WASHINGTON(PTI): Immigration Voice, which represents highly skilled Indian-American immigrant community, has welcomed a proposal about providing green card to those with higher studies in the US in maths, science, engineering and technology, and having a job offer but said it can be further refined.
"This is not a perfect proposal and we look forward to the opportunity to work with the lawmakers in refining this proposal and a possible Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill," Immigration Voice said in an email to its members.
"This proposal will reform America's high-skilled immigration system to permanently attract the world's best and brightest while preventing the loss of American jobs to temporary foreign labor contractors," said the proposal drawn by Senators Charles E Schumer, Harry Reid and Bob Menendez.
"In order to accomplish this goal, a green card will be immediately available to foreign students with an advanced degree from a United States institution of higher education in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, and who possess an offer of employment from a US employer in a field related to their degree," the proposal said.
Under the proposal, foreign students will be permitted to enter the United States with immigrant intent if they are a bona fide student so long as they pursue a full course of study at an institution of higher education in a field of science, technology, engineering or mathematics.
"To get the process started, this proposal needs the support of 60 Senators. As such we all need do our share in petitioning the lawmakers asking them to take leadership on the issue of national importance," said the Immigration Voice.
Noting that its issues are real and affect over one million people who patiently are waiting in line for past several years, Immigration Voice said: "We are high-skilled immigrants who have followed all the rules and contribute significantly to the economy and to the innovation, and we have helped in creating jobs in America. This is undisputable fact."
In an effort to push for a comprehensive immigration reform, it said now is the time to reiterate this fact to the lawmakers, requesting them to support immigration reform bill.
"Our strength is our grassroots efforts, so let us all call our lawmakers asking them to take IMMEDIATE ACTION on the Immigration reform effort," the email said urging its members to call its Senators.
