An employment-based visa reform bill, introduced in September 2011 by
Representative Chaffetz (R-UT), is now again being revised. The bill, in
its original state, proposed to eliminate the employment-based
per-country cap for immigrant visas entirely by Fiscal Year 2015 and
raise the family-sponsored per-country cap from 7% to 15%. In November
2011, with minor changes, the bill was approved by the House of
Representatives.
Earlier this month, as part of ongoing negotiations between tip senators
working to push the bill into law, Senator Grassley (R-IA) proposed new
H-1B enforcement language that, if accepted, would enable him to remove
his objections to the bill and help it get a Senate vote. The Iowa
Senator’s proposed changes would strengthen securities for Americans
seeking highly skilled positions.
This proposed legislation continues to be debated in the Senate, with compromises now being considered.
