Immigration Reform bill (CIR) to be introduced in Congress in April 2013..

It was announced that a Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) bill will be introduced in April when Congress reconvenes.  In addition to establishing a “pathway to citizenship” for undocumented persons present in the United States, the bill is intended to reform our legal immigration system.

This is a brief outline:

1) Undocumented persons will need to learn English and pay fines and back taxes in order to legalize their status.  They may need to wait up to ten years, or until those waiting in line for green cards become permanent residents.  In the meantime, they can qualify for work permits, and with these permits, apply for social security cards and drivers licenses.

2) It's possible that some of the family-based preference categories will be eliminated, particularly the F3 category for married sons and daughters and the F4 category for brothers and sisters.  On a more positive note, spouses and children of permanent residents may be deemed “immediate relatives”.

3) The general cap on H-1B visas may be doubled from 65,000 to 130,000 per year with increased fees for outsourcing firms.  H-4 spouses, under certain circumstances, may be eligible for employment authorization documents.

4) There is expected an increase in the employment-based preference categories (EB categories).  For example, persons with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) graduate degrees from universities in the U.S. may be able to qualify for green cards in unlimited numbers.  This may also be true for persons of extraordinary ability and for outstanding professors and researchers.

The bill will be introduced in the Senate in April 2013.

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