Proposed Changes in the Senate's Immigration Reform Bill (2) 參議院移民制度改革法案的措施 (2)

In the Senate Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, there are a few proposed changes to the H-1B non-immigrant visa.  Some of the proposed changes include:

 

1. Raise the H-1B quota from 65,000 to no fewer than 110,000 and no more than 180,000.  A mechanism will be used to determine the exact number for every year.
2. Instead of reserving 20,000 H-1B visa to applicants with an advanced degree, the visa exemption will apply to STEM graduates and the number of exemptions will be raised from 20,000 to 25,000.
3. Allow the spouse of an H-1B holder to apply for a work permit if certain requirements are met.
4. Provide a grace period of 60 days to H-1B workers after the employment is over.
5. Require H-1B employer to pay a higher salary to H-1B worker than to U.S. workers.
6. Require H-1B employer to post its job opening on the DOL's website for 30 days before filing an LCA.
7. Require H-1B employer to attest that it has not and will not displace a U.S. worker 90 days before and after filing an LCA.  

In addition, there are also other proposed changes:

1. Loosen the requirements for L-1 workers who will open a new office and give flexibility to how long the extension can be granted.
2. Allow F-1 students to have dual intent (immigrant intent is allowed)
3. Add a new "W" visa category to allow retirees to purchase properties in the U.S. to retire.  

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

在參議院的移民制度改革法案中，除了提及移民簽證及配額的問題外，還提到H-1B非移民簽證的問題。其中，議案建議包括

1. 將每年H-1B的配額從65,000提升到不少於110,000個及不多過180,000個，並設立機制決定H-1B的簽證數目。
2. 將每年預留給碩士學位的H-1B簽證會改為預留給科學、科技、工程及數學科的畢業生，並將名額從20,000個提高到25,000個。
3. 容許某些H-1B持有人的配偶申請工作證。
4. 容許H-1B持有人在工作結束後有六十天時間離開美國。
5. 要求H-1B僱主支付比美國本土更高的薪水予H-1B員工。
6. 要求H-1B僱主在申請LCA前要在勞工部的網站刊登該職位空缺三十天。
7. 要求H-1B僱主證明申請之前及之後的90天沒有及不會取締美國本土的員工。

除此之外，申請亦提到對的改革建議：

1. 放寬對在美國開設新公司及辦公室的L-1申請人的要求及容許申請人在續期時可以較有彈性。
2. 容許F-1學生簽證持有人有移民傾向。
3. 增設W簽證給在美國買房屋的退休人士。

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。

Changes in Senate's Immigration Reform Bill (1) 參議院移民制度改革法案的措施 (1)

The Senate has issued an outline of its comprehensive immigration reform bill today.  In the 17-page outline, a few pages talk about reforms on the current legal immigration system.  The following are some of the key changes:

 

1. Preference categories in family-based immigration will be reduced from four to two: unmarried adult children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents and married children of U.S. citizens.  Moreover, married children of U.S. citizens must apply before they turn 31.

 

2. U.S. citizens will not be able to apply for their brothers and sisters but this category will be repealed 18 months after the bill is enacted.

 

3. Spouse and unmarried children of legal permanent residents will no longer be subject to an annual quota.

 

4. Diversity visa/lottery will be abolished.

 

5. EB-1, persons holding doctorate degree, and certain physicians will no longer be subject to an annual quota.

 

6. More visa numbers will be assigned to certain existing EB-2 and EB-3 applicants. 

 

7. A new visa will be available to those who would set up a new company in the U.S.

 

8. A merit-based system will be introduced.  Merits will be given based on education, employment, length in the U.S., etc.

 

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

 

參議院今天公佈了移民改革法案的摘要。在此十七頁的摘要中，有數頁提到對現有的親屬及工作移民制度的改革措施。以下是幾個比較重大的改革:

1. 受配額限制的親屬移民類別由現有的四類減至兩類。只有公民及綠卡的未婚成年子女以及公民巳婚的成年子女。再者，公民的已婚子女必須於年滿31歲前申請。

2. 公民不能再為兄弟姊妹申請，但此類別會在法案成為法律十八個月後才會被取消。

3. 綠卡持有人的配偶及未成年子女不再受配額限制。

4. 多元化抽籤移民類別會被取消。

5. EB-1，擁有博士學位，及某些醫生不再受配額限制。

6. 增加配額給部份現有EB-2及EB-3類別。

7. 增設新簽證類別給在美國創業的企業家。

8. 在簽發簽證時會加設績分制。績分會跟據學歷，工作，在美時間等考慮而分發。

 

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。

Has Adjudication fo I-526 Stopped? I-526申請好像停了下來?

In March, USCIS announced its plan to allow applicants to file an I-526 electronically through its ELIS system.  However, many concerns about the plan were raised in the stakeholder meeting.  In particular, processing time was still a main area of concern. 

In fact, since USCIS announced its plan to move I-526 adjudications to Washington D.C. from California, it looks like adjudication of I-526 application has stopped.  On January 4 of this year, the California Service Center announced that as of November 30, 2012, they were processing I-526 that were submitted by March 16, 2012.  On April 3, 2013, the CSC made another announcement and as of February 28, 2013, they were still processing I-526 applications that were submitted by March 16, 2012.  In other words, in the three months between December 2012 and February 2013, it looks like USCIS has stopped processing I-526.  I guess I-526 applicants may need to be more patient as a result.

Disclaimer: Information included in this page does not constitute as legal advice and receipt of this page does not establish attorney-client relationship. For specific inquiries, please call my office and schedule an appointment.

 

美國移民局在三月底宣佈，當局有意於今年暑假開始接受申請人透過其ELIS 系統提交的I-526電子申請。可是在移民局為此事所舉辦的電話會議中，很多與會者擔心此舉會弊多於利。其中，處理申請的時間仍然是大家關心的地方。

其實自從移民局較早時宣佈I-526申請會從加州搬到華盛頓特區的新辦公室之後，I-526申請便好像停了下來。在今年一月四日，移民局公佈，截至去年十一月三十日，移民局正處理去年三月十六日提交的I-526申請。可是在今年四月三日，移民局再公佈，截至今年二月二十八日，移民局還是在處理去年三月十六日提交的I-526申請。換言之，移民局在去年十二月至今年二月的這三個月好像停了下來。I-526的申請人看來還是要再耐心一點了。

 

以上資料僅供參考之用，並非法律意見。如有個別問題，請致電本所查詢。