The debate over undocumented immigrants is often couched in terms of fairness, with calls for illegal arrivals to get “to the back of the line” behind those waiting for legal status. But rather than one orderly line to gain a visa or green card, there is an array of paths, and most of them are not determined by time spent waiting patiently. This Lowdown lesson explores the complex and confusing pathways to immigration in the context of past immigration policies and current calls for reform.