Originally Posted by Takenoprisoners
Don't get so animated - try going to Manila for the 2 year allowed.. at around P4500 every 59 days! better still.. apply for a residents visa!
Every country wacks the visa fees.
I moved to Australia in 2008 - after starting the process in June 2004 and waiting to qualify THEN the visa cost AU$27500 + a AU$10,000 bond held for 10 years.
At the time the exchange rate was 2.4 $ per £1 now its 1.5 - £1 and the visa fees have increased!
The immigration systems are not a farce as you say.. every country has them and from the "white western" countries point of view its to control "terrorism" and immigration quota.
Australia is under an invasion just now.. boat loads of so called asylum seekers come in illegally in small boats. These people have done what i cannot afford to do and that's travel from Africa and /or the Middle East - overland all the way to Jakarta in Indonesia.. stay there for months waiting for a place on a boat.. then pay around US$3000 per person.
When they get here after processing they are given an house.. and about $700 every two weeks.. Medicare and other benefits.
They claim they want to work to pay for their new life and family.. facts only 25% ever look and find any work - the other still live far better than a shanty in a dust bowl country! AND they smile on camera and say how good it is to send money to their family still at home.. from the benefits they get!!
There is growing unrest and sadly its directed at any person with brown skin and most don't know the difference between philipina and Taliban!
