This is the cost of paying a Chinese smuggler -- or "Snakehead" -- to get you (a hypothetical Chinese person) into the United States. At least according to some of the Chinese immigrants here in Milan. For reference:
$14,000 USD into Europe. France, Italy, Spain seem like popular destinations.
$10,000 USD into Brazil. Brazil obviously doesn't have the same appeal to Chinese immigrants, but it comes with a nice little legal bonus: if you have a child born in Brazil, you can become a legal resident, and eventually a citizen.
$70,000 is a lot of money. A lot a lot of money. Where this money goes -- bribing officials, obtaining ill-gotten passports or visas, or otherwise, all depends on a case to a case basis, I am told. I find it incredible people would pay this (or go into debt by this amount) in order to pursue the "American dream," which as far as I know, is alive and well for Chinese emigrants.
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A photographic journey of the Chinese diaspora
(Travel) blogs of friends
- My old blog - 2007 travels
- "Here and There" (Portuguese) - Everything goes; I post occassionally
- "The Gravity is also fine" - Teaching in Taiwan
- "Adventures in Taiwan" - Teaching in Taiwan
- "All Things China" - Teaching in Wuhan, China
- "On a limb on a whim" - My sister on a round-the-world trip
- "Konden Diara" - Researching child soldiers in Africa
2 comments:
europe is clearly more cost-effective. what kind of fool would go to the US for that kind of money?
I think it's one of those "more expensive wine must be better" kinds of things. The US MUST be better since it's more five times the price, right?
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