USINPAC PRAISES PASSAGE OF HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS ACT

USINPAC PRAISES PASSAGE OF HIGH-SKILLED IMMIGRANTS ACT

U.S. Senate bill (S.386) provides relief for hundreds-of-thousands of Indian professionals

WASHINGTON DC, December 10, 2020  – 

The United States India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) proudly celebrates the recent passage of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020 (S.386) in the United States Senate. Originally introduced in 2019 by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), this legislation amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the per-country limitation for employment-based immigrants in the U.S. and increases the per-country limitation for family-sponsored immigrants.

While it remains far from being a done deal that this legislation will officially become law, the Senate’s passage of the bill provided relief for hundreds-of-thousands of Indian professionals working in the United States on H1-B work visas as at least one hurdle has been cleared. This legislation must now be reconciled with the House of Representatives legislation (H.R. 1044) which passed in 2019 but has significant differences. Congress will need to agree to a final, identical version of the bill for both houses to pass before sending it to the President’s desk. Should that legislation make it to the President, chances are high that it would be signed into law as Vice President-elect Kamala Harris co-sponsored the legislation.

“We still have a long road ahead to get this legislation on the President’s desk and signed into law, but having it pass the U.S. Senate is significant progress,” said USINPAC Chairman, Sanjay Puri. “I’d like to thank Sen. Mike Lee for introducing this legislation as well as a number of other U.S. Senators, including Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, for their support in passing this bill. For Indian nationals who cannot get through the heavily backlogged process of acquiring an H1-B work visa, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Currently, the United States enforces a 7 percent per-country cap for employment-based visas which is a significant roadblock for Indian nationals hoping to work here. The signing into law of this legislation would completely eliminate the current backlog. 

About USINPAC:The US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is a bipartisan nonprofit organization that leverages the over 4.3 million Indian Americans to bring about outcomes that matter. USINPAC provides support to candidates for federal, state, and local offices, and serves as a resource for federal agencies, lawmakers, and Congressional staff. For more information, please visit www.usinpac.com.