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Skriven 2007-05-31 23:30:58 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (070531j) for Thu, 2007 May 31
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Fact Sheet: Establishing a Merit-Based System for Future Immigration
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary May 31, 2007

Fact Sheet: Establishing a Merit-Based System for Future Immigration
Bipartisan Immigration Bill Reforms System To Balance Family Connections
And Economic Needs

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: Immigration

Three Key Points On The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill's Merit-Based
System

1. The Bipartisan Immigration Bill Reforms The Immigration System To Better
Balance The Importance Of Family Connections With U.S. Economic Needs.

2. The Bill Will Help Keep The U.S. Competitive In The Global Economy By
Establishing A New Merit-Based System For Immigration That Is Similar To
Those Used By Other Countries. There will still be more family-based than
merit-based visas.

3. The Bill Will Eliminate The Current Application Backlog For
Employment-Based Visas And Make 380,000 Green Cards Available Under The
Merit-Based System - Up From 140,000 Employment-Based Visas Available
Today.

The Bill Will Create A Balanced Immigration System That Meets Economic And
Family Needs

The Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill Establishes A New Merit-Based System
To Select Future Immigrants Based On The Skills And Attributes They Will
Bring To The United States. Under the merit-based system, future immigrants
applying for permanent residency in the U.S. will be assigned points for
attributes that further our national interest, including: skills and work
experience, with added points for U.S. employment in a specialty or
high-demand field; education, with added points for training in science,
math, and technology; employer endorsement; ability to speak English; and
family ties to the U.S.

The Bill Creates A Balance In The Immigration System That Will Help Keep
The Economy Competitive While Upholding The Importance Of Family
Connections. The bill would clear the backlog of family-based applications
under the current system within eight years. Even after family backlogs are
cleared and the rebalancing of visas is complete, there will still be more
family-based green cards than merit-based green cards issued.

Once The Backlogs Of Employment-Based Applicants And Family-Based
Applicants Are Cleared, There Will Be 380,000 Green Cards Available Under
The Merit-Based System - Up From 140,000 Employment-Based Green Cards
Today. The bill makes 247,000 green cards immediately available under the
merit-based system each year for the first five years after enactment.

The Bill Includes A Large, Immediate Increase In The H-1B Visa Cap For
Skilled Foreign Workers. The H-1B visa cap will rise from 65,000 now to
115,000 for the first year. Going forward, the cap will rise and fall based
on economic need, allowing for adjustments up to 180,000. Current H-1B
exemptions will remain intact, and new exemptions will free up as many as
6,800 additional visas.

The Merit-Based System Will Attract Workers In High-Demand Occupations

The Merit-Based System Will Balance The Demand For High-Skill And Low-Skill
Workers. Points under the merit-based system will be determined by a
combination of attributes and skills workers will bring to the U.S.
economy. A floor of 10,000 green cards will be maintained for unskilled
workers. Points are awarded for:

1. Employment: Maximum Of 47 Points, Including:
  þ 20 points for U.S. employment in specialty occupations, as determined
    by USCIS. Examples include medical, health, scientific, education,
    biotechnology, and business disciplines.
  þ 16 points for U.S. employment in a high-demand field, as determined by
    the U.S. Department of Labor. These jobs are in one of the 30
    occupations projected to have the largest job growth over the next ten
    years. Examples include waiters and waitresses, home health aides,
    computer software engineers, janitors and cleaners, and computer
    systems analysts.
  þ 8 points for U.S. employment in STEM (science, technology, engineering,
    or math) or health occupations for at least one year.
  þ 6 points if an employer pays 50 percent of the fee for the worker's
    application to become a Lawful Permanent Resident and 1) offers a job
    or 2) attests for a current employee
  þ 3 points if the worker is aged 25-39.
  þ 2 points for each year worked in a U.S. firm with maximum of 10 points
    allowed for this category.

2. Education: Maximum Of 28 Points, Including:
  þ 20 points for an MD, MBA, graduate degree, etc.
  þ 16 points for a Bachelor's degree
  þ 10 points for an Associate's degree
  þ 8 points for an Associate's degree or higher in STEM field
  þ 8 points for a completed U.S. Department of Labor registered
    apprenticeship
  þ 6 points for a high school diploma or GED
  þ 5 points for completion of a certified Perkins vocational education
    program

3. English And Civics: Maximum Of 15 Points, Including:
  þ 15 points for native speakers of English or a TOEFL (Test of English as
    a Foreign Language) score of 75 or higher
  þ 10 points for a TOEFL score of 60-74
  þ 6 points for passing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
    citizenship tests in English and civics

4. Extended Family: Maximum Of 10 Points (If Applicant Already Has 55
Points From Other Categories), Including:
  þ 8 points if the applicant is the adult child of a U.S. citizen
  þ 6 points if the applicant is the adult child of a Lawful Permanent
    Resident
  þ 4 points if the applicant is the sibling of a U.S. citizen or Lawful
    Permanent Resident
  þ 2 points if the applicant sought a family visa in any of the above
    categories after May 1, 2005

Examples Of Workers Under New Merit-Based System

Software Developer
20 - Specialty Occupation
8 - STEM Occupation
6 - Employer Endorsement
3 - Age (25-39)
20 - Master's Degree
8 - STEM Education
15 - English
Total: 80 points

Medical Assistant 16 - High Demand Occupation
8 - STEM Occupation
6 - Employer Endorsement
10 - Experience
3 - Age (25-39)
6 - Education (GED)
8 - Registered Apprenticeship
4 - Sibling of U.S. citizen
6 - Basic English
Total: 67 points

Maintenance Or Repair Worker
16 - High Demand Occupation
10 - U.S. work experience
8 - High school diploma
6 - Employer endorsement
6 - Basic English
5 - Perkins vocational education program
3 - Age (25-39)
Total: 54 points

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