Via Prague

It's a pity that the whole Foreign Police mess, chronicled here the past week, has already been reported to death by the Czech media. My paper, The Prague Post, has also reported on the issue extensively. That's why mine and Islam's experiences the past week aren't really that interesting to anybody. You talk to people about it, they sort of shake their heads unbelievingly, say, 'It's terrible, terrible,' and drop the subject. A few Czechs have apologized, saying, 'James, I'm really sorry, it shouldn't be so difficult.' But behind their sympathy, or perhaps in my own reflections, there's another sentiment: If it's so bad, you could always go back to America. After all, if my Czech friends went to America to work, their struggles to get legal would undoubtedly be just as difficult, probably a lot more so, and a lot more expensive.
I estimate the past few weeks I've spent between 5,000 and 10,000 crowns ($300 to $600), on the process, paperwork, stamps, etc, but it doesn't factor in the days I've had to take off from work. I imagine it's cost Islam about the same. And at least on my end, I think I've cleared all the hurdles; in 30 days my visa should be ready. Islam, on the other hand, has to get more documents translated into Czech, documents which have to be sent from Bangladesh, so he's got a few more steps.
Anyway, for readers and colleagues back at the T-S: I've been reading about the problems Sun Valley had with its migrant workers. I would suggest a couple of follow-up stories. First of all, here in Czech Republic most employers provide assistance to its foreign workers with the visa process. My school, for example, helped set up appointments (in Czech) and provided translation for documents, and were able to provide counsel on the process in general. Do employers there on the North Coast assist immigrants with the legalization process, or are the workers left on their own to navigate the system? How much does it cost to 'work legally' in California?
Finally, is their an office in Humboldt County (doubtful, probably the Bay Area or Sacramento) that handles the paperwork? It would be worthwhile getting to know a couple of Mexican immigrants and follow them through the process. As your old faithful reporter here can attest, spending the night at the Foreign Police, huddled with scores of other tired, anxious immigrants, it can be an eye-opening experience. Your whole future, your hopes and aspirations (and sometimes for your family too) all can rest on getting a piece of paper with a stamp on it. That sounds perhaps too sympathetic (many in fact choose to work illegally and I don't blame them sometimes), but that's my two cents and you can take it for what it's worth.