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Code · BILL · 113th Congress · H.R. 2131 (Introduced in House) — To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to enhance American competitiveness through the encouragement of high-sk... · Sec. 201

Sec. 201. H–1B visas

1,186 words·~5 min read·/bill/113/hr/2131/ih/section-201·

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(g) ) is amended— in paragraph (1)(A)— in clause (vi), by striking and at the end; by amending clause
(vii)to read as follows: 65,000 in fiscal years 2004 through 2013; and ; and by adding at the end the following: 155,000 in each succeeding fiscal year; or ; and by amending paragraph (5)(C) to read as follows: meets the requirements of paragraph (6)(A) or (7)(A) of section 203(b), until the number of aliens who are exempted from such numerical limitation during such year exceeds 40,000. . Section 214(c)(1)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(c)(1)(E) ) is amended by striking 101(a)(15)(L), and inserting subparagraph (H)(i)(b), (H)(i)(b1), (E)(iii), or
(L)of section 101(a) . Section 214(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(i) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: For purposes of paragraphs (1)(B) and (3)(B), the term bachelor’s or higher degree includes a foreign degree that is a recognized foreign equivalent of a bachelor’s or higher degree. In the case of an alien with a foreign degree, any determination with respect to the equivalence of that degree to a degree obtained in the United States shall be made by the Secretary of State. In carrying out the preceding clause, the Secretary of State shall verify the authenticity of any foreign degree proffered by an alien. The Secretary of State may enter into contracts with public or private entities in conducting such verifications. In addition to any other fees authorized by law, the Secretary of State may impose a fee on an employer filing a petition under subsection (c)(1) initially to grant an alien nonimmigrant status described in section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b), if a determination or verification described in clause
(i)or
(ii)is required with respect to the petition. Fees collected under this clause shall be deposited in the Treasury in accordance with section 286(t). . Section 286 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1356 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: There is established in the general fund of the Treasury a separate account, which shall be known as the H–1B Educational Credential Verification Account . Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there shall be deposited as offsetting receipts into the account all fees collected under section 214(i)(4)(B)(iii). Amounts deposited into the account shall remain available to the Secretary of State until expended to carry out section 214(i)(4)(B). . The first sentence of subsection (n)(2)(F), and the first sentence of subsection (t)(3)(E) (as added by section 402(b)(2) of Public Law 108–77 (117 Stat. 941)), of section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182 ) are each amended by striking all that follows investigations and inserting a period. Section 214(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(c) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary of Homeland Security may not approve any petition under paragraph
(1)filed by an employer with respect to an alien seeking to obtain the status of a nonimmigrant under subclause
(b)or
(b1)of section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) and the Secretary of State may not approve a visa with respect to an alien seeking to obtain the status of a nonimmigrant under subparagraph (E)(iii) or (H)(i)(b1) of section 101(a)(15) unless— the employer— is an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))), or a governmental or nonprofit entity; or maintains a place of business in the United States that is licensed in accordance with any applicable State or local business licensing requirements and is used exclusively for business purposes; and the employer— is a governmental entity; has aggregate gross assets with a value of not less than $50,000— in the case of an employer that is a publicly held corporation, as determined using its most recent report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission; or in the case of any other employer, as determined as of the date on which the petition is filed under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Homeland Security; or provides appropriate documentation of business activity under regulations promulgated by the Secretary of Homeland Security. . Section 212(n)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(2) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary of Labor is authorized to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to assure employer compliance with the terms and conditions of this subsection. . Section 212(t)(3) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(t)(3) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Secretary of Labor is authorized to issue subpoenas as may be necessary to assure employer compliance with the terms and conditions of this subsection. . Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(g) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, any alien admitted or provided status as a nonimmigrant in order to provide services in a specialty occupation described in paragraph
(1)or
(3)of subsection
(i)(other than services described in subparagraph (H)(ii)(a), (O), or
(P)of section 101(a)(15)) or as a fashion model shall have been issued a visa (or otherwise been provided nonimmigrant status) under subclause
(b)or
(b1)of section 101(a)(15)(H)(i) or section 101(a)(15)(E)(iii). . The amendments made by subsection
(a)shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to aliens issued visas or otherwise provided with nonimmigrant status under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) ) beginning in fiscal year 2014. The amendments made by subsection
(b)shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to the spouses of aliens issued visas or otherwise provided with nonimmigrant status under subparagraph (H)(i)(b), (H)(i)(b1), or (E)(iii) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act before, on, or after such date. The amendments made by paragraphs
(1)and
(3)of subsection
(c)shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to petitions filed under section 214(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(c) ) on or after such date and to visa applications filed on or after such date where no petition was filed because none was required under subparagraph (H)(i)(b1) or (E)(iii) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)). The amendments made by paragraphs
(2)and
(4)of subsection
(c)shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to employers of aliens issued visas or otherwise provided with nonimmigrant status under subparagraph (H)(i)(b), (H)(i)(b1), or (E)(iii) section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) before, on, or after such date. The amendment made by subsection
(d)shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to aliens admitted or provided status as nonimmigrants on or after such date.
Connectionstraces to 5
2 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 108-77
  • 117 Stat. 941
Citation graph
cites case law
Sec. 201
H–1B visas
Pub. L.Pub. L. 108-77
Stat.117 Stat. 941
Cites 7Cited by 0 across 0 sources
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