II
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1397
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 15, 2007
Mr. Lieberman (for himself, Mr. Hagel, Ms. Cantwell, and Mr. Voinovich) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To increase the allocation of visas for certain highly skilled workers and to reduce fraud and abuse in certain visa programs for aliens working temporarily in the United States.
Short title; table of contents
Short title
This Act may be cited
as the Skilled Worker Immigration and
Fairness Act
.
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. H–1B visas.
Sec. 3. Employment-based immigration.
Sec. 4. H–1B visa fraud and abuse protections.
H–1B visas
Exemptions to numerical limitations
In general
Section 214(g)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(5)) is amended—
in subparagraph
(C), by striking until the number of aliens who are exempted from such
numerical limitation during such year exceeds 20,000.
and inserting
or has been awarded a medical specialty certification based on
post-doctoral training and experience in the United States; or
;
and
by adding at the end the following:
has earned a masters or higher degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics from an institution of higher education outside of the United States.
.
Applicability
The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall apply to—
any petition or visa application pending on the date of the enactment of this Act; and
any petition or visa application filed on or after such date.
Market-based visa limits
Section 214(g) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—
in paragraph (1)—
in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking (beginning with fiscal year
1992)
; and
in subparagraph (A), by striking clauses (i) through (vii) and inserting the following:
115,000 in fiscal year 2007; and
in fiscal year 2008, and in each subsequent fiscal year, the greater of—
115,000; or
the number calculated under paragraph (9);
;
in paragraph (8)—
in subparagraph (B), by striking clause (iv); and
by striking subparagraph (D);
by redesignating paragraphs (9), (10), and (11) as paragraphs (10), (11), and (12), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
If the numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(A)—
is reached during a given fiscal year, the numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(A) for the subsequent fiscal year shall be equal to the lesser of—
120 percent of the numerical limitation for the given fiscal year; or
180,000; and
is not reached during a given fiscal year, the numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(A) for the subsequent fiscal year shall be equal to the numerical limitation for the given fiscal year.
.
Employment-based immigration
In general
Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Aliens who have earned a master's or higher degree from an accredited university in the United States.
Aliens who—
have earned an advanced degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; and
have been working in a related field in the United States under a nonimmigrant visa during the 3-year period preceding their application for an immigrant visa under section 203(b).
Aliens who—
are described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of section 203(b)(1); or
have received a national interest waiver under section 203(b)(2)(B).
The immediate relatives of an alien who is admitted as an employment-based immigrant under section 203(b).
.
Adjustment of status for employment-based immigrants
In general
Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Adjustment of status to employment-based immigrant
Eligibility
An alien, and any eligible dependents of such alien, may file an application for adjustment of status with the Secretary of Homeland Security, whether or not an employment-based immigrant visa is immediately available at the time the application is filed, if—
a petition filed under subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 204(a)(1) on behalf of the alien has been approved; or
in the discretion of the Secretary, the adjudication of such petition is pending.
Visa availability
An application filed under paragraph (1) may not be approved until the appropriate employment-based immigrant visa becomes available under section 203(b).
Fees
If an employment-based immigrant visa is not available on the date on which an application is filed under paragraph (1), a supplemental fee of $500 shall be paid on behalf of the beneficiary of such application. Such fee may not be charged with respect to any dependent accompanying or following to join such beneficiary.
Extension of employment authorization and advanced parole document
The Secretary of Homeland Security—
shall issue a 3-year employment authorization and 3-year advanced parole document to any beneficiary of an application for adjustment of status if a petition has been filed or is pending under subparagraph (E) or (F) of section 204(a)(1); and
may adjust fees assessed under this section in accordance to the 3-year period of validity assigned to the employment authorization or advanced parole documents issued under subparagraph (1).
.
Use of fees
Section 286 of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1356) is amended—
in subsection
(m), by striking provisions of law, all adjudication fees
and
inserting provision of law, all adjudication fees and the fees collected
under section 245(n)(3)
; and
in subsection (n)—
by
striking All deposits
and inserting the following: (1)
Except as provided in paragraph (2), all deposits
; and
by adding at the end the following:
All deposits in the Immigration Examinations Fee Account that were originally collected under section 245(n)(3) shall be used to clear security background check delays.
.
Applicability
The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) shall apply to any visa application—
pending on the date of the enactment of this Act; or
filed on or after such date.
H–1B visa fraud and abuse protections
Prohibition against advertising exclusively to H–1B nonimmigrants
Section 212(n)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)) is amended—
by redesignating subparagraph (G) as subparagraph (H);
by inserting after subparagraph (H), as redesignated, the following:
The employer has not advertised the available jobs specified in the application in an advertisement that states or indicates that—
the jobs are only available to persons who are, or may become, H–1B nonimmigrants; or
persons will receive priority or preference in the hiring process because they are, or may become, H–1B nonimmigrants.
; and
in the
undesignated paragraph at the end, by striking The employer
and
inserting the following:
The employer
.
Limit on percentage of H–1B employees
Section 212(n)(1) of such Act, as amended by this section, is further amended by inserting after subparagraph (I), as added by subsection (a)(1), the following:
If the employer employs 50 or more employees in the United States, not more than 50 percent of such employees are H–1B nonimmigrants.
.
Safeguards against fraud and misrepresentation in application review process
Section 212(n)(1)(K) of such Act, as designated by subsection (a)(2), is amended—
by inserting
, clear indicators of fraud, misrepresentation of material fact,
after completeness
;
by striking
or obviously inaccurate
and inserting , presents clear
indicators of fraud or misrepresentation of material fact, or is obviously
inaccurate
; and
by adding at the
end the following: If the Secretary’s review of an application
identifies clear indicators of fraud or misrepresentation of material fact, the
Secretary may conduct an investigation and hearing under paragraph
(2).
.
Investigations by department of labor
Section 212(n)(2) of such Act is amended—
in subparagraph
(A), by striking 12 months
and all that follows and inserting
24 months after the date of the failure or misrepresentation,
respectively. Upon the receipt of such a complaint, the Secretary may initiate
an investigation to determine if such a failure or misrepresentation has
occurred.
;
in subparagraph (C)(i)—
by striking
a condition of paragraph (1)(B), (1)(E), or (1)(F)
and inserting
a condition under subparagraph (B), (C), (E), (F), (H), (I), or (J) of
paragraph (1)
; and
by striking
paragraph (1)(C), (1)(D), or (1)(G)(i)(I)
and inserting
subparagraph (C), (D) or (G)(i)(I) of paragraph (1)
;
in subparagraph (G)—
in clause (i), by
striking if the Secretary
and all that follows and inserting
with regard to the employer’s compliance with the requirements under
this subsection.
;
in clause (ii),
by striking and whose identity
and all that follows through
failure or failures.
and inserting the Secretary of Labor
may conduct an investigation into the employer’s compliance with the
requirements under this subsection.
;
in clause (iii), by striking the last sentence;
by striking clauses (iv) and (v);
by redesignating clauses (vi), (vii), and (viii) as clauses (iv), (v), and (vi), respectively;
in clause (iv),
as redesignated, by striking meet a condition
and all that
follows and inserting comply with the requirements under this
subsection, unless the Secretary of Labor receives the information not later
than 24 months after the date of the alleged failure.
;
by amending clause (v), as redesignated, to read as follows:
The Secretary of Labor shall provide notice to an employer of the intent to conduct an investigation. The notice shall be provided in such a manner, and shall contain sufficient detail, to permit the employer to respond to the allegations before an investigation is commenced. The Secretary is not required to comply with this clause if the Secretary determines that such compliance would interfere with an effort by the Secretary to investigate the employer or secure the employer’s compliance with this subsection. A determination by the Secretary under this clause is not subject to judicial review.
;
in clause (vi),
as redesignated, by striking An investigation
and all that
follows through the determination.
and inserting If the
Secretary of Labor, after an investigation under clause (i) or (ii), determines
that a reasonable basis exists to make a finding that the employer has failed
to comply with the requirements under this subsection, the Secretary shall
provide interested parties with notice of such determination and an opportunity
for a hearing in accordance with section 556 of title 5, United States Code,
not later than 120 days after the date of such determination.
;
and
by adding at the end the following:
If the Secretary of Labor, after a hearing, finds a reasonable basis to believe that the employer has violated a requirement under this subsection, the Secretary may impose a penalty under subparagraph (C).
;
by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (J).
Additional department of labor employees
In general
The Secretary of Labor is authorized to hire 200 additional employees to administer, oversee, investigate, and enforce programs involving H–1B nonimmigrant workers.
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.
Schedule of fees
Section 214(c)(12)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(12)(C)) is amended by striking $500
and
inserting $1,000
.
Information sharing between department of labor and department of homeland security
Section 212(n)(2) of such Act, as amended by this section, is further amended by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
If any information contained in the materials submitted by employers of H–1B nonimmigrants as part of the adjudication process indicates that the employer is not complying with the requirements under this subsection, the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services shall provide such information to the Secretary of Labor. The Secretary may initiate and conduct an investigation and hearing under this paragraph after receiving such information.
.
Audits
Section
212(n)(2)(A) of such Act, as amended by this section, is further amended by
adding at the end the following: The Secretary may conduct surveys
regarding the degree to which employers comply with the requirements under this
subsection and may conduct annual compliance audits of employers of H–1B
nonimmigrants. The Secretary shall conduct annual compliance audits of not less
than 1 percent of the employers of H–1B nonimmigrants during the applicable
calendar year. The Secretary shall conduct annual compliance audits of each
employer with more than 100 employees who work in the United States if more
than 15 percent of such employees are H–1B nonimmigrants.
.
Penalties
Section 212(n)(2)(C) of such Act, as amended by this section, is further amended—
in clause (i)(I),
by striking $1,000
and inserting $2,000
;
in clause
(ii)(I), by striking $5,000
and inserting
$10,000
; and
in clause
(vi)(III), by striking $1,000
and inserting
$2,000
.
Information provided to H–1B nonimmigrants upon visa issuance
Section 212(n) of such Act, as amended by this section, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
Upon providing H–1B nonimmigrant status to an alien in the United States, the office processing the petition for such status shall provide the applicant with—
a brochure outlining the employer’s obligations and the employee’s rights under Federal law, including labor and wage protections; and
the contact information for Federal agencies that can offer more information or assistance in clarifying employer obligations and workers’ rights.
Upon issuing an H–1B nonimmigrant visa to an alien outside the United States, the officer of the Department of State shall provide the applicant with the items described in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A).
.
