Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill introduced

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 17, 2009

This bit (if I found the correct bill) may have a good impact but may take a long time to implement. Although looks at exempting foreign nurses does indicate the need to sort out things at a domestic (local) level

Family and employment backlog reduction: The bill contains several measures designed to reduce long backlogs in family and employment immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing:

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Permits the "recapture" of unused employment-based visas and family-sponsored visas from fiscal years 1992-2008 and allows future unused visa numbers to roll over to next fiscal year.

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Exempts immediate relatives from the annual cap on the number of immigrant visas, and increases the number of visas which may be issued per country per year.

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Permits qualified workers eligible for an employment based petition to receive work authorization until a visa becomes available.

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Exempts from skilled worker numerical cap U.S. educated foreign nationals who receive science, technology, engineering and math degrees and other critical workforce graduates.

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Exempts foreign nurses from current numerical limitations and provides new programs to fund and develop domestic nursing supply and encourage training of other domestic health care professionals.

Summary of Comprehensive Immigration 2009

elkpark · Dec 17, 2009

Sounds like that's pretty much the same as the bill that went nowhere last year, isn't it?

I think it's going to be very difficult to drum up much support for increasing immigration to the US until the US economy and employment situation are in a whole lot better shape than they are now.

Nurse!Nurse!Hello? · Dec 17, 2009

Sounds like that's pretty much the same as the bill that went nowhere last year, isn't it?
I think it's going to be very difficult to drum up much support for increasing immigration to the US until the US economy and employment situation are in a whole lot better shape than they are now.

Yes, it pretty much sounds like the same bill. I understand the need to address the issue of illegal immigration, but I don't see the bill receiving much attention until the healthcare issue is resolved. And with so many nurses being laid off, I am surprised they even squeezed the exemption for foreign nurses into this version of the bill.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Dec 17, 2009

The only benefit I see is the DREAM act which would allow foreign nurses who went to school in the USA the path to stay is the USA although I don't see the details listed which includes these nurses listed.