Bill Overview
Title: A bill 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: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Target Audience
Population: Irish nationals seeking employment in specialty occupations in the US
Estimated Size: 2000
- The E-3 visa program is specifically for individuals looking to work in the United States in specialty occupations.
- Expanding this program to Irish nationals will directly impact those Irish nationals seeking employment opportunities in the US.
- The bill specifies that up to 10,500 visas less the number of Australian E-3 visas issued will be available to Irish nationals.
- The original E-3 visa program's population is Australian nationals eligible for specialty work in the US, and this bill extends eligibility to Irish nationals.
Reasoning
- The budget for year 1 is $3,000,000 USD, which limits the number of people that can be directly impacted by administrative costs, visa processing, and support services.
- Over 10 years, the budget of $32,950,000 USD suggests a gradual expansion rather than an immediate large-scale impact, potentially affecting up to 10,500 Irish nationals over time, minus Australian visas issued.
- The policy targets Irish nationals in specialty occupations, influencing professionals in IT, engineering, healthcare, etc., where there's demand for specialty skills.
- American employers might benefit from the policy by gaining access to a larger pool of skilled labor, fostering diversity and potentially lowering labor costs.
- Most American citizens will likely not feel a direct impact unless they are in sectors heavily reliant on IT or engineering staffing.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Boston, MA)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think expanding the E-3 visa to Irish nationals is a smart move. There are a lot of talented people in Ireland, and this could help fill gaps in our industry.
- This will benefit our hiring process as we often look for specialized skill sets that are more common in Europe.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Data Scientist (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could be a big opportunity for me to stay longer in the US and work in my field without fear of losing my visa.
- I was worried about what would happen after my student visa expires, so this gives me hope.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Human Resources Manager (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy offers more flexibility in hiring skilled workers. We always look for diverse talent and the increase in visas can help us immensely.
- Given our office locations in Ireland, this just makes business sense.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Although this policy doesn't directly impact me, I believe in supporting fair immigration practices.
- It's good to know that professionals from Ireland would have more opportunities.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Mechanical Engineer (Dallas, TX)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that more Irish nationals entering the workforce could mean more competition for jobs.
- However, I also recognize the potential for collaboration and new ideas in engineering projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Hollywood Producer (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- A more diverse workforce can only benefit the creative industries.
- I would welcome more Irish creatives into our projects if they had the potential to come and work here more easily.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Graduate Student in Healthcare Administration (Seattle, WA)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy might give me a chance to stay and work here after my graduation.
- I hope to contribute to the US healthcare system with my skills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Biotech Researcher (Charlestown, MA)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The inclusion of more Irish professionals could foster innovation in our field.
- Biotechnology thrives on diverse inputs and expertise. This is good for research.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't expect this to impact my job directly, but I appreciate any move towards fair and progressive immigration policies.
- As a teacher, I appreciate diversity and what it brings to our community.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Oil and Gas Project Manager (Houston, TX)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It could bring in additional expertise to our projects, which can be beneficial.
- I see the employment market in oil and gas diversifying further, which might keep us competitive globally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $4000000)
Year 2: $3100000 (Low: $2100000, High: $4100000)
Year 3: $3200000 (Low: $2200000, High: $4200000)
Year 5: $3300000 (Low: $2300000, High: $4300000)
Year 10: $3500000 (Low: $2500000, High: $4500000)
Year 100: $3800000 (Low: $2800000, High: $4800000)
Key Considerations
- The existing cap based on Australian visa allocations directly constrains the number of Irish applicants.
- Administrative costs include staffing and system upgrades to handle increased visa applications and approvals.
- Potential supply-demand misalignment in certain job sectors where demand for specialized skills are high.