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: Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Target Audience
Population: People seeking or holding US employment or family-based immigrant visas
Estimated Size: 5000000
- The bill eliminates the per-country cap for employment-based immigrant visas, impacting immigrants seeking employment-based green cards.
- The increase in the per-country cap for family-based immigrant visas may affect family members of immigrants wishing to reunite in the US.
- Potential beneficiaries include skilled workers such as those applying for EB-2 and EB-3 visas.
- The bill aims to benefit immigrants from countries that are not historically the largest recipients of employment-based visas, potentially diversifying the immigrant workforce in the US.
- Additional requirements for H-1B visas impact employers and their ability to hire foreign workers, which may influence the hiring of highly skilled international workers.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects immigrants and their families in the U.S. workforce and the general U.S. labor market. It's important to simulate a broad range of individuals, including those from countries typically underrepresented in U.S. immigration, skilled workers, and family members of immigrants.
- The policy may indirectly impact American citizens through potential labor market changes and family reunification processes, affecting businesses that rely on foreign labor and citizens with family abroad.
- The budgetary constraints must be considered, as they limit the policy's reach within the target population, but the changes to visa caps and the creation of oversight mechanisms may lead to significant impacts for certain individuals and firms.
Simulated Interviews
Software Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been waiting for an employment-based green card for several years, and the removal of the per-country cap could finally speed things up.
- The current system has been unfair to individuals from nations with high demand, like India.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Human Resources Manager (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new requirements for H-1B visas might increase our hiring costs and administrative workload.
- I'm concerned about losing access to talented international candidates who are essential to our tech growth.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Registered Nurse (Chicago, IL)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Currently, there are many hurdles for getting an employment-based green card, but this policy seems like it will open up more opportunities for me.
- Healthcare workers being prioritized is a positive change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
CEO of a mid-sized IT company (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill impacts how we recruit talent from abroad. We'll need to adjust our strategies and may face new restrictions that affect our competitiveness.
- The creation of a public job listing site is an additional administrative burden.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Graduate Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 24 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With the per-country cap eliminated, I feel more hopeful about my chances to stay and work in the U.S. after graduation.
- Navigating visa systems is complex, but this seems to simplify some aspects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Desk Support Technician (Seattle, WA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The increase in family-based visa caps means my family might finally join me soon. This has been a long wait.
- It's a huge relief that family reunification is becoming more attainable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Immigration Lawyer (Miami, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will bring more clients to my practice, but the changes mean adapting to new legal standards.
- There's a dicey trade-off between opportunities and new regulatory hurdles for clients.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Mechanical Engineer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy doesn't impact me directly now that I have a green card, but I support opening pathways for others facing hardship.
- Living through the current system, I see how modernization can help future immigrants.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
University Lecturer (Boston, MA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My spouse's job security concerns are a constant worry, and these changes could stabilize our situation.
- The regulations might make hiring shifts complex for my department's collaborative efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Skilled Tradesman (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy doesn't directly impact me, I believe it will lead to a more inclusive workforce.
- I'm glad to see skilled immigrant workers receive better paths to permanent residency, benefitting team development.
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 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $70000000)
Year 2: $55000000 (Low: $35000000, High: $75000000)
Year 3: $60000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $80000000)
Year 5: $70000000 (Low: $50000000, High: $90000000)
Year 10: $85000000 (Low: $60000000, High: $110000000)
Year 100: $100000000 (Low: $80000000, High: $120000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy seeks to address visa backlogs, potentially impacting skilled worker availability temporarily.
- Changes in H-1B regulations could influence the hiring practices of tech industries.
- Potential shifts in family-based immigration could affect demographic patterns within communities.