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05/04/2005 HEALTHCARE IMMIGRATION ALERT:
RETROGRESSION LEGISLATION: DONE DEAL!
The deal between the House and Senate to recapture unused immigrant visa
numbers and eliminate retrogression was finalized late last night. The deal
creates a special EB3 immigrant class for Schedule A occupations --
registered nurses and physical therapists. The special class exempts 50,000
immigrant visas from the general EB3 category and effectively ends nurse and
physical therapist retrogression for at least the next two or three years.
It is expected that the formal enabling vote will take place next week. The
President will sign the legislation shortly thereafter. It may take the
Departments of State and Homeland Security several weeks to apply the law.
At this point HLG estimates retrogression will be effectively lifted for EB3
Schedule A occupations with the publication of the July Visa Bulletin. The
July Visa Bulletin should be released in mid-June.
HLG and its coalition partners, which include many prominent immigration
attorneys, staffing companies, healthcare facilities, hospitals, and
healthcare advocacy groups have spent several months working with
Congressional representatives to raise awareness about the healthcare
staffing shortage and push for Congressional action. We are quite pleased
with the result of our efforts and we will continue advocating for more
favorable healthcare staffing legislation and policy. We would also like to
extend a big "Thanks!" to all of those who contributed to the cause, such as
our lobbyist Joan Bonderoff of Specturm Group, and especially to those who
contributed financially -- your money was well-spent! If you are interested
contributing to our next lobbying effort, please contact Chris Musillo
cmusillo@hammondlawfirm.com
Keep up with the latest Immigration News by signing up
for all of Hammond Law Group LLC's free publications:
Immigration Alerts, Medical Monthly Monitor and Business Immigration
Quarterly.
http://www.hammondlawfirm.com/mailing_list.htm
Other HLG
articles outlining the
Retrogression recapture initiative
[back to main listing]
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