EXTRACT FROM CURRENT BILL:
TITLE V – BACKLOG REDUCTION31 Sec. 501. Elimination of Existing Backlogs. Section 501 would remove immediate relatives (spouses, children, and parents) of U.S. citizens from the annual worldwide ceiling of 480,000 family-based visas and redistribute them elsewhere in the family-based preference system. It also would more than double the ceiling on employment-based visas from 140,000 to 290,000. And it would exempt spouses and children of employment-based immigrants from the limits. Section 501 would provide for the recapture of both family-based and employment-based visas that go unused because of processing delays. Sec. 502. Country Limits. Section 502 would increase per-country ceilings for both employment-based and family-based immigrant visas. Sec. 503. Allocation of Immigrant Visas. Section 503 would redistribute the 480,000 family-based immigrant visas among the existing four family-based preference categories and redistribute the 290,000 employment-based visas, making modifications to the categories. Sec. 504. Relief for Minor Children. Section 504 would allow an applicant for an immigrant visa who is a child to also bring his or her child with them as a derivative immigrant. Sec. 505. Shortage Occupations. Added by the Judiciary Committee, section 505 would exempt from the worldwide and per-country numerical limitations aliens seeking entry to fill Schedule A (shortage) occupations including nurses, physical therapists. The exemption would begin on the date of enactment and end on September 30, 2017. Sec. 506. Relief for Widows and Orphans. Added by the Judiciary Committee, section 506 would codify the Widows and Orphans Act of 2006 to establish a new special immigrant category for certain widows and orphans outside the U.S. who are determined to be at risk of harm. 31 This title is drawn from provision in the November 9, 2005 Specter Chairman’s Mark. However, dropped from this draft are what were sections 505, “Amending the Affidavit of Support Requirements”; section 506, “Discretionary Authority”; and section 507, “Family Unity” of the November 9, 2005, Chairman’s Mark.
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TITLE V – BACKLOG REDUCTION31 Sec. 501. Elimination of Existing Backlogs. Section 501 would remove immediate relatives (spouses, children, and parents) of U.S. citizens from the annual worldwide ceiling of 480,000 family-based visas and redistribute them elsewhere in the family-based preference system. It also would more than double the ceiling on employment-based visas from 140,000 to 290,000. And it would exempt spouses and children of employment-based immigrants from the limits. Section 501 would provide for the recapture of both family-based and employment-based visas that go unused because of processing delays. Sec. 502. Country Limits. Section 502 would increase per-country ceilings for both employment-based and family-based immigrant visas. Sec. 503. Allocation of Immigrant Visas. Section 503 would redistribute the 480,000 family-based immigrant visas among the existing four family-based preference categories and redistribute the 290,000 employment-based visas, making modifications to the categories. Sec. 504. Relief for Minor Children. Section 504 would allow an applicant for an immigrant visa who is a child to also bring his or her child with them as a derivative immigrant. Sec. 505. Shortage Occupations. Added by the Judiciary Committee, section 505 would exempt from the worldwide and per-country numerical limitations aliens seeking entry to fill Schedule A (shortage) occupations including nurses, physical therapists. The exemption would begin on the date of enactment and end on September 30, 2017. Sec. 506. Relief for Widows and Orphans. Added by the Judiciary Committee, section 506 would codify the Widows and Orphans Act of 2006 to establish a new special immigrant category for certain widows and orphans outside the U.S. who are determined to be at risk of harm. 31 This title is drawn from provision in the November 9, 2005 Specter Chairman’s Mark. However, dropped from this draft are what were sections 505, “Amending the Affidavit of Support Requirements”; section 506, “Discretionary Authority”; and section 507, “Family Unity” of the November 9, 2005, Chairman’s Mark.
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