Sex for Immigration Papers

There are numerous stories of immigrants who have done the weirdest things in order to get immigration papers. Some westerners or Africans who are legal residents of the country in question, America, UK, Australia or Canada, masquerade as messiahs who can help those Africans in dire need of immigration papers.

In one of the most bizarre situation in United Kingdom, a few guys who pretended to work for the UK immigration office asked African girls who needed help with immigration papers to strip so they could fondle them. Afterwards, the "UK immigration officers" would then write a recommendation letter for the African girl to present to the UK Immigration office to obtain legal immigration papers.Some might ask, why would one stoop that low to stay in UK, America or Australia?

The predicament of immigrants is so destitute if one doesn’t have any immigration papers. One is not allowed to work, on top of having no job, there is the cultural obligation to help support one's family and relatives back in Africa. Leaving UK, America or Australia to go back home does not look as promising as there is nothing to do in Africa.

No jobs, the education systems are not as advanced as the west.It is interesting to note that the relatives and families back in Africa do not really understand what we go through in order to stay here. We sacrifice a lot to be in these foreign countries, but is it worth it? It is a difficult question. For example, let's us take a look at Thoko from Zimbabwe who now lives in Bronx, New York as an illegal resident since her immigration papers expired. Thoko supports a family of 10 in Harare, Zimbabwe, inclyuding her grandparents who live just outside Harare. Her meager wages from her job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant in Manhattan are enough to send her 4 siblings and 3 nephews to school, get groceries for her grandparents. However, the money is not enough for Thoko to enjoy the American life that she dreamed of before setting foot in this promise land of milk and honey.

She lives in one bedroom shared with another family in a low income apartment in Bronx, where she pays a monthly rent of USD400. Her total monthly income from her dishwashing job is USD600. After all expenses and funneling money home, Thoko is left with a paltry $50. Thoko cannot have a better paying job because she does not have the necessary legal immigration status. No one can hire her without the "papers".

She is lucky to have an illegal job as a dishwasher where she is paid "under the table,"It is sad to note that when Thoko left Zimbabwe, she was a very promising individual, one of the top students at her high school. She came to America to go to college, but could not continue due to financial hardships. A USD40,000 annual tuition bill became unbearable for her parents in Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, she dropped out. Now she struggles to make ends meet, she is responsible for the upkeep of her parents, and relatives in Zimbabwe. If she doesn’t work, they will starve.

Maybe she should just go back home and forget about the greener pastures in America, they have proved not be that green anyway. Though not that green, it is tough to imagine that Thoko will get a good job in Zimbabwe that will pay her the same amount she is getting washing dishes at a Manhattan restaurant.

She is in a lock. Living paycheck to paycheck, she has been living here in America for 8 years now, she doesn’t even know what Las Vegas looks like, she hasn’t set foot at the majestic Grand Canyon, no vacation!Many thoughts have crossed Thoko. What elese can she do to make extra dollar bills. She has seen some of her African American girl friends stripping at a local strip club for extra money, but she does not want to go that route. Maybe the grass in not that green on the other side….well for some it is.