Issa Advanced Degree Visa Bill
Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) introduced a bill last Wednesday that would give up to 55,000 green cards to foreign graduate students after completing degree from US universities. Advanced degree bill would eliminate Diversity visa program, which uses a lottery to encourage more immigrants from countries with the lowest rates of immigration to the United States and provide the those visas to foreign graduates.
Advanced Degree Visa Bill
CERTAIN ALIENS OBTAINING ADVANCED DEGREES IN THE UNITED STATES- Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 55,000, to qualified immigrants who–
are a member of a profession holding an advanced degree obtained within the United States;
obtained such degree within the United States during the 5-year period preceding the date on which the petition filed under section 204(a)(1)(F) for classification under this subparagraph is filed; or
(II) has resided continuously in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status since obtaining such degree; and
(iii) whose services in the sciences or medicine–
(I) are sought by an employer in the United States; and
(II) will substantially benefit prospectively the national economy of the United States.’.
How Bill Becomes a Law
Right now Advanced degree bill is introducted in US House. In order for a bill to become a law, it has to go through following process.
Bill have to get majority vote in US House by voting.
Same/Similar bill have to be passed in the US Senate by voting.
Bill will be then signed into Law by President
How can you help?
Bill was recently introduced and it need to get momentum and support before US House will consider it for voting. Students who are studying in US are directly impacted by this bill and you should come forward to support this bill by contacting your lawmakers (House and Senate).
Each area in US is represented by 1 US House Representative and 1 US Senator. You can send email to them and request them to support the the bill. to contact them just follow the steps below.
go to
writerep(dot)house(dot)gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
& lookup your congressman and send him/her the below -
Dear Sir/Mam,
I am an admirer and a supporter of yours. As a foreign student in US University, I am writing to urge you to please lead efforts and cosponsor the bill H.R.43 — To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the diversity immigrant program and to re-allocate those visas to certain employment-based immigrants who obtain an advanced in the United States. (Introduced in House – IH)
It will just take 2 minutes to contact your US House representative. Your 2 minutes of time can change your life. It can take upto 20 years to get Green card with current wait times and number of pending applications.
