Bill Overview
Title: EAGLE Act of 2022
Description: This bill modifies requirements related to employment-based visas and addresses related issues. The bill increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15% and eliminates the per-country cap for employment-based immigrant visas. The bill establishes transition rules for employment-based visas such as (1) reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability) and EB-3 (skilled and other workers) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas, and (2) allotting a number of visas for professional nurses and physical therapists. The bill imposes additional requirements on an employer seeking an H-1B visa, such as prohibiting (1) an employer from advertising that a position is only open to H-1B applicants or that H-1B applicants are preferred, and (2) certain employers from having more than half of their employees as nonimmigrant visa workers. The Department of Labor shall create a publicly available website where an employer seeking an H-1B visa must post certain information about the open position. The bill also expands Labor's authority to review and investigate H-1B applications for fraud or misrepresentations. The bill also allows certain aliens to obtain lawful permanent resident status if the alien (1) is in the United States as a nonimmigrant, (2) has an approved immigrant visa petition, and (3) has waited at least two years for a visa.
Sponsors: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals seeking employment-based U.S. visas or green cards
Estimated Size: 0
- The bill affects the employment-based visa system, specifically targeting individuals seeking employment-based green cards, who are from countries with high or low visa application rates.
- It eliminates the per-country cap on employment-based visas, significantly impacting individuals from countries like India and China, which historically have the largest number of applicants but are limited by caps.
- The bill increases the cap on family-based immigrant visas, impacting families of immigrants who have faced long waiting times due to prior caps.
- The bill affects international employees in the U.S. on an H-1B visa by imposing stricter regulations on employers, potentially leading to changes in hiring practices.
Reasoning
- The target population for this policy includes individuals seeking employment-based green cards, especially from countries with historically high application rates, such as India and China.
- The elimination of the per-country cap could significantly decrease wait times for immigrants from these countries, impacting their wellbeing.
- Changes to H-1B visa processes might affect employers, potentially influencing the job market for both U.S. and international workers.
- Given the budget limit and expected size of the impact, the policy needs to strategically target the most affected groups, balancing costs and measurable improvements in wellbeing.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could finally make my American dream feasible by removing the country cap.
- I've been stuck in the green card backlog with little hope in sight.
- It might lead to better job satisfaction and planning for the future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Registered Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems promising as it reserves visas for nurses.
- I've been anxious about my status and future career in the U.S.,
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Business owner (Austin, TX)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new regulations might complicate hiring international talent.
- Our industry thrives on diverse skills which might be affected by these changes.
- Ensuring compliance will increase our operational costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
CFO of a tech company (Seattle, WA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Stricter checks might affect our ability to recruit high caliber talent international talent quickly.
- It may slow down innovation in fast-paced industries like ours.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Foreign Student in STEM (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Removal of country caps for green cards gives me hope for a stable future.
- Currently, the backlog and uncertainty are very stressful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Hotel Manager (Queens, NY)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased cap on family-based visas could finally bring my brother's family here.
- However, new H-1B rules might make hiring more challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Biomedical Engineer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives me some relief by likely speeding up the process for a green card.
- It's stressful not knowing if I'll have to leave the U.S. when my OPT expires.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Immigration Lawyer (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy should provide relief for many clients affected by backlogs.
- I foresee a spike in demand for legal services as employers and individuals navigate changes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Construction Worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increased cap on family visas gives hope that my sister might finally get her visa.
- I'm worried about potential changes in the job market due to H-1B updates.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Graphic Designer (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm curious how the changes in H-1B rules might affect job opportunities for U.S. citizens like myself.
- Increasing transparency might be beneficial but I have mixed feelings about more international competition.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Year 2: $110000000 (Low: $90000000, High: $130000000)
Year 3: $115000000 (Low: $95000000, High: $135000000)
Year 5: $120000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $140000000)
Year 10: $130000000 (Low: $110000000, High: $150000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $130000000, High: $170000000)
Key Considerations
- Potential strain on visa processing infrastructure and need for scaling resources.
- Long-term positive economic impacts through increased immigration of skilled labor.
- Impact on domestic employment and potential displacement concerns.
- Changes in employer hiring practices due to new restrictions on H-1B visas.