实用英语口语(高等级) 7.Jumping over the red tape

NEWSCASTER:"Here at our sea washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightening, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon hand glows world wide welcome. These words appear at the base of the Statue of Liberty and, over the years, have welcomed countless immigrants to America's shores. However, nowadays, The United States of America is just about the hardest country to become a permanent resident of. In one respect, its immigration laws are similar to those of most other countries, in that it's not what the country can do for you it's what you can do for the country.

NEWSCASTER:In other words, if you have a special skill the US needs, you'll find it much easier to get a green card. To do this, you need an employer in the US to sponsor you. That means the employer fills in the necessary documents to prove that you'll be coming to the US to work for them. Interestingly, as people are now living longer, the US is beginning to need more and more nurses to cope with its ageing society. So if you're a nurse, you may have a better chance of getting a green card than, say, an engineer or a teacher.

NEWSCASTER:The second way to get a green card is through a relative already granted citizenship or residency in the US. But be aware: if your relative only has permanent residency, but not citizenship, he or she will only be able to invite a husband, wife or an unmarried child. If your relative has citizenship, however, he or she can invite a wider range of family members. For some people, getting a green card is like winning the lottery, literally, in fact. Every year, the US allows fifty thousand people residency through its 'Diversity Lottery' scheme.

NEWSCASTER:This is open to countries with a historically low rate of immigration into the US. Application is free, and all you need is a high school diploma or suitable work experience. Getting a green card is a tricky process. It's not the same as citizenship, which takes an additional five years, and it's not even green. 尽管美国向世界发出邀请“ 把你的疲倦交给我，把你的贫穷交给我，把你的无限渴望交给我，来呼吸自由的空气吧”，但这个承诺只在一堆官样文章和运气背后得以实现。