Potential Immigration Reform Bill Could Have Huge Impact On Employment-Based Immigration

Amidst the hubbub surrounding the comprehensive immigration reform plans announced last week by eight United States Senators and President Obama, a bipartisan bill targeting employment-based immigration was introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.).  The Immigration Innovation (I2) Act of 2013 would enact changes that would greatly aid employers in their efforts to employ alien employees and would aid alien employees, and their employers, in their efforts to obtain permanent residency.  Specifically, the bill would:

1. Increase the H-1B cap from 65,000 to 115,000.
2. Establish a market-based H-1B escalator that would allow for additional H-1B slots in years with high demand.