Immigration Reform Bill is passed by the Senate on Thursday. The Senate finally decided to advance the “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill, by voting 68-32 in favor of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. The Comprehensive Immigration Bill is a game changer to all the non-immigrants residing in the United States. The CIR is soon expected to see in the House.

EB Visa Prediction, If CIR Becomes A Law

If the Comprehensive Immigration Reform passes and is enacted into law, it is expected that the EB visa backlogs will be wiped off the year the law will be taken into effect. This means that the EB visa categories for all countries, Including India and China will become “Current”. This means that the pending green cards backlog will be wiped off.

H1B Visa Changes – Immigration Reform

The amendments in the Comprehensive Immigration Reform talk about various changes to the H-1B Visa Category. This includes increasing the H-1B Visa quota, Imposing some conditions on H-1B Employers on how and when to hire a H-1B Candidate, Offer Level II wage to H-1B Employee, Outplacement ban on consulting firms,etc. H1BWiki will write a detailed post explaining the amendments in detail.

H4 Visa Work Authorization

The Comprehensive Immigration Reform amendments also consists of giving work authorization to H4 Visa Holders, spouses of H-1B Visa Holders. There are certain conditions and criteria so that the H4 visa holders could obtain work authorization in the United States. Please stay tuned and H1BWiki will soon write a detailed post on the same.

What next?

The Immigration Bill will be now sent to the House of Representatives.

Despite of the Immigration Reform Bill clearing the Senate, it is expected there could be possible negotiations in the House on certain prospects of Immigration.