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November 29, 2011                                                                                                         Contact:  Frances Cox

             The Fratelli Group

                                                                                                                                              202-822-9491

 

ACIP Commends House Passage of Bill to Eliminate Per-country Limits on Employment-based Green Cards

 

Says More Green Cards are Critical for U.S. Economic Growth and Job Creation

 

Washington, D.C. – The American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) today released the following statement in reaction to passage of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 (H.R. 3012) by the U.S. House of Representatives with a 389-15 vote:

 

We applaud the House for passing H.R. 3012 today, a move that is a helpful first step in allowing U.S. employers to better retain highly educated, foreign-born innovators and job creators through the elimination of the employment-based per-country visa caps over a phase-in period of three years.

 

The current years-long backlog for certain top world talent limits U.S. employers’ ability to promote high-potential employees to positions necessary to product development and global operations in the United States, ultimately hampering America’s innovation and economic growth opportunities. We commend Members of the House, particularly the bill’s sponsor, Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) as well as the broad, bipartisan group, including leaders like House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) and Democrats including Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), for acting on this issue.

 

This bill is an important step in the right direction, and we continue to encourage Congress to address needed reforms to clear the green card backlog – something alleviated through provision of more green cards.

 

ACIP looks forward to continuing to work with Congress on employment-based high-skilled immigration reforms this session.

 

To learn more about the importance of reforming the employment-based green card system, see ACIP’s primer or www.acip.com. 

 

 

The American Council on International Personnel (ACIP) represents employers working to speed U.S. economic recovery, create new jobs for all Americans and advance American innovation.  Our members are companies, universities, research institutions and organizations that employ the critical talent that has and will continue to build the U.S. economy and raise the standard of living for all Americans.  We build the workforces necessary to keep America on the cutting edge of worldwide innovation and leading the global economy.  Learn more at www.acip.com.