New US Immigration Bill - beneficial or not?

FutureUSRN · May 25, 2007

I believe the new bill i.e. with point system is beneficial to Filipinos. The point system is biased towards College graduates, English Speakers, those with experience, and with job offer. The Philippines produces millions of college graduate per year but couldn't find jobs with decent pay. These graduates are fluent in English at an average of 6.5 in IELTS, which is more than 75 in TOEFLE (maximum points to most Filipinos).

In the draft bill, not only Nurses but also Engineers, Lawyers, Doctors and other professionals will benefit.

I am in full support of the merit-based point system for workers but not for family immigration.

suzanne4, RN · May 25, 2007

Thread moved to International Forum as it does not deal with working in the Philippines.

The merit system will benefit those with years of experience, not those that are new grads, or have minimal experience. So it is not going to benefit those from the Philippines over nurses from other countries. Most of the nurses that are applying from there are very recent graduates. As it is, they are having problems getting hired in hospitals. And the merit system is not specifically for nurses, but all that are applying for the green card that is employer driven. And there are many people with much more experience and will get more points. So do not put all of your eggs in one basket thinking that this will benefit you immediately. That is not the case, they do not even know what they are going to do at this point.

The temporary worker visas are not for this professional category, and that has already been cut to 200,000 in the past 24 hours. Things are changing very quickly and is nowhere near being finalized.

FutureUSRN · May 25, 2007

Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today introduced an amendment to the Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2007 that would remove barriers to reunification for the nuclear families of lawful permanent residents. The amendment would reclassify the spouses and minor children of lawful permanent immigrants as "immediate relatives," thereby exempting them from the visa caps.

http://www.clinton.senate.gov/news/statements/details.cfm?id=274944

I hope this amendment to Amendment 1150 will pass unanimously! This will in a way increase the 90,000 cap...

john83, BSN, RN · May 25, 2007

I am not in support of the merit system and still in favor of the family ties and the current nurse immigration requirements(with the longing/craving for the current schedule A visa category). However, we cannot do anything if they decide so. If we want to go there, we have to comply by their decision. Same goes with state BONs requirements. It maybe harsh, but that is reality. We can express our sentiments here, and basically, that's all. We shouldn't expect for support(to our cause) or sympathy. I'm glad that we have this forum and I thank the luminaries present here for providing us all with up-to-date information and advice.

What leaders do/decide in the present will be the future and what happens in the future will become the history/past remembered by all who live in the present, so whether be it beneficial or not, we will have to abide by their decision if our dream is to be there in the USA. We should never stop praying and have complete faith and hope in God who knows everything, the past, present and future.

God bless!

suzanne4, RN · May 25, 2007

Please use the threads that are already in existance concerning the retrogression, or there will be too many here to keep up with everything.

I am closing this one and ask that you use the two or three others that have been started. No sense in having things scattered all over and then fragmented.

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Family visas are still for immediate family only in terms of nurses bringin family members with them, and this means spouse and children only. Not siblings or parents. That is done thru a family-based petition once the nurse is in the US and that takes years. And that is the way that it should be.