To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage areas.

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 19, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to the admission of nonimmigrant nurses (H-1C visa) in health professional shortage areas to: (1) permit a one-time three-year extension of admission, and (2) reduce the maximum number of such visas per fiscal year to 300.

Authorizