One of my coworkers (an outstanding, hardworking, law obeying, tax-paying immigrant America should proudly welcome and reward with citizenship) explained to me that as a 'green card' permanent resident he filed a petition with the INS for a visa for an immediate family member to enter the USA. He had to pay a hefty fee, submit all kinds of documentation, and wait several months. Fine. Sounds fair and reasonable.

Then he gets the INS approval notice. Great. His family member got the visa to come to the USA, right? Not so fast.

Then he finds out that the INS requires that a 2nd form be filled out, and submitted with a $140 fee, merely so that the INS will notify the US embassy in the country of origin that the visa has been approved.

Say what? Is this about the dumbest thing you've ever heard?

Keep in mind that there's no new information at all on the second form. All you're doing is pleading - or bribing - a branch of the federal government to please communicate with itself!