing stiffer penalties on companies that hire immigrants illegally, and creating a path to citizenship for undocumented workers.

"Immigration reform just makes good common sense," Barnes said.

Reform would also ensure that undocumented workers fully pay their share of taxes, and address address the barriers experienced by those who wish to immigrate legally to the United States, Barnes said.

---

The American Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their ESTA application to the US Embassy.