Washington: The American dream may become easier to realise for many Indians, as the US Senate committee has approved a bill which seeks to double the number of H1B visas and Green Cards issued annually.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Republican Senator Arlen Specter, has approved the Immigration Reform Bill.
The 300-page legislation, mainly drafted to tackle illegal immigration, includes major increases in the number of H1B visas and Green Cards issued annually.
The bill proposes an increase in H1B visas from the current cap of 65,000 to 1,15,000. If this limit is reached in any year, the bill seeks an additional 20 per cent raise in subsequent years.
The number of Green Cards would more than double to 2,90,000, which is up from the current limit of 1,40,000.
However, the new quota will not include family members of the Green Card holder.
Washington-based pro-India lobby group, US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) President, Sanjay Puri has worked with Senator Specter's office on the bill and says that more H1Bs are good for the US economy.
"We're talking about bringing in the best and the brightest who get educated at someone else's nickel. We get their brains at no cost. These are people who will pay will taxes they will contribute. Look at Intel Corp. started by Andy Grove who happens to be an immigrant," Puri said.
The bill also proposes to create a guest worker program and will enable millions of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants to achieve legal status in the United States.
The bill will now move to the full Senate for debate and a vote. It will also have to be passed by the House of Representatives before it becomes a law.
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