H.R.

2131 - "Supplying Knowledge-based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas Act" (The SKILLS Visa Act) Updated July 16, 2013
On May 25, 2013, the Supplying Knowledge-based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas Act (The SKILLS Visa Act) was introduced by Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA). It was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on June 27, 2013. If enacted, the bill would unnecessarily devastate AAPI and other immigrant families by eliminating the sibling family preference category (the F4 category). Therefore, AAJC opposes this bill.

What It Does and Its Impact on Asian Americans and other immigrants Improves the employment-based immigration system by providing more green cards for STEM (science, engineering and math) graduates from U.S. universities and immigrant entrepreneurs, increasing the H-1B visa cap and eliminating per country caps for employment-based visas. Eliminates the family visa category for brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (the F4 category) in the future. The loss of this category would be significant. Between 2009-2012, the State Department issued F4 visas for almost 167,000 siblings of U.S. citizens (and their derivatives) from Asian countries and over 30,000 from Spanish-speaking countries. Goes as far as to prevent over 1.8 of the nearly 2.5 million family members already in line with approved petitions from ever obtaining an F4 visa. Some loved ones have already been waiting for years, even decades, to be reunited with their U.S. citizen family brothers and sisters. This conflicts with our fundamental principle of fairness. Eliminates the diversity visa program, which allows immigrants from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. to immigrate, particularly those from Africa and the Caribbean. In 2012, 13,390 people from Africa and the Caribbean immigrated to the U.S. through the diversity visa program.

Family immigration is a critical pillar of our immigration system and it strengthens our communities and economy. Immigration should not be a zero-sum game, pitting families against employees. These two systems must work together to create a robust workforce, diverse communities, and a stronger middle class. Family-based immigration and employment-based immigration benefit American communities and businesses. Eliminating the ability for U.S. citizens to sponsor their siblings will significantly disadvantage women who want to come to this country, particularly unmarried women.
For more information on immigration reform efforts and to get the latest updates, please visit www.reunitingfamiliesnow.org. July 16, 2013