What Are the Pros and Cons of the Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act?

 Posted on August 06, 2019 in Immigration

Green cards are immigrant visas that confer permanent residence. Under the current immigration system, there are “per-country caps” put on the number of green cards issued. In certain categories, no country may receive more than 7 percent of the available green cards. Recently, the House of Representatives passed the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 bill. The Act eliminates the per-country limit for employment-based immigrant visas, and increases the per-country limit for family-sponsored immigrant visas. The bill hopes to remove the backlogs for highly skilled workers coming from larger countries, permitting them to work and obtain permanent resident in the United States, as well as their spouses and children.

The Pros

• Increases the level of H-1B visas and employment-based green cards
• Addresses the backlog and expedites the process for permanent residency quicker.
• Brings additional skilled talent to the United States, making the country more competitive in the global market.
• Unites families who were separated due to the long waiting periods.

The Cons

• Eliminating the limit for each country could potentially bring in a large number of immigrants who would put a strain on the processing limits and back up the system again.
• The per-country cap might be the only way the United States can control the high number of immigrants entering from a specific country.
• Eliminating the existing cap will potentially make the distribution of these visas in favor of India and China, two dominant countries.

Although the bill has been praised as a wise move to increase the availability for needed highly skilled workers, it has also faced criticism regarding its secretive nature. Enough Republicans joined the Democrat-held House in giving the necessary votes for it to pass without discussion. It will likely be under scrutiny in the Republican-held Senate. U.S. labor unions will lobby against it in an attempt to protect the American worker from losing his or her job. The bill will most likely be sent back to the House after the Senate has proposed amendments to it.

Contact an Illinois Immigration Lawyer

Immigration is a very important issue these days. Coming to the United States means a new life for many people who are fleeing unsafe conditions in their native lands. There are many steps to the citizenship process, so it is imperative you understand the laws as they pertain to you or your loved ones hoping to immigrate. Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices assists clients in achieving their dreams of becoming a U.S. citizen. Call a dedicated Illinois immigration attorney at 630-932-9100 today to schedule a free consultation.

Sources:

https://qz.com/india/1663752/indian-h-1b-holders-may-be-one-step-closer-to-getting-green-cards/

https://immigrationforum.org/article/fairness-for-high-skilled-immigrants-act/

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/visa-and-immigration/us-congress-to-vote-on-bill-to-remove-country-cap-on-green-card/articleshow/70137537.cms