An outline of the long awaited comprehensive immigration reform bill was leaked today (though, news sources say bill was revealed-not sure about that). Here is a link to a 19 page summary that outlines the terms of the bill. 136230105-Outline-of-the-Border-Security-Economic-Opportunity-and-Immigration-Modernization-Act-of-2013
There are some good and not so good items in this outline. A lot of focus on border security, quite rightly. Overall, it is an effort to revamp the immigration system. Some quick highlights before I am able to get to detailed commentary:
1. There will be a new status- Registered Provisional Immigrant Status for people who are illegally in the US (more to come on RPI soon).
2. If someone was deported for non-criminal matters, and has a USC spouse, he/she can reenter as RPI.
3. People in DREAM Act status and Agricultural Program can get Green Cards in 5 years.
4. Dream Act children can get citizenship immediately upon receiving green cards.
5. No more visas for siblings to US Citizens.
6. No more diversity visa.
7. New merits based visa system,
8. A startup visa (YAY!!).
9. STEM visa.
10. E-verify will be mandatory for ALL employers.
11. H1b visas will increase from 65,000 to 110,00 (but lots of terrible restrictions added-more to come on this soon).
12. W visa (but looks like it will address areas of labor shortage and will come with various restrictions).
13. W-2 and W-3 visas will replace H2A visa.
14. The Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act (AgJOBS) will allow currently undocumented farm workers to obtain legal status through an Agriculural Card Program.
There is a lot in this outline. I will write more about each issue in due course. In the meantime, the actual bill should be released any day now. Stay tuned!
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