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Immigration Could Move as Amendments

Several immigrant visa programs, as well as a worker eligibility verification tool, are set to expire at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30. Efforts to renew them are under way. Two programs focus on wealthy immigrants. A Senate amendment to the Homeland Security appropriations bill would make permanent an immigrant visa category that offers green cards, or permanent resident status, to wealthy investors who do business in the United States and hire American workers.

Under the program, 3,000 visas are annually handed out to foreigners willing to invest at least $1 million dollars in a new or existing business and create at least 10 jobs for U.S. citizens. In exchange, they receive an EB-5 immigrant visa, which allows them permanent residency and a path to citizenship.

Also set to expire is E-Verify, the government's Internet-based worker eligibility verification program that was reauthorized through six-month patches within stopgap spending bills. The Senate's Homeland Security spending bill also contains a provision to make the E-Verify program permanent and require its use by all government contractors.