A recent study developed by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and FWD.us highlights the importance of immigration reform within the fashion industry. An industry that employs 180,000 people in New York City. A survey conducted with top fashion designers found among their top concerns is the “difficult and complicated immigration process”.
The report used a case study to demonstrate the industry’s concerns. Highlighting the work of a designer named Carmen who immigrated to New York from Mexico in 2006. Of the visa application process Carmen said it was, “very long, time consuming and extremely costly.”
FileRight.com customer and model Andrea Gomez came to the United States from Venezuela. She first entered the United States with a work visa, later acquired a green card and is a few steps away from citizenship. She agreed with her colleagues saying the visa and green card processes were tough.
“When it came to visas and a green card it seemed very complex. Especially the green card process was long and difficult,” Gomez said.
Gomez said she had used an attorney to apply for her visa and green cards but when it came to citizenship, she explored other options.
“A lot of people told me that they just did it on their own and it wasn’t such a big deal but I didn’t feel comfortable doing it on my own,” Gomez said.
She then came across FileRight.com.
“For me, between doing the lawyer and not having any help at all. I needed an in between. Which is why FileRight was a good in between for me. Having some guidance I feel more confident about it without spending the fifteen hundred dollars for it,” Gomez said.
Gomez is currently awaiting her interview in the hopes to complete her American citizenship.
At the end of their report the CFDA and FWD.us recommend changing current immigration policy to retain foreign students, improve access to foreign talent and provide a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented community.
