Trump supports a merit-based US immigration system (latest action)

[ImmiToCanada]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/02/politics/trump-skills-immigration-plan-cotton-perdue/index.html

A few key points
1. create a merit-based system that grades possible immigrants based on their ability to work in the United States
2. reduce legal immigration to the United States by 50%
3. limit the types of family members of immigrants that can also be brought to the US to primarily spouses and minor children
4. would eliminate the international diversity visa lottery
5. limit the number of annual refugee admissions.

So it seems that US is initiating something like Canadian expression entry system, which should be good news to accelerate H1B to a green card. Please feel free to share your thoughts, guys. Thanks!

 

[4RyL]

Yes...
Merit-based immigration is not bad idea but the diversity program should still stand but reduced intake... lots of jobs in this country that does not need skilled labour...and some indigines are not ready to do

 

[sps2can]

Though merit based criteria is good, but I am concerned how "reduce legal immigration to the United States by 50%" would affect the wait time for GC for people from countries like India and China. Unless they do away with the "per country limits", I am afraid it could increase the current wait times for such countries even further ..

 

[canuck78]

This is just the beginning of the process. I wouldn't count on anything at this point.

 

[DEEPCUR]

Though merit based criteria is good, but I am concerned how "reduce legal immigration to the United States by 50%" would affect the wait time for GC for people from countries like India and China. Unless they do away with the "per country limits", I am afraid it could increase the current wait times for such countries even further ..

They are reducing only family based green cards in the bill. The bill plans to eliminate the categories for parents, siblings and children above 21. Currently US gives one million green cards out of which 140k is for employment. That's going to remain as is and there's no country preference in it.

 

[ImmiToCanada]

Full text of the proposed bill is here https://www.cotton.senate.gov/files/documents/170802_New_RAISE_Act_Bill_Text.pdf

highlights of points based system applicable for Employment
category:

Points Based System:

In cases of tie of points a person having Doctorate and next having better
English test score and next closer to 25 yrs would be getting preference

Age:
Age 22 - 26 gets 8 points
Age 26 - 31 gets highest points 10
Age 31 - 36 gets 8 points

Education:
Foreign Bachelors Degree 5 points
USA Bachelors Degree 6 points
Masters 7 points
USA Masters 8 points
PhD 10 points
USA PhD highest points 13

English Language:
12 to 6 points based on test score (IELTS, TOEFL)

Extra Ordinary:
Nobel Prize: 25 points
Olympic Medal: 15 points

Salary:
150-200% of median household income of state 5 points
200-300% of median household income of state 8 points
>300% of median household income of state highest points 13

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_income

 

[ImmiToCanada]

60 votes from Senate is required to pass the bill.

Republican has 52, so at least 8 from Democratic is needed, which appears to be very very difficult since many voters for Democratic are unhappy with the proposed reduction of family based immigrations.

 

[DEEPCUR]

60 votes from Senate is required to pass the bill.

Republican has 52, so at least 8 from Democratic is needed, which appears to be very very difficult since many voters for Democratic are unhappy with the proposed reduction of family based immigrations.

It first needs to pass congress. 230+ required there. In Senate, 51 is sufficient to pass. 60 is required to overcome a filibuster scenario from dems.

But the bigger problem even in republicans, all 52 won't support him. Healthcare bill failed because they couldn't get support even from republican senators.

 

[ImmiToCanada]

true, Trump has difficulties in his own party.
Right now he probably only has limited power on work visas such as H1B etc

It first needs to pass congress. 230+ required there. In Senate, 51 is sufficient to pass. 60 is required to overcome a filibuster scenario from dems.

But the bigger problem even in republicans, all 52 won't support him. Healthcare bill failed because they couldn't get support even from republican senators.