Increases the number of family preference visas from 216,000 per year to 480,000 per year.
Divides second preference into two categories, giving priority to spouses and minor children of permanent resident aliens.
Allocates 55,000 visa numbers annually for a three-year period to spouses and children of legalized aliens to deal with the expected backlog in this preference category.
The definition of the fifth preference category (brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens) is retained along with current levels of visa numbers.
Nearly all of the above changes were recommended by the Select Commission on Immigration and Refugee Policy in
1981.
Employment Related/Independent Immigrants
Beginning in FY-1995. the existing preferences for professionals, persons of exceptional merit, and persons with needed skills are combined with the new 55,000 diversity immigrant numbers to create an "independent" system of 195,000 visas annually.
The additional 55,000 visas are for applicants who qualify under the new diversity program.
This program
is designed to promote ethnic diversity as well as attract aliens with skills that are readibly transferable to the U.S. work force.
Makes 40,000 "transitional" visas available to applicants from certain adversely affected countries during the first three years.
10,000 employment generating visas are provided conditionally for investors who invest in enterprises, especially in depressed rural or urban areas, which create 10 new jobs for Americans.
Non-Immigrant Visa Reform
Amends and increases the categories of nonimmigrants. Limits the number of H-1(b) specialty occupation
nonimmigrants admitted annually to 65,000. Creates new nonimmigrant classifications for entertainers and religious workers, among others.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.