Bill Overview
Title: To add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program.
Description: This bill expands the E-3 visa program to cover Irish nationals. The E-3 visa is a nonimmigrant visa currently only available to Australian nationals coming to the United States for employment in a specialty occupation. For Irish E-3 initial applications, the Department of State may approve each fiscal year no more than 10,500 minus the number of Australian initial applications approved the previous fiscal year.
Sponsors: Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
Target Audience
Population: Irish citizens eligible for E-3 nonimmigrant visas
Estimated Size: 6500
- The bill extends an existing visa program, the E-3 visa, which allows individuals to work in the United States in specialty occupations.
- Ireland has a population of approximately 4.9 million people as of 2020.
- The E-3 visa is currently available only to Australian nationals. Approximately 85 to 100 million people are citizens of Australia.
- The global labor force is approximately 3.5 billion people, many of whom may seek employment opportunities abroad.
- Once this bill provides eligibility to Irish citizens, they are likely the ones primarily impacted globally alongside Australians already eligible.
- The global Irish diaspora across the world, primarily in countries like the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK, is also likely to see some indirect impacts due to potential shifts in migration patterns.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to provide Irish nationals with access to the E-3 visa, allowing them to work in specialty occupations in the U.S., thus potentially impacting the U.S. labor market by bringing in skilled workers from Ireland.
- With a cap of 10,500 E-3 visas minus the number used by Australians, the number of Irish nationals entering may not exceed 6,500 per year, which is a small percentage considering the overall U.S. workforce.
- The budget constraints imply that the administrative cost per applicant should be minimized to stay within the allocated funds. It suggests prioritizing sectors where the need for skilled labor is most pressing.
- Due to the relatively low number of potential Irish E-3 visa holders, direct economic effects might be limited, but social and cultural impacts might be felt more significantly in communities with strong Irish ties.
- Consideration of how the policy might impact industries reliant on specialized skills primarily associated with Irish professions.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Boston, MA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could bring more talent into the tech industry, which is beneficial.
- I have relatives in Ireland who might take advantage of this opportunity.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Human Resources Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might simplify hiring for roles requiring niche skills typically found in Ireland.
- Could have positive family impacts if my spouse's relatives consider moving here.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Nurse (New York, NY)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Doubt there will be many Irish nurses coming, so impact on my job is minimal.
- Curious about potential exchange of medical practices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Entrepreneur (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could help us hire skilled Irish tech workers faster.
- Good for enriching U.S. innovation landscape.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Professor (Austin, TX)
Age: 38 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy offers a valuable case study for my research on migration policy.
- May lead to more collaborations in academia with Irish scholars.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Film Production Manager (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more Irish crew could enhance film production.
- Cultural dynamics on set might shift positively.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Graduate Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could enrich my research field.
- Interesting but doesn't directly impact my current life.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Oil & Gas Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policy might bring specialized Irish engineers that enrich our expertise.
- Personally interested in reverse opportunities for work in Ireland.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy showcases a unique approach to immigration reform.
- Interesting dynamics on top of Australian visa adaptations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
School Teacher (Philadelphia, PA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could inspire new educational content.
- Good for community discussions on immigration.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Key Considerations
- The expansion of the E-3 visa to include Irish nationals will depend on coordination between the US and Irish governments and may require adjustments to administrative procedures.
- There may be fluctuating interest levels from Irish nationals based on global economic conditions and the relative appeal of migration to the US.