Transcript Immigration Legislation

Immigration Legislation
Summary of failed Senate Bill
1639
Dotty Horton
University of North Texas
[email protected]
July 9, 2007
Senate Bill 1639
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Section 418 Student Visas
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24 months of OPT within 26 mo of completion of all
coursework, or during vacations, or PT during school
enrollment
Off campus work in unrelated field
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FT student in good standing
20 hrs per wk; up to 40 hrs during vacation
Employer must provide DOL and school with proof:
Recruited US workers for 21 days
Paying higher of prevailing wage or wage his
other workers get
Section 418 cont.
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Creates an F-4 visa for advanced degree
students in math, engineering, technology,
and sciences
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Gives them dual intent
Removes dual intent for H-1B’s and L-1’s
Sections 419 and 420
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H-1B’s
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Raised cap to 115,00 to go up to 180,00 in subsequent
years
Require a minimum of Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Can only employ up to 50% H1B’s
Sections 501
and 502 Green Card Reform
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Sets limits to close out present permanent
resident system
Changes employment based system to a
merit based system
100 points possible
Section 502
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Employment – max 47 points
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20 points – US specialty occupation employment
16 points- US high demand occupation employment
8 points – US STEM or health field for 1 yr.
6 points – US employer willing to pay ½ application fee
Up to 10 points: US work experience, 2 pts/yr
3 points – age 25-39
Section 502 cont.
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Education – max 28 points
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20 points - Advanced graduate degree
16 points – Bachelor’s
10 points – Associate’s
6 points – High School/GED
5 points – Certified Vocational
8 points – DOL registered apprenticeship
8 points – Associate’s or above in STEM
Section 502 cont.
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English/Civics – 15 points max
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15 points – native English, or 75 and above on TOEFL
10 points – 60-75 TOEFL
6 points – pass USCIS Citizenship test in English
Section 502 cont.
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Extended family – if 55 total above, up to 10
points:
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8 points – if an adult child of a US citizen
6 points – if an adult child of a permanent resident
4 points – if a sibling of LPR or USC
2 points – if a visa application was made after 5/1/05
Section 502 cont
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Other requirements for Z visa applicants
Section 503 and 505
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Family Based LPR
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Eliminates categories 1, 2B, 3, and 4
Parents of US citizens – 40,000/yr.
2A – 87,000/yr
Eliminates Diversity Lottery
Section 601
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Z visa for illegal immigrants
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In US since 1/1/07
Are admissible under laws
Are working and will continue work, education or
services
Spouses, children, elderly parents also included.
Children must be under 18.
Pay fees, which could run up to $9,000 for family of 4
Sections 401-3
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Y Visas
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2 year temporary work visa
2 yr, 1 year home, 2 years, 1 year home, 2 years. Then
must leave US
If dependents, must show 150% of poverty level, plus
insurance
If overstay, permanently barred from US
$500 fee, plus $250 for each dependent
Selected Amendments
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Requires Z visa holders and dependents to
touch back to their home countries.
Bar Z holders from permanent residency
Increase the number of non-immigrant parent
visitor visas
Increase the number of points for having
family members in US
Amendments cont
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Remove Real ID proposal, not require a Real
ID-compliant driver’s license to get a job
Expand eligibility for Z – more time in US as
undocumented – 4 yrs; English proficiency
Eliminate touchback
Amendments cont.
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Raise fees and fines for Z’s.
Make English the official language
Remove cap for H1-B’s with science degrees
Various numbers for H1-B cap
Raise training fee from $1,500 to $5,000.
they had asked for $8,500. Universities were
not exempted.
Information Sources
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www.nafsa.org
www.senate.gov
www.house.gov
www.aila.org
http://thomas.loc.gov/
http://shusterman.com
http://www.david-ware.com/
http://www.murthy.com
DHS Private Sector Office
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Serves as an advocate for the private sector
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To protect economy
To protect way of life
Care about movement of people and goods
Care about movement of educated people
Staff of 15. Four of those are economists.
Private Sector Office cont.
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Study of impact of visa policy on DC area
schools (all but Howard U.)
Interested in the impact of other countries
upon our intl student population.
Would like to be able to construct info on
what our intl student population would have
looked like if we had not had 9/11 and the
aftermath
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Interested in the institutional costs of
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One time adjustment costs of students
University compliance (annual)
Budgetary costs of new students
Quality of life
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Eg F-2 spouses who can not work
Does this cause students to study in other countries
Private Sector Office
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Contact:
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Marvin Fell
[email protected]