Section 602: Country Limits
Section 602 increases the per country limits for family-sponsored and employment-based immigrants from 7% to 10% (in the case of countries) and from 2% to 5% (in the case of dependent areas).
Section 603: Allocation of Immigrant Visas
Section 603 redistributes the 480,000 family-sponsored immigrant numbers among existing family preference categories, as follows: 10% is allocated to the first preference—unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. 50% is allocated to the second preference—spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of lawful permanent residents—of which 77% of such visas will be allocated to spouses and children of lawful permanent residents. 10% is allocated to the third preference—married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens. 30% is allocated to the fourth preference—brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens.
The 290,000 ceiling for employment-based immigrant visas is redistributed among the employment-based immigrant visa categories and certain modifications are made to current categories. 20% is allocated to the first preference—aliens with extraordinary ability, outstanding professors and researchers, and multinational executives and managers. 20% is allocated to the second preference—aliens holding advanced degrees or having exceptional ability. 35% is allocated to the third preference—skilled workers and professionals. 5% is allocated to a re-designated fourth preference—investors. 30% is allocated to a re-designated fifth preference—other workers performing unskilled labor that is not of a temporary or seasonal nature (previously included in third preference). Each year, all unused immigrant visas from the first four preference categories will be made available for fifth preference workers.
The current fourth preference category is stricken, so that special immigrants are no longer counted against the employment-based ceiling. Similarly, Section 203 strikes INA § 203(b)(6), which provides special numerical rules for K special immigrants.
