The bill was passed by an overwhelming majority of 365-65 votes in the 435-member House.
A Green Card allows a person from another country to live and work permanently in the United States.
According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services rules and regulations the seven percent cap on Green Cards was applicable to citizens of another independent country in a given fiscal year.
As per details provided by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the non-partisan public policy research arm of the United States Congress, the passing of this bill increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from seven to 15 percent annually.
It also eliminates the seven percent cap for employment-based immigrant visas and removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for Chinese citizens.
The United States Senate also has to pass the bill before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump.
On becoming law, the Fairness of High-Skilled Immigrants Act, 2019, also known as HR 1044, would give hope to talented professionals from countries like India who aspire to permanent residency and work permits in the United States.
The draft Fairness of High-Skilled Immigrants Act, 2019 establishes transition rules for employment-based visas by reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability), EB-3 (skilled and other workers) and EB-5 (investors) visas for individuals from other than the two countries (India and China) that get the largest number of such visas.
The bill also stipulates that no more than 85 percent of unreserved visas would be given to immigrants from any one country.
An identical bill sponsored by senators Kamala Harris and Mike Lee is likely to be taken up. Senate Bill S386 currently has 34 co-sponsors.
Congressman John Curtis said the bill will enable American companies to flourish and compete in a global economy as they hire the brightest people from other countries to create products, services, and jobs.
A section of netizens has hailed the passage of the bill, with one of them describing it as an “incredible” step for both Indians and Chinese citizens who normally have to wait between 10 to 15 years to get a Green Card.
If passed in the Upper house of Congress, it’ll be INCREDIBLE for Indians and Chinese immigrants who wait for 10-15 years to get a Green Card https://t.co/5QRtNJGdKh
— Vivek Bathina (@Vivek_bathina) July 11, 2019
#Indians to benefit as #US House passes #bill removing 7% country-cap on #GreenCard https://t.co/qIiGzdCX9t
— Pratiba Raman (@PratibaRaman) July 11, 2019
US House passes bill removing 7% country-cap on Green Card, Indians may benefit
— Dogra Herald (@DograEditor) July 11, 2019
The US House of Representatives has passed a legislation that removes the seven per cent country-cap on Green Card applicants, a development which signed into law could end the agonizing pic.twitter.com/qqzxnuuyGd
Majority Indians\Chinese waiting are highly skilled, not bonded laborers (who are fighting against this bill).
— Abhishek Singh (@ramants17) July 11, 2019
Truth of the matter is, H1-B people will get paid more if they get a green card.
Right now we don't even think of moving jobs due to the restrictions.
Wow 😍 well done @realDonaldTrump.. now indian expats can able to convert there H1B1 visa into Green Card. Currently the waiting is of 10 to 70ys for Indians. May br it will narrow down to 5 to 10years. @PMOIndia @POTUS@narendramodihttps://t.co/xVsueYGOcM
— The Honest Buddy (@yourhonestbuddy) July 11, 2019
Others objected strongly to the passing of the bill. One of them described it as a case of “flawed logic, flawed math”, while another said it was an unfair draft legislation.
Why this excitement about open immigration to US? Cause India can’t handle its own people? Too many people too much unemployment, too less pay etc? Question this! Besides working class brilliant minds also go abroad to make “India proud”? #greencard #immigration https://t.co/d9o6RebefX
— Lin Cee (@lincp) July 11, 2019
#HR1044 #S386 #NoHR1044 #NoS386 @RandPaul @realDonaldTrump With respect to my Indian fellows, but this bill is far away from fair. If passed, for many years, not a single person from other country except India can get a green card.
— Stewie (@BubbleMileTea) July 11, 2019
First the visas won't all go to Indians. Even with the worst case(of your logic) of all visas going to Indians 470k people/140k is 3.3 years. Where do you get 12 years from? Flawed logic flawed math. Do you want the privilege even before you are eligible for a green card?
— ironminion (@literalrunner) July 11, 2019
I have actually met two people that used to do software coding and both were replaced by green card Indians. They had to train them to get their severance packages.
— William Kohn (@wakawe55) July 11, 2019
#S386 we MUST put a STOP to this bill. This bill only benefits one country which is India. If this bill passes, after 3 years, all immigrants except Indians will have to wait for 5+ or even 10+ years to get their green card. This will destroy equity and diversity of this country
— KamijouTouma (@AcceleratorTT) July 11, 2019
Joseph S Joh, Assistant Director and Senior Advisor in the Office of Legislative Affairs of the US Department of Homeland Security, said the bill would not help move the current employment-sponsored system toward a more merit-based system.
Top American IT companies like Microsoft have welcomed the passage of the bill and called on the US Senate to pass it at the earliest date.
