With serious wheat shortages there this year. that amount could go as high as $900 million or even $1 billion. Since the ruble is not an International currency. the grain will have to be paid for with dollars or some other hard currency. On August 3. the Soviet Union imposed an "education tax" ranging from $5.000 to $37.000 on each Jew granted a visa to leave that country. The "tax" is based on the degree of education attained by the individual. In addition. there is a 40percent surcharge for paying the "tax" in foreign currency. Since it Is virtually Impossible for a Soviet citizen to save such large amounts of money. the "tax" or ransom. as it Is in reality. will have to be paid by outside sources. Prior to August 3. the Soviet Union maintained a $1.000 fee for emigration permits for Jews wishing to leave the Soviet Union. The vast majority of the ransom which will be paid for the release of the Soviet Jews will probably come from Americans. Estimates as to how much money this will entail range from $85 to $340 million.
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emigration visa