UNITED STATES QUOTA LAW

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 256, 13 July 1926, Page 7

UNITED STATES QUOTA LAW

CHECK ON PROMISCUOUS IMMIGRATION HOW THE ACT WORKS CONSUL-GENERAL INTERVIEWED There seems to be a certain haziness on the part of the public as to how the United States immigration quota law functions. Perliaps there is no one more competent to elucidate the matter than the present Consul-General for the United States in New Zealand (Mr. W. Lowrie) not only through his intimate knowledge of the Immigration Act of 1924, but through his actual experience of its working here, coupled with his knowledge of immigration before the Act came into force. He was, for instance, five years; Consul for the United States at Athens (Greece) at a most unsettled time in the history of that country, and says that in 1920 no fewer than 15,000 visa were put through. This illustrated the extent to which the migratory flood had risen in those post-war years, when it seemed that a sensible proportion of the population of Southern and Central Europe were on the move to America. It was that ever-increasing flood of people, mostly poor people, from countries which war had impoverished that caused the United States Government to seek some check, and that came in the “quota law” under the Immigration Act of 1924.

“As to its numerical bearing,” said Mr. Lowrie, “the quota law is based on 2 per cent, of nationals. That is to say, if there were 100 New Zealand-born persons resident in the United States only two other New Zealanders would, under the regulations, be allowed to settle annually in the States. Our immigration year for the purposes of the quota commences on July 1 and terminates on June 30, so you will see that we have just commenced a new year.” And what is our quota for this year? he was asked. . “New Zealand's quota is 100, and of that number 50 are reserved for the preference list; but in due time if it becomes apparent that the preference reservations are not likely to be taken up, we make them available for others who desire to immigrate to America. To make it quite clear, I refer you to the regulations as to what constitutes preference cases. These are as follow: — (A) (1) To a quota Immigrant who is the unmarried child under 21 years of age. the father, the mother, the husband, or the wife, of a citizen of the United States who is 21 years of age or over; and (2) To a quota immigrant who is skill ed in agriculture, and his wife, and his dependent children under the age of 16 years, if accompanying or following * join him. The preference provided m this paragraph shall not apply to immigrant: of any nationality the annual quota for which is less than 300. . . . (B) The preference provided m suodivision (a) shall not in the case of onoImmigrants of any nationality exceed oO per centum of the annua] quota for such nationality. Nothing in this section shall be construed to grant to the el:’»s of immigrants specified in paragraph (I) of subdivision (a) a priority in prefer* ence over the class specified m parapreference provided in this section shall, in the case of quota immigrants of any nationality be given i the calendar month in which the right to preference is established, if the number of immigration visa.s which may be ™ in such month to ouota nnni,grants of such nationality has not nJ ready been issued; otherwise in the next calendar month.

Non-duota Immigrants. “In addition to the ordinary quota, however, there is provision for wliat are known as non-quota immigrants, Air Lawrie continued. “These include an' immigrant who is the unmarried child under 18 years of age or the wife of a citizen of the United States there resident; an immigrant previously lawfully admitted to the United States who is returning after a temporary visit abroad; an immigrant who was born in Canada, Newfoundland, Cuba, Haiti, Dominica, Canal Zone (Tanama) or an independent country, of Central or South America, and his wife and his married children under 18 years of atro; an immigrant who for two years previous to his application has been, and who seeks to enter the United States solely for the purpose of carrying on the vocation of minister of any religious denomination, or professor of a college, academy, or university, and his wife and his unmarried children under 18 years of age; and also students over 15 years of age who wish to study at a United States institution.”

Tourists Admitted. “Then again, in addition to the foregoing, there is provision outside the quota for business or pleasure tourists, who wish to enter the United States. Of course there have been instances where such tourists have taken advantage of this privilege to establish themselves in the States as permanent residents, and there must be given a sufficient assurance of the intention of such visitors before a visa is granted. We have, in order to comply with this law, sometimes to ask some pertinent questions, which some may consider sompwhat the reverse, but there is good and sufficient reason for that, otherwise the law might be-flouted. As a person visiting the United States in good faith for business or pleasure must necessarily be supplied with the means for a return passage or for passage to some country beyond the United States, and as such passage may be secured in New Zealand, often at a reduction from the one-way rate, visas are only issued to persons who can exhibit a receipt from the transportation company showing that they are booking such transportation. The consular office may also refuse visas for other good and sufficient reasons, but ordinarily the above conditions are sufficient for securing a visa. "There is also special provision for accredited Government officials, experts, etc., to visit the United States; so you will see that whilst the quota law is rigid within itself the Government . by its preference and non-quota provisions seeks, as far as possible, to prevent hardships, particularly those concerning the association of members of families. An Awkward Business. "The quota law,” continued Mr. Lowrie, "when considering applications for entrance to the United States only considers birthplace of tho applicant. That is to say, if New Zealand-born people, resident in Canada, wish to enter the United States they have to receive their visa from this office. Similarly, if an Irish-born applicant resident in New Zealand wishes to reside in the States his visa must bo endorsed from Dublin. This is a rather awkward business at times, calling for a good deal of correspondence and cabling, but it is the law. The Now Zealand quota does not merely apply to residents of New Zealand, but to the New Zealand-born in any part of the world. For example, there are, I suppose, about seventy applications on the part of New Zealanders for entrance into tho United States for the present (192 G-27 year, but the greater proportion of such are from Canada. Visa Fees. “The United States is at present entering into treaties with other countries that will abolish the 10-dollar visa fee. Among the countries successfully negotiated with so far is Japan, Costa Rica, Denmark, Esthonia, Finland, Germany, Honduras, Liberia, Panama, San Salvador, Siam, and Switzerland: whilst in the case of Bulgaria, Jugo-Slovakia, and • Austria the msa foe has been reduced to I two dollars.”

Finally, the Consul-General stated that in the case of an overplus of applicants ths order of application was taken in with the particular merits of e.-ieh case as the means of determining tie visas to be granted. Having com-

tho work of tho Consulate terminates, but it is even then possible for immigrants to be held up on arrival by the immigration officers on some technical point. The Consular visa is only advisory in character, the American immigration authorities being the officers clothed with authority for final rejecllk® .«! 'sa intex.dipg J-xniii'ipjit, ai-d

!il: is possible that the holder of a visa may bo refused admission into the United States. However, such rejections as have boon made generally have been based on the fact that tho immigrant hnd concealed certain foot's from the Consular officer which he was not successful in concealing from. the inimigratioj». au-tlic'-AtiaA