Rep. Zoe Lofgren - STEM Bill - Getting Ready?

[lifestrikes]

..

Legislation is being prepared by U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) that would make it easier to get permanent residency or Green Cards for advance degree graduates. Lofgren, who represents Silicon Valley, has not introduced her proposal, but she is a veteran of immigration issues.

Previous efforts by Lofgren have attempted to make it easier for foreign students who earn advance degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the so-called STEM degrees, to remain in the U.S. Her latest proposal is broader.

Among the things Lofgren may seek to accomplish in this bill is to create a new Green Card category for advanced degree graduates with STEM degrees, and to enable employers to file immigrant petitions for any of these students, eliminating the need for an H-1B visa for these employers. Out of the 85,000 H-1B visas allowed each year, 20,000 are set aside for STEM graduates.

U.S. Rep Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) introduced something similar last month. But Lofgren's proposal may go further by seeking protections for U.S. workers by barring their displacement by an H-1B worker, a move that may be aimed at firms that primarily deliver offshore services.

Link (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9208961/Top_H_1B_visa_user_of_2010_An_Indian_firm)

[pappu]

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Legislation is being prepared by U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) that would make it easier to get permanent residency or Green Cards for advance degree graduates. Lofgren, who represents Silicon Valley, has not introduced her proposal, but she is a veteran of immigration issues.

Previous efforts by Lofgren have attempted to make it easier for foreign students who earn advance degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the so-called STEM degrees, to remain in the U.S. Her latest proposal is broader.

Among the things Lofgren may seek to accomplish in this bill is to create a new Green Card category for advanced degree graduates with STEM degrees, and to enable employers to file immigrant petitions for any of these students, eliminating the need for an H-1B visa for these employers. Out of the 85,000 H-1B visas allowed each year, 20,000 are set aside for STEM graduates.

U.S. Rep Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) introduced something similar last month. But Lofgren's proposal may go further by seeking protections for U.S. workers by barring their displacement by an H-1B worker, a move that may be aimed at firms that primarily deliver offshore services.

Link (http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9208961/Top_H_1B_visa_user_of_2010_An_Indian_firm)


Looks like the news is out on this in media.
Immigration Voice has been aware of this and actively working on it for last 3 weeks. This had been also posted on the donor forums. Core members and several key IV volunteers/ donors already have been working on it and analyzing it. We also had been asked for our recommendations and had send our recommendations. We should see this bill introduced soon in a few days.

[kumarc123]

Looks like the news is out on this in media.
Immigration Voice has been aware of this and actively working on it for last 3 weeks. This had been also posted on the donor forums. Core members and several key IV volunteers/ donors already have been working on it and analyzing it. We also had been asked for our recommendations and had send our recommendations. We should see this bill introduced soon in a few days.

Thank you for your input Pappu and we appreciate your diligence in the efforts to IV. However the question is: will this bill have the potential to move forward?

As I last recall, Zoe Lofgreen had tried a similar bill 3 years ago (2008) that would have eliminated visa backlog, but we all know that bill went no where.

At this point in time, does this bill have the potential to bring aboard the change we all are seeking for so long? I hope it does. As this journey has been quiet long and tedious.


Thank you

[Sunx_2004]

What are IVs recommendations ??

Looks like the news is out on this in media.
Immigration Voice has been aware of this and actively working on it for last 3 weeks. This had been also posted on the donor forums. Core members and several key IV volunteers/ donors already have been working on it and analyzing it. We also had been asked for our recommendations and had send our recommendations. We should see this bill introduced soon in a few days.

[gc_on_demand]

Thank you for your input Pappu and we appreciate your diligence in the efforts to IV. However the question is: will this bill have the potential to move forward?

As I last recall, Zoe Lofgreen had tried a similar bill 3 years ago (2008) that would have eliminated visa backlog, but we all know that bill went no where.

At this point in time, does this bill have the potential to bring aboard the change we all are seeking for so long? I hope it does. As this journey has been quiet long and tedious.


Thank you

2008 was election year and we didnot have advocacy day month after bill was introduce. We were just month away from presidencial election. CIR was keeping hostage. Since Obama has talked about Legal High skilled immigrants in SOU , we got support from President and as usual many republicans support high skilled bills. Also some moderate dems support it.. so chances are better if we can push it for by summer.

as we have see as fall approach things are getting tough to pass through.we should make it for advocacy day and meet with our lawmakers with just single agenda. STEM bill.

Most of Eb2 ( Not all ) are qualified for STEM and may release up to 30k visas each year to EB3. that will clear Eb3 backlog in 1-2 years. Don't forget that we have some Eb3 people with STEM degree too.

[waitingnwaiting]

What are IVs recommendations ??

It is a Donor only information.

[snathan]

What are IVs recommendations ??

You can get that information from donor forum.

Thanks,

[Edison99]

Pappu, could you share IVs recommendations in this thread too…
Looks like the news is out on this in media.
Immigration Voice has been aware of this and actively working on it for last 3 weeks. This had been also posted on the donor forums. Core members and several key IV volunteers/ donors already have been working on it and analyzing it. We also had been asked for our recommendations and had send our recommendations. We should see this bill introduced soon in a few days.

[tonyHK12]

Thank you for your input Pappu and we appreciate your diligence in the efforts to IV. However the question is: will this bill have the potential to move forward?



The way we get this Bill and others like this to move forward is meeting lawmakers, and taking part and supporting our Advocacy days effort on April 4th and 5th this year.

[waitingnwaiting]

I suggest IV not sharing any more information to free members like us. Sensitive information should not be shared. Even anti immigrants read our forums. We will know if IV thinks it is okay to share. Let people who give their time and money to IV to help us have it as an incentive for helping all of us. Getting a bill passed is more important than knowing about the bill.

[gc_check]

Thanks for the updates. There seems to be something happening at the least. Hopefully some thing works out to get the mess cleared.

[ddanait]

How does one access donor forum? I ahve donated some sum and I am a registered member

[deepimpact]

Most of Eb2 ( Not all ) are qualified for STEM and may release up to 30k visas each year to EB3. that will clear Eb3 backlog in 1-2 years. Don't forget that we have some Eb3 people with STEM degree too.

Actually almost all of EB1A and B will also qualify for STEM and add about 20-30K more each year for spillover.

[gcFiler08]

Any news on this bill.

[lifestrikes]

I have set Google Alert for instant Email notification for news from Zoe Lofgren. No updates yet.