US bill seeks merit-based H-1B visas, curbs on family immigration

Washington: A proposed US immigration overhaul could change how skilled foreign professionals obtain work visas and permanent residency, while curbing family-based migration and scrapping the Diversity Visa lottery.

The SMARTER Act, introduced by Republican Congressman David Schweikert of Arizona, seeks to replace the current H-1B visa selection process with a system that favours applicants based on qualifications, salaries and economic contribution. The bill was introduced in September and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It has not become law.

The proposal envisages an initial annual limit of 85,000 visas under the revised skilled-worker framework. A five-member board would assess labour shortages, wages and economic conditions to determine future allocations. A points-based system for employment-based permanent residency would consider applicants' age, education, English proficiency, earnings and professional achievements.

The legislation would also remove country-specific caps on employment-based immigration, potentially affecting Indian professionals facing lengthy green-card backlogs. However, any impact on waiting periods would depend on the final visa limits and selection rules.

Other provisions include restricting family-sponsored immigration mainly to spouses and minor children, ending the diversity lottery and introducing a gold-card programme for eligible applicants making substantial financial payments.

Republican staff projections suggest the legislation could reduce federal spending by $335 billion and boost economic output by at least $549 billion over a decade. These estimates have not been independently established.

With IANS inputs