4/13/2007: Summary of Senator Hagel's S. 1092 Bill, High-Tech Worker Relief Act of 2007
* H-1B Cap:
o 65,000/year (FY2004-2006)
o 115,000/year (FY2007)
o 195,000/year (FY2008)
o 65,000/year (FY2009 and later years)
* U.S. Advanced Degree Holders: Exempt from Annual H-1B Cap With No Limit in Number
* New Annual EB Immigrant Visa Number Exempt Groups:
o Advanced Degree Holders in STEM with 3-year work in a related field in the U.S. before the immigrant petition
o EB-1A Extraordinary Workers
o EB-1B Ourstanding Professors and Researchers
o Spouse or Children of EB-Immigrants
o Effective Date:
+ (1) Any visa application pending on the date of the enactment of this law; or
+ (2) Any visa application filed on or after the date of the enactment of this law.
* Wow, it ain't good?! Not as good as SKIL Act in that there are no such juicy reform in increase of annual quota, I-485 filing availability during the visa regrogression, etc., but considering the fact that this bill is intended to give a special immediate relief in the subject matters, it ain't too bad. We will see how this bill is handled in conncection with the just reintroduced SKIL Act of 2007 bill and upcoming CIR.
Does this mean that there will be no cap whatsoever for US Masters' candidates.. and a 115,000 cap instead of 65,000 cap for General Category? and also it seems that this rule will be in effect in this current year itself.. am I missing something here, or is this the correct interpretation..!!!
* H-1B Cap:
o 65,000/year (FY2004-2006)
o 115,000/year (FY2007)
o 195,000/year (FY2008)
o 65,000/year (FY2009 and later years)
* U.S. Advanced Degree Holders: Exempt from Annual H-1B Cap With No Limit in Number
* New Annual EB Immigrant Visa Number Exempt Groups:
o Advanced Degree Holders in STEM with 3-year work in a related field in the U.S. before the immigrant petition
o EB-1A Extraordinary Workers
o EB-1B Ourstanding Professors and Researchers
o Spouse or Children of EB-Immigrants
o Effective Date:
+ (1) Any visa application pending on the date of the enactment of this law; or
+ (2) Any visa application filed on or after the date of the enactment of this law.
* Wow, it ain't good?! Not as good as SKIL Act in that there are no such juicy reform in increase of annual quota, I-485 filing availability during the visa regrogression, etc., but considering the fact that this bill is intended to give a special immediate relief in the subject matters, it ain't too bad. We will see how this bill is handled in conncection with the just reintroduced SKIL Act of 2007 bill and upcoming CIR.
Does this mean that there will be no cap whatsoever for US Masters' candidates.. and a 115,000 cap instead of 65,000 cap for General Category? and also it seems that this rule will be in effect in this current year itself.. am I missing something here, or is this the correct interpretation..!!!