This archived article describes the RAISE Act proposal introduced in August 2017, during President Donald Trump’s first administration. The bill proposed major changes to family- and employment-based immigration, but it was a legislative proposal, not a change that automatically took effect.
According to an ABCNews.com report, the bill entitled the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act (RAISE) would focus on applicants’ job skills instead of family ties in determining eligibility for permanent resident status (i.e. a green card). The impetus behind the bill is to cut the number of authorized immigrants entering the U.S. each year from 1 million to 500,000.
The bill’s sponsors, Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) are reportedly concerned that the current system does not attract enough qualified workers and is putting downward pressure on foreign nationals who want to immigrate for positions that require skilled workers.
The bill ostensibly mirrors the Canadian and Australian immigration systems that award permanent residence status based on demand for the skills and professions needed in those nations.
What Happened to the 2017 Proposal?
The RAISE Act (S. 1720) was introduced in the 115th Congress and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. It did not become the new U.S. immigration law. The introduced bill text documents the proposed changes. A proposal from 2017 should not be used as a statement of current eligibility, quotas, or the current visa process.
For current questions about family immigration, employment sponsorship, or adjustment of status, consult official agency instructions for your circumstances. You can also review the firm’s family immigration practice page to ask whether it handles the type of matter involved.