An outpouring of support has convinced dairy farmer Kor Mulder to invest thousands of dollars again in securing visas to allow his adult sons to stay in the U.S.
Mulder, a Holland native, arrived here in 2001 with his young family to start farming. At the time, he was told to secure an E-2 investor visa, which contains a provision that allows dependents to come to the U.S. and legally remain until they are 21. With toddler sons in tow, Mulder and his ex-wife figured they had time to resolve any future visa issues.
For the last decade plus, Mulder has learned otherwise. He has been in a protracted battle to legally allow his sons to remain in the U.S. after they “aged out” under the law. He was in the process of planning to move back to Holland.
Over the last month, however, momentum to amend the E-2 investor visa has picked up, and Mulder has decided to remain and push for change. He is working with an immigration lawyer again and renewing his E-2 investment visa, which is good for five years. In the meantime, there is movement forward on H.R. 2124, the E-2 Visa Improvement Act, which would amend the law and permit certain E-2 nonimmigrant investors to adjust their status to lawful permanent resident status.
Mulder’s youngest son, Kelsey, a recent high school graduate, is applying for an Essential Work Visa — a temporary fix if approved that would allow him to remain in Minnesota with his father. Mulder’s oldest son, Garion, who had to return to Holland, is applying for a student visa to be able to return to the U.S. and complete his studies at Lake Area Tech in Watertown, S.D.
The cost for securing the three visas will cost Mulder thousands of dollars. Regardless, he wants to reunite his family and continue dairy farming.
An online petition has been gathering signatures in support of changing the E-2 visa law. As of June 21, the petition has more than 40,000 signatures.
The Mulders are one of thousands of families impacted by the E-2 investor visa regulations. An organization called E2VisaReform has been working to amend the law. Learn more about that effort at E2VisaReform.org.