Dear Mr. President,

Many a constituent is calling upon you for change in many areas of their lives. You are indeed, the very one they count on. As a foreign citizen in America, I can talk for many of us outside your borders who count on you too.

I would like to address my request for change from a personal angle and call upon you for immigration reform in an area rarely addressed: new rules for foreign citizens of developed countries legally residing in the United States under temporary statuses.

I\'m not talking about the Mexican border, or undocumented immigrants (those are already being addressed): foreign citizens of developed countries legally residing in the United States.

You must surely be aware of the many visas that allow fiancees, specialty workers, trainees and students to come experience life and work in the United States. Many of us return to our friends and families in the developed countries of western Europe, Australia and other parts of the world. None of us escaped from tyranny, political instability or plain life-threatening situations. We just traveled to America for a few years, growing up peacefully as world citizens.

I have personally been in the United States for 8 years, have paid taxes from day one (totaling over $250,000 so far), am in possession of a genuine social security number, a job, a property in the city... I am active in my community, supporting charities and leading local associations. In my work, I employ 28 American citizens, all paid well over $50,000 a year with benefits.

But in a few weeks, I have to go. Not because I wish to do so, as I fell in love with the culture and country, but because immigration rules have nothing set up for someone like me. And there are many legal, active, English-speaking, tax-paying foreign citizens, just like me.

Our only real option is to rush into marriage with an American citizen. It\'s fast, and it\'s inexpensive compared to any visa I have ever paid for. So far, complying to immigration rules (which I always have) have cost me $47,830. I counted. I basically pay an extra tax of close to $6,000 to the United States every year, just to be allowed to enjoy life here. And I gladly do so. Why not simplify the rules and make this the new requirement?

Marrying an American citizen in a rush and "for the paperwork" is a common choice for foreigners. But just like everyone else, we would like to get married to someone we love, out of choice, on our time-frame, or simply, choose to not get married at all.

I call upon you to address this issue. We are a strong group of temporary residents, willing and able to pay taxes, speak English, integrate in our communities rapidly, and contribute to employment growth in America through active entrepreneurship.

Please, Mr. President, remember that America was built upon the very immigration from Western Europe and many other places, through the hard work and integration of foreign communities into what has become a great country. A country full of opportunities, and the envy of those willing to work hard and live well. Close to everyone here, pro and con-immigration reform has an ancestor that wasn\'t born here. This close-mindedness is hypocritical.

Who closed the doors to America?

I hereby personally request to be allowed to live, work, employ Americans, pay taxes (including the $6,000 a year extra), give to my community, and share my life with my many American friends for the rest of my life.

Thank you for your time and attention. I hope together, we can make this happen, one little bit of change at a time.

Sincerely,
A Belgian Citizen in Chicago

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