University Daily Kansan, April 23, 1985
CAMPUS AND AREA
Page
Many foreign students prefer U.S.
By TONY COX Staff Reporter
They come from 99 countries — everywhere from Argentina to Zim-They arrive in the Land of Opportunity, hoping to gain an education.
But some want to stay permanently.
"I hear that 15 percent of foreign students stay, but I don't have any idea if that's accurate or not," Coan said.
KU's 1,691 foreign students make up 6.6 percent of the student body. Although no statistic exists on how many seek citizenship after graduation, the number is large, said Clark Coan, director of foreign student services at KU.
More foreign students want to stay in the United States than are granted citizenship, Coan said. But the attractive U.S. political and economic situation often makes the sometimes difficult road to citizenship worth pursuing.
Ying-Mei Wang, Seoul, South Korea, sophomore, said, "I don't know about European countries, but I know about American countries, more than half want to stay."
SHE SAID THE students she knew had many reasons for wanting to stay in the United States
"They don't live as well at home as they do here," she said. "The economic situation is better. They can live here with a more steady job and more comfortably. It is not like there, where the economy is up and down."
"A lot of students want to stay here because of political reasons. Here, it is more free."
Chin-Chu Tseng, Overland Park senior and vice president of the Chinese Student Association, said, "Potentially, there are many foreign students that would want to stay. The States is a land of opportunity."
"FOR EXAMPLE, people from mainland China can make more money in one month here than they might in one year there. A person could go to college there because of the political background of his family."
Ray Chao, Tianjin, China, sophmore, said, "Most of the students that are financed by themselves and not the government would like to stay. This country has more freedom."
For example, Chao said, students in China are not allowed to attend colleges after they reach an age limit.
"As for me, I just like the country, and I am married to an American girl." Chao said.
Mehmet Adalier, Nicosia, Cyprus, freshman, said, "Probably most of them do try to stay, because most of the foreign students that come here come from countries that aren't as wealthy as the United States."
But Rom Hiranpruk, Bangkok,
Thailand, student and
president of the Thai Student
Association, said that contrary to popular
belief, "relatively few" foreign
students stay in America
after graduation.
"GENERALLY. THE people that want to stay in the U.S. are those that come from an underdeveloped society," he said.
"As for Thai students, they're actually better off at home than they
FINDING AN employer to petition for the student's permanent resident status can be a struggle, depending on the field the student wishes to
Toru Miyabiari, Teoghi, Japan,
second-year graduate student, said
many foreign students wanted to stay
to work in the United States.
"But there are only a few that are able to be because it is costly for the company to go through the procedure with them. They must work together," Mivabori said.
Immigration officials may deny an application for permanent residency if the company can't show that filling out a job resume or foreign student is necessary, he said.
Julio Paredes, Lima, Peru, freshman, said, "It's really hard, it's almost impossible to stay unless a
years to become a citizen after being granted permanent residence through a spouse's petition, Heston said.
They don't live as well at home as they do here. The economic situation is better. They can live here with a more steady job and more comfortably.
And, Coan said, with the option of getting citizenship through marriage, a person might marry a U.S. citizen by the purpose of gaining citizenship.
It's not like back home where the economy is up and down.'
"MOST DO IT because they are attached to each other and then there are some that do it because they want to be a citizen." Coa said.
Ying-Mei Wang
A false marriage for the purpose of gaining citizenship could involve a payment to the U.S. citizen who marries the foreigner. Or, the marriage may not involve money but take place as a favor by the U.S. citizen.
Seoul, South Korea, sophomore
are as students here. You don't see the less well off here. The people you see here are not like refugees. Usually, people stay for a limited time for experience working here that will help them at home."
Mike Heston, immigration examiner for the U.S. Office of Immigration in Kansas City, Mo., said that before becoming citizens, foreign students must establish permanent residence through a relative who has citizenship or through a job.
But for those foreign students who want to stay, the desire can be strong.
"IF THEY REALLY WANT to stay, some people would help them to stay as an ally." Teng
A permanent resident has the right of a citizen except the right toykay for a foreigner.
Wang said, "I've talked to some that are graduating and they said, I've got to stay anyway I can — get a somehow, or do whatever I have to."
For those who want to stay, getting permanent residence and then city living is the best.
Receiving U.S. citizenship usually takes about five years after the permanent resident status has been granted, he said.
company really wants you — if you're really good in your field."
TSENG SAID, "It's more difficult if you're in universities rather than high-tech fields such as computer science." He added, "Some people change their majors."
Heston said another way for a foreign student to become a U.S. citizen was to apply for asylum. The Office of Immigration grants asylum if the person would be politically or socially opposed upon return to his native country.
"THEERE ARE MANY ways to do it," he said. "If you have a relative that is a citizen you can get your residency by them. If you have good achievement, a company might help you in becoming a resident."
Becoming a permanent resident isn't as hard as some people think, said Ahmad Salem Albaghal, Damascus, Syria, senior.
If granted asylum, the person must wait one year to become a permanent resident and another five years to become a citizen. Heston said.
Marriage to a U.S. citizen is the other way of becoming a citizen, in addition to seeking asylum or apprehension by lawyer or family member, Heston said.
