Immigration Reform Bill meets Senate Judiciary Committee May 9, 2013 | Charleston Immigration Attorneys

The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, better known as the Immigration Reform bill, is being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee today, May 9, 2013. The legislation was originally introduced on April 17, but over 300 amendments have been proposed since that time. You can read all 844 pages of original text here.

The immigration reform bill is thorough, and addresses topics ranging from border control to improved training for immigration judges. Here are some of the highlights of the new programs or modifications of existing ones, as proposed by the bill:

1. Any undocumented immigrant who arrived in the U.S. prior to December 31, 2011, is employed and has a clean criminal record (no felonies and/or less than three misdemeanors) can become a “registered provisional” with a payment of $500 plus any back taxes owed. Once qualified as a “registered provisional,” that individual will be afforded the opportunity to legally stay in the United States without the risk of deportation.

2. A new visa program for low-skilled workers will be initiated in the year 2015. Although these visas will be subject to an annual cap, they will allow this class of workers to reside in the U.S. with their families, for up to three years.

3. A large increase (double to triple) in the number of available H1-B visas.

If you or a loved one is faced with an immigration concern, please contact Miller|Conway, Charleston Immigration Attorneys to schedule a consultation. Our attorneys are skilled with issues of deportation, asylum and business and employment visas, as well as in other areas of the law. For more information on the services we offer, or for biographies of the firm’s attorneys, you may like us on facebook, follow us on twitter, or visit the firm’s website.