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H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3770| Senate 
| Updated: 5/19/2020
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (4)
Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2020 This bill modifies requirements related to H-1B (specialty occupation) and L-1 (intracompany transfers) nonimmigrant visas and contains related provisions. Provisions relating to H-1B visas include requiring the Department of Labor to review petitions for indicators of fraud or misrepresentation of material fact; requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize certain petitions, with top priority for workers with advanced degrees in science, technology, or engineering; requiring an H-1B worker to possess at minimum a bachelor's degree to meet specialty occupation requirements (currently, relevant experience may be used instead); and prohibiting an alien classifiable in certain H-1B categories from obtaining a B-1 (temporary business visitor) visa. Provisions relating to L-1 visas include requiring a waiver from Labor for an L-1 worker to be primarily stationed with an employer other than the petitioning employer; prohibiting an alien from receiving an L-1 visa to open or be employed in a new office if the alien has received two or more such visas in the last two years; and increasing the L-1 worker minimum wage to the highest of certain amounts, such as the median wage for the worker's occupational classification in the area of employment (currently, an L-1 worker must be paid at least the higher of the federal or state minimum wage). In regards to both visas, the bill (1) expands the authority of DHS and Labor to take various enforcement actions, and (2) directs DHS to conduct annual audits of a certain percentage of employers.
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Timeline
May 19, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 19, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 22, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6993
Introduced in House
  • May 19, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 19, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 22, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6993
    Introduced in House

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 116-6993: H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2020
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of LaborForeign laborGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsImmigration status and proceduresScience and engineering educationUser charges and feesVisas and passportsWages and earnings

H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2020

USA116th CongressS-3770| Senate 
| Updated: 5/19/2020
H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2020 This bill modifies requirements related to H-1B (specialty occupation) and L-1 (intracompany transfers) nonimmigrant visas and contains related provisions. Provisions relating to H-1B visas include requiring the Department of Labor to review petitions for indicators of fraud or misrepresentation of material fact; requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to prioritize certain petitions, with top priority for workers with advanced degrees in science, technology, or engineering; requiring an H-1B worker to possess at minimum a bachelor's degree to meet specialty occupation requirements (currently, relevant experience may be used instead); and prohibiting an alien classifiable in certain H-1B categories from obtaining a B-1 (temporary business visitor) visa. Provisions relating to L-1 visas include requiring a waiver from Labor for an L-1 worker to be primarily stationed with an employer other than the petitioning employer; prohibiting an alien from receiving an L-1 visa to open or be employed in a new office if the alien has received two or more such visas in the last two years; and increasing the L-1 worker minimum wage to the highest of certain amounts, such as the median wage for the worker's occupational classification in the area of employment (currently, an L-1 worker must be paid at least the higher of the federal or state minimum wage). In regards to both visas, the bill (1) expands the authority of DHS and Labor to take various enforcement actions, and (2) directs DHS to conduct annual audits of a certain percentage of employers.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 19, 2020
Introduced in Senate
May 19, 2020
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
May 22, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6993
Introduced in House
  • May 19, 2020
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 19, 2020
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • May 22, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6993
    Introduced in House
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (4)
Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 116-6993: H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2020
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightDepartment of LaborForeign laborGovernment employee pay, benefits, personnel managementGovernment studies and investigationsImmigration status and proceduresScience and engineering educationUser charges and feesVisas and passportsWages and earnings