US Congress Senate Bill 1983 (Prior Session Legislation)

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Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: Introduced on December 13 2011 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2011-12-13 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Pending: Senate Judiciary Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, and (2) increase the per country numerical limitation for family based immigrants from 7% to 15% of the total number of family-sponsored visas. Amends the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 to eliminate the provision requiring the reduction of annual Chinese (PRC) immigrant visas to offset status adjustments under such Act. Sets forth the following transition period for employment-based second and third preference (EB-2 and EB-3) immigrant visas: (1) for FY2012, 15% of such visas allotted to natives of countries other than the two countries with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2010; (2) for FY2013, 10% of such visas allotted in each category to natives of countries other than the two with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2011; and (3) for FY2014, 10% of such visas allotted in each category to natives of countries other than the two with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2012. Sets forth the following per country distribution rules: (1) for transition period visas, not more than 25% of the total number of EB-2 and EB-3 visas for natives of a single country; and (2) for non-transition period visas, not more than 85% of EB-2 and EB-3 visas for natives of a single country. Includes nationals of Ireland coming to the United States under a treaty of commerce to perform specialty occupation services in the nonimmigrant E-3 visa category. Transfers specified approval authority regarding the temporary admission of certain aliens not otherwise admissible from the Attorney General (DOJ) to the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS). Expands the grounds for such approval.

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011

Sen. Charles Schumer [D-NY]	Sen. Christopher Coons [D-DE]	Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL]	Sen. Tom Harkin [D-IA]
Sen. Patrick Leahy [D-VT]	Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse [D-RI]

Date	Chamber	Action
2011-12-13	Senate	Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

HB3012 (Related) 2012-01-23 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 293.
SB1857 (Related) 2011-11-10 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
HB3476 (Related) 2012-01-12 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises.
SB1866 (Related) 2011-11-16 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7594-7596)
SB2005 (Related) 2011-12-15 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Type	Source
Summary	https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/senate-bill/1983/all-info
Text	https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/s1983/BILLS-112s1983is.pdf