US considering special treatment for high skilled immigrants

United States, 17th September: US is planning to offer special US visas for foreigners graduating from US universities with STEM degrees.

Meanwhile, some allege such a move could lead to a big blow to diversify lawful immigration to the nation.

US Republicans ready with US STEM act—America is working on to formulate a law for offering US Green Cards to foreigners having earned STEM (Science, Technology, engineering or math) degrees in the US. So, the new item currently added to the to-do-list of House Republicans is offering more US visas for foreign tech graduates.

To forward the proposal, a meeting was attended by several big names in tech sector including Oracle, Microsoft and Qualcomm Friday.

For long, tech giants have been urging the US government to work on this issue. Speaking about it, a tech lobbyist with Lugar Hellmann Group, Ralph Hellmann said it’s the top priority of the tech community.

What if the proposal becomes a US immigration law--As per the information, around 55,000 would be able to gain US Green Cards if the proposal becomes a law. The proposed law is going to be introduced by a leading US immigration lawmaker, Republican Lamar Smith(R-Texas).

The proposal will replace the much popular US diversity visa lottery scheme since it will provide majority of US visas under the visa lottery program to foreign born graduates having doctorate degrees in STEM, informs an official congress aide. And any remaining US visas will be offered to graduates having master’s degrees.

The bill will require the US DHS (Department of Homeland Security) to include on its official website information regarding employers offering sponsorship to US STEM grads.

What irks the critics—As per the information, the bill proposed by Smith is being opposed by House Democrats.

Reason? They are against the elimination of the US Diversity visa program. Meanwhile, a vote is expected on the issue this week.

While Smith and some other US Republicans are not in favor of the US diversity visa scheme since they allege fraud in the random selection process of the program and fear such a scheme might allow terrorists into the nation.

But Republican Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who chairs the US immigration taskforce, says he does not favor Republicans wanting to increase legal immigration for immigrants they prefer by eliminating immigration for immigrant not preferred by them.