December 28, 2018

Proposed immigration legislation could have huge impact

There’s been much talk about immigration reform since the change of presidential office last year. An amendment has been proposed called the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2017 that has been a hot topic recently. If the amendment were to pass, the size of the country from which a person emigrates would determine the person’s status, as larger countries would have precedence over smaller countries.

Specifically, the wording of the bill seeks to get rid of the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigration. At the moment, each country has a numerical limit of seven percent or 9,800 of the 140,000 green cards issued per year by the United States. This percentage is without regard to population. The bill intends to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate limitations relating to place of birth.

India and China will benefit most from the bill if it is passed. All other countries with smaller populations will not have as many people approved for immigration. The change will affect skilled immigrant workers the most. Large companies are very interested in the shift, as they are seeking skilled immigrant workers to fill job openings in the United States.

If this initiative passes, it will change the face of immigration law for years to come. Smaller countries may not be happy with this amendment, while larger countries, like India and China, will see the benefits of the bill. If you have questions regarding your immigration status, or that of a family member, employee or other person, seek out an attorney with experience in immigration law.