S. 1339, the Partner with Korea Act, would create 150,000 non-immigrant work visas designated for citizens of South Korea under the E-4 visa program. The work permits are an addition to current levels.
A bill to establish congressional trade negotiating objectives and enhanced consultation requirements for trade negotiations, to provide for consideration of trade agreements, and for other purposes.
S. 153, the I-Squared Act of 2015, would increase H-1B visa numbers by more than 100,000 per year and allow certain other visa holders to renew their visas. This legislation would also allow family members of H-1B holders to remain in the country and receive work permits.
S. 129, the Repeal Executive Amnesty Act of 2015, would: 1) Prohibit the President's use of granting parole to illegal aliens; 2) Prohibit the Administration from granting work permits to all illegal aliens; 3) Defund all executive actions on immigration, including all memos issued by the Department of Homeland Security; 4) Close the loophole that played a large role in last summer's border surge by treating illegal aliens from non-contiguous countries the same as contiguous countries, making them easier to remove; 5) Prohibit illegal aliens from accessing Social Security, medicare, and benefits from the Affordable Care Act; 6) Reinstate the Secure Communities program; 7) Restrict federal funding to municipalities that provide sanctuary to illegal aliens; 8) Prohibit the government from providing legal council to illegal aliens in removal proceedings; and 9) Restrict the Administration's ability to grant and extend Temporary Protected Status to illegal aliens. The bill would also increase pay for ICE agents.
S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, was a massive immigration reform bill, introduced by the 'Gang of 8' that would result in approximately 30 million new permanent work permits issued in the first 10 years if passed. The bill would grant legal status and worker permits to an estimated 11 million illegal aliens with an opportunity for green cards after 10 years and replace some family-based immigration categories with a merit-based points system.
S. 3217, the Startup Act 2.0, would would create 50,000 new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) work visas for foreign students who graduate from a U.S. college with a master's degree or a Ph.D each year. The foreign students automatically earn 1-year work visa upon graduation and earn an additional 4-years if they are "actively engaged" at the end of the first year. At the end of the 5 year period, the foreign workers will be able for legal permanent worker status.
S. 3192, the SMART Jobs Act, would allow foreign nationals to study for master's degrees and Ph.Ds. at American colleges and universities in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields on non-immigrant visas. However, once these individuals graduate, they are free to compete against American workers for jobs and will receive a work permit once they find a job. The bill also creates a new class of visa, the F-4 visa.
S. 3185, the Securing the Talent America Requires for the 21st Century Act (STAR) Act, would increase the number of high skilled STEM workers by 55,000 by eliminating the visa lottery. The bill also allows unused green cards allotted for STEM fields to be used in subsequent years. Furthermore, STEM master's degree holders can compete with U.S. workers immediately and receive a green card as soon as they are hired and Ph.D. holders receive a green card immediately.
S. 2005, the Irish Immigration Recognition and Encouragement Act, would expand the E-3 visa category to include up to 10,500 Irish nationals each year. As the Obama administration has a stated policy of waiving inadmissibility requirements for illegal aliens, and because this bill does not prevent the administration from doing so, this bill acts as a de facto amnesty for illegal Irish aliens in the United States.
S. 1983, Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011, would expand the E-3 visa category to include up to 10,500 Irish nationals each year and to amnesty the Irish nationals who have overstayed their visas.