I
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6090
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2008
Mr. Issa (for himself, Mr. Smith of Texas, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Coble, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Goodlatte, Mr. Bilbray, and Mr. Feeney) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
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 degree in the United States.
Elimination of diversity immigrant program
Worldwide level of diversity immigrants
Section 201 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by inserting
and
at the end of paragraph (1);
by striking
; and
at the end of paragraph (2) and inserting a period;
and
by striking paragraph (3); and
by striking subsection (e).
Allocation of diversity immigrant visas
Section 203 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended—
by striking subsection (c);
in subsection (d),
by striking (a), (b), or (c),
and inserting (a) or
(b),
;
in subsection (e), by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2);
in subsection (f),
by striking (a), (b), or (c)
and inserting (a) or
(b)
; and
in subsection (g),
by striking (a), (b), and (c)
and inserting (a) and
(b)
.
Procedure for granting immigrant status
Section 204 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) is amended—
by striking subsection (a)(1)(I); and
in subsection (e),
by striking (a), (b), or (c)
and inserting (a) or
(b)
.
Visas for certain employment-based immigrants who obtain an advanced degree in the United States
In general
Section 203(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
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
has resided continuously in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status since obtaining such degree; and
whose services in the sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics—
are sought by an employer in the United States; and
will substantially benefit prospectively the national economy of the United States.
.
Numerical limitation
In general
Section 201(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Aliens described in section 203(b)(2)(D) may be issued visas or may otherwise acquire the status of an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence in a number not to exceed 55,000 in any fiscal year.
.
Conforming amendment
Section 201(a)(2) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(a)(2)) is
amended by striking and not to exceed
and inserting and,
excluding immigrants described in section 203(b)(2)(D), not to
exceed
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on October 1, 2008.