Tseng said, "Although there are no statistics, it is a well-known phenomenon. There are foreign countries that seek an American mate.
"Some people limit the selection of their friends so they have more chances to get involved with Americans or citizens. I was even warned that someone would be a person of people because I am a permanent resident and will become a citizen."
An applicant must wait only three
Tseng's family came to America from Taipei, Taiwan, in 1980. Her family members have been granted citizenship and will become U.S. citizens.
"OUR SITUATION has increased the number of people who want to chase us, but it has also hindered a lot of women. I don't want to be suspected," she said.
There are places in America that foreigners can go to be illegally married and later divorced for a fee of $1,000 to $5,000. Tseng said.
Yoshiko Utsuki, Sapporo, Japan,
second-year graduate student, said,
"An American friend told me about a
guy from Iran who had a friend that
was an ally of our friend," said that
she or one of her friends might
marry him to protect him."
"WE HAVE AN应用 we go through," he said. "If a discrepancy is shown, we investigate further to out if the marriage is legitimate."
Proving falsity of a marriage is a difficult task for the Office of Immigration, Heston said.
Wang said that although it was unlikely that immigration officials would detect an illegitimate marriage, some foreign students might be deterred from doing it because of their moral standards.
"It depends on how they were brought up,"she said.
Refunds continuing for Sunsplash stubs
Student Union Activities will continue refunding money to people with ticket stubs from a reggae concert at Hoch Audio-Theatre Sunday night until all the money has been refunded, Steve Traxler, spokesman for SUA, said yesterday.
Anyone who has a ticket stub from the concert can get a refund at the SUA office on the fourth floor of the Union between 8 a.m. and 5 n.m.
Traxler said that of approximately 1,000 people who attended the show, most received full refunds Sunday night. An announcement was made during the show that three of the bands advertised would not perform. Concertgoers were told they could collect their refunds after the show.
Reserved tickets for the concert were $12.50 and $13.50 with a $1 discount for students with a current KU identification card.
SUA and New West/Contemporary Productions co-promoted the Reggae Sunspash USA concert, which was advertised as the
"biggest reggae concert in the world."
"It was mostly internal problems within the Sunspell tour." Traxler said. "It had nothing to do with SUA or New West."
Two of the acts scheduled to perform at the show, Lloyd Parkes and We the People and Gregory Isaacs did not appear on stage because of bickering within the tour, Traxler said.
A third performer, Dennis Brown, did not arrive with the tour. Traxler said he had heard rumors that Brown was sick.
Although Traxler said full refunds would be given to anyone who attended the show and had a ticket stub, he said he would not comment on whether SUA would lose money on the show.
"Refunds have gone very smoothly," he said. "All the people understand the situation."
Despite the absence of the other groups, Traxier said, the show was a success. Ipso Factor opened at the 2016 Tribeca Film Festival and the headline band, Third World.
ON CAMPUS
TODAY
THE SEMINAR "THE Committed Marriage: A Christian Perspective" will meet for its final session to discuss "Gifts of Extravagant Grace" at 4:30 p.m. at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. KU WORD & SHIELD will meet
KU SWORD & SHIELD will meet at 7 p.m. in the Walnut Room of the Kansas Union
THE TRANSCENDENTAL Mediation Club will meet at 8 p.m. in the Pine Room of the Union.
THE STRATEGY GAMES Club will conduct its weekly meeting at 7 p.m. in the Trail Room of the Union.
A BIBLE STUDY will be presented at the St. Christopher at 7:30 p.m. in the Riverdale Building.
WEEKLY CLASS AND discussion for Moral Development and Conscience Formation will be from 8:15 to 10:15 a.m. at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center.
THE ST. LAWRENCE Catholic Center will conduct its weekly scripture study at 7 p.m. at the center, 1631 Crescent Road.
THE WEEKLY FOUNDATIONS of Catholicism class will meet from 7 to 8 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center.
THE KU GUN Club will conduct its weekly meeting at 7:30 p.m. in 217B Snow Hall.
CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST will conduct its weekly meeting at 7 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Union.
ON THE RECORD
A BACKPACK containing a Canon 35mm camera, a wide-angle lens and five one-dollar bills, valued together at $220, was left in Mrs. Winner's Chicken restaurant, 1819 W. 23rd St., between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Lawrence police said yesterday. The owner called the restaurant when he realized he had left the backpack, but it could not be found
The Only Apartments On The Hill
ARIDING LAWN MOWER, valued at $2,600, was stolen between 1 and 7:15 a.m. Friday from a home on Rural Route Six, Lawrence, Douglas County Sheriff's Office said yesterday.
You've waited all winter for it.
ZR106 ФКЭ and ГФВ
present the sixteenth annual
Thursday, April 5th
BURGE UNION parking lot
—Featuring—
the Live Music
of Screemin' Lee and the Rocktones
and
the presentation of
the 1985 Phi-Psi 500 Queen
Free BEER with t ionation
Free BEER with ticket donation
$4 in advance
$5 at Door
(Limited supply of tickets, now at Wescoe Beach)