1st Session |
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes.
Mr. Chaffetz (for himself and Mr. Smith of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
This Act may be cited as the “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act”.
(a) In General.—Section 202(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)(2)) is amended—
(1) in the paragraph heading, by striking “AND EMPLOYMENT-BASED”;
(2) by striking “(3), (4), and (5),” and inserting “(3) and (4),”;
(3) by striking “subsections (a) and (b) of section 203” and inserting “section 203(a)”;
(4) by striking “7” and inserting “15”; and
(5) by striking “such subsections” and inserting “such section”.
(b) Conforming Amendments.—Section 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1152) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking “both subsections (a) and (b) of section 203” and inserting “section 203(a)”;
(2) by striking subsection (a)(5); and
(3) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows:
“(e) Special Rules For Countries At Ceiling.—If it is determined that the total number of immigrant visas made available under section 203(a) to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area will exceed the numerical limitation specified in subsection (a)(2) in any fiscal year, in determining the allotment of immigrant visa numbers to natives under section 203(a), visa numbers with respect to natives of that state or area shall be allocated (to the extent practicable and otherwise consistent with this section and section 203) in a manner so that, except as provided in subsection (a)(4), the proportion of the visa numbers made available under each of paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 203(a) is equal to the ratio of the total number of visas made available under the respective paragraph to the total number of visas made available under section 203(a).”.
(c) Country-Specific Offset.—Section 2 of the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 (8 U.S.C. 1255 note) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking “subsection (e))” and inserting “subsection (d))”; and
(2) by striking subsection (d) and redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
(d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect as if enacted on September 30, 2011, and shall apply to fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2012.
(e) Transition Rules For Employment-Based Immigrants.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the succeeding paragraphs of this subsection and notwithstanding title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), the following rules shall apply:
(A) For fiscal year 2012, 15 percent of the total number of immigrant visas made available under section 203(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest numbers of natives obtaining lawful permanent resident status during fiscal year 2010 under such section 203(b).
(B) For fiscal year 2013, 10 percent of the total number of immigrant visas made available under such section 203(b) shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest numbers of natives obtaining lawful permanent resident status during fiscal year 2011 under such section 203(b).
(C) For fiscal year 2014, 10 percent of the total number of immigrant visas made available under such section 203(b) shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest numbers of natives obtaining lawful permanent resident status during fiscal year 2012 under such section 203(b).
(A) RESERVED VISAS.—With respect to the visas reserved under each of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), the number of such visas made available to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area in the appropriate fiscal year may not exceed 25 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent (in the case of a dependent area) of the total number of such visas.
(i) IN GENERAL.—With respect to the immigrant visas made available under such section 203(b) and not reserved under paragraph (1), for each of fiscal years 2012, 2013, and 2014, not more than the number of such visas calculated under clause (ii) shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of any single foreign state.
(ii) CALCULATION OF NUMBER.—The numbers of visas calculated under this clause for a fiscal year is the number that is equal to 70 percent of the total number of immigrant visas made available under such section 203(b) for such fiscal year.
(3) RULES FOR CHARGEABILITY.—Section 202(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(b)) shall apply in determining the foreign state to which an alien is chargeable for purposes of this subsection.
Information provided above is for educational purposes only. One should not act or refrain to act solely based on the information provided. You should consult an attorney to assess your case before proceeding.
Shah Peerally is an attorney licensed in California practicing immigration law and debt settlement. He has featured as an expert legal analyst for many TV networks such as NDTV, Times Now and Sitarree TV. Articles about Shah Peerally and his work have appeared on newspapers such as San Jose Mercury News, Oakland Tribune, US Fiji Times, Mauritius Le Quotidien, Movers & Shakers and other prominent international newspapers. His work has been commended by Congress women Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Lee. He has a weekly radio show on KLOK 1170AM and frequently participates in legal clinics in churches, temples and mosques. His law group, Shah Peerally Law Group, has represented clients all over the United States constantly dealing with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Custom Enforcement(ICE) and CBP (Customs Border Patrol (CBP) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This department was formerly known as the Immigration and Nationality Services (INS).
For updates follow us on Radio, Facebook, Twitter ,LinkedIn and Youtube
Listen to the Shah Peerally Law Live Show every Monday from 12pm to 1pm and Friday 12pm to 1am - KLOK 1170AM
We have serve the community with dedication and compassion
Attorney Shah Peerally also deals in debt settlement. For more information call us on 510.742.5887 and visit us on www.YourDebtSettlementAttorney.com


Posted in
Tags:

LawReviewCle’s Immigration Law Fundamentals course will provide an overview and introduction into the the basic concepts of U.S. immigration law and procedure.



Facebook
Buzz
LinkedIn
Twitter
Youtube
Digg