In the USA, restrictions on the number of green cards by country may be lifted

A bipartisan bill has been submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives to remove the restriction for each country on an employment-based green card. Yahoo.

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The law was proposed by Congressmen Zoe Lofgren and John Curtis and is likely to benefit IT professionals who have been suffering for decades while waiting for a green card.

The Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act of 2021 must be passed by the Senate before it can be sent to the White House for signature by the President.

The bill is phasing out the 7 percent cap for each country on immigrant work visas.

The bill also raises the 7 percent limit for each country on family visas to 15 percent.

On the subject: NYT: Biden Goes To Make US Immigration Easier, Faster And Cheaper

Its predecessor, the Highly Skilled Immigrant Justice Act, was passed in the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress by a bipartisan vote of 365 to 65.

“We all know that our immigration system is seriously broken, and has been broken for decades,” said Lofgren, who chairs the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

The basic structure of the system for issuing immigrant visas dates back to the mid-20th century and was last seriously revamped in 1990, when Congress set worldwide quantitative restrictions on visas and a 7 percent limit for each country that still exists today, she said.

Over time, these restrictions led to an accumulation of backorders that were unimaginable in 1990. As a result, countries with relatively small populations are issued the same number of visas as countries with relatively large populations.

"Result? A person from a big country with extraordinary qualifications who could make a big contribution to our economy and create jobs is waiting for a person with less qualifications from a smaller country,” she added.

“This doesn't make any sense. Because of this, recruiters from outside America are poaching the most qualified employees from the United States. This hurts our economy. The bipartisan EAGLE Act moves our country toward a system that deemphasizes place of birth and better serves America. Simply put, it will allow American companies to focus on what they do best—hiring smart people to create products and services that bring jobs to our communities,” Lofgren said.

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According to Congressman Curtis, the 2020 census showed Utah to be the fastest growing state in the country thanks to significant growth in innovation in the technology sector, resulting in thousands of new jobs in the state.

At the same time, Utah has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, forcing many companies to rely on foreign workers and navigate the complex immigration system when there are not enough Americans looking for these jobs.

“The bipartisan EAGLE Act will create a fairer employment-based visa system by eliminating country-specific restrictions and creating a first-come, first-served system based on merit rather than country of origin, making it easier to expand, grow businesses, and compete globally,” Curtis said.

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