Now Reading
The Bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act to Plug Loopholes in the American Visa System

The Bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act to Plug Loopholes in the American Visa System

  • The much-needed reform seeks to crack down on foreign outsourcing companies that exploit these visa programs to deprive qualified Americans of high-skilled jobs.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to reform and close loopholes in the H-1B and L-1 visa programs. The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will reduce fraud and abuse, provide protections for American workers and visa holders and require more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers. This comprehensive overhaul of the H-1B and L-1 visa programs will protect American workers and crackdown on foreign outsourcing companies, which exploit these visa programs to deprive qualified Americans of high-skilled jobs. Grassley and Durbin first introduced the legislation in 2007 and have been long-time advocates for H-1B and L-1 visa reform.

ā€œCongress created the H-1B and L-1 visa programs to complement Americaā€™s high-skilled workforce, not replace it. Unfortunately, some companies are trying to exploit the programs by cutting American workers for cheaper labor. We need programs dedicated to putting American workers first. When skilled foreign workers are needed to meet the demands of our labor market, we must also ensure that visa applicants who honed their skills at American colleges and universities are a priority over the importation of more foreign workers. Our bill takes steps to ensure that the programs work for Americans and skilled foreign workers alike,ā€ Grassley said.

ā€œReforming the H-1B and L-1 visa programs is a critical component to fixing Americaā€™s broken immigration system. For years, outsourcing companies have used legal loopholes to displace qualified American workers, exploit foreign workers, and facilitate the outsourcing of American jobs. Our legislation would fix these broken programs, protect workers, and put an end to these abuses,ā€ Durbin said.

The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will require U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to prioritize for the first time the annual allocation of H-1B visas. The new system would ensure that the best and brightest STEM advanced degree students educated in the United States receive preference for an H-1B visa, and it also prioritizes other U.S. advanced degree holders, those being paid a high wage, and those with valuable skills.

Specifically, the bill would prohibit companies with more than 50 employees, of which at least half are H-1B or L-1 holders, from hiring additional H-1B employees.

The legislation explicitly prohibits the replacement of American workers by H-1B or L-1 visa holders, and it clarifies that the working conditions of similarly employed American workers may not be adversely affected by the hiring of an H-1B worker, including H-1B workers who have been placed by another employer at the American workerā€™s worksite.

Importantly, the legislation will crack down on outsourcing companies that import large numbers of H-1B and L-1 workers for temporary training purposes only to send the workers back to their home countries to do the same job. Specifically, the bill would prohibit companies with more than 50 employees, of which at least half are H-1B or L-1 holders, from hiring additional H-1B employees. The bill gives the U.S. Department of Labor enhanced authority to review, investigate and audit employer compliance with program requirements, as well as to penalize fraudulent or abusive conduct. It requires the production of extensive statistical data about the H-1B and L-1 programs, including wage data, worker education levels, place of employment and gender. 

In addition, the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act includes several reforms of the L-1 visa program, including the establishment of a wage floor for L-1 workers; authority for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to investigate, audit and enforce compliance with the L-1 program requirements; assurance that intra-company transfers occur between legitimate branches of a company and do not involve ā€œshellā€ facilities; and a change to the definition of ā€œspecialized knowledgeā€ to ensure that L-1 visas are reserved only for truly key personnel.

See Also

Along with Grassley and Durbin, the legislation is also cosponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). 

A copy of the bill text can be found HERE.


Amy Ghosh is a practicing lawyer in Los Angeles. She migrated to the U.S. in 1987 and has been married to a (retired) rocket scientist for 35 years. She has two adult children. Before becoming an attorney, she was a biochemist and worked for several well-known hospitals and laboratories. Ghosh continues to be very much in touch with her motherland India and her favorite city Calcutta. She has recently produced a Bengali movie ā€œUrojahaj-The Flightā€ by acclaimed filmmaker Buddhadeb Dasgupta. Ghosh is continually looking for meaningful opportunities to contribute to society through her legal and social work.

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
View Comments (0)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Ā© 2020 American Kahani LLC. All rights reserved.

The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies ofĀ American Kahani.
Scroll To Top