I have a Chinese friend, Marsha, who would like to travel to the US and live there for awhile to learn about the culture and possibly do business involving international trade, but, after some research (talking to many people), I found out it is next to impossible for her to get a VISA to even visit the US. She does not have any family there. The easiest way for her to go to the US would be to get a student VISA, before which she would need to be accepted to a US university with a full scholarship, to show the government she was not likely to stay in the US illegally, and show that she could support herself. So even if I were to buy her a plane ticket, there is still no chance for her to even visit. I find that sad. It got me thinking about how difficult it is to travel in the world for so many people.

I can go to most places but cannot make them my home. What makes anyone's land theirs? Why can't I chose to live in Malaysia, or China, or wherever, permanently? Why are there so many barriers to people improving their lives? What if the world were much more free? For example, why doesn't America want Chinese living there? Because they will take away jobs and receive social services? Who is it that doesn't want them?

Why are there places where I am not allowed to stay in China (for example, some hotels)? Why, at some public places, are posted prices different for a foreigner?

I had thought about these questions before, and when I think about them now, I am curious to study the topic. What are the underlying reasons? Is there a solution or is it one of the many unsolvable problems?