The STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429) has passed the U.S. House of Representatives. This is a bill to allow 55,000 additional immigrant visas to U.S. graduates of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in advanced degree programs.
However, the House bill is not likely to pass the Senate because this is not really an increase of the overall immigrant visa pool, which is what is really needed (both for the advance degree category known as EB-2 and the professionals or skilled workers known as EB-3).
The STEM Jobs Act would end the Diversity Visa (DV) lottery program that awards visas to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. to increase the diversity of immigrants coming to the U.S. Many Democrats oppose ending that program and President Obama also opposes the STEM bill because he wants it as part of comprehensive immigration reform, which he wants to pass next year.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform is sorely needed but smaller steps would also be very helpful. There are many things the President and USCIS Director Mayorkas could do now to fix without the need to wait for Congress. I am waiting on Director Mayorkas to call me at 770-913-0800 and I will explain (but I will not be holding my breath)...
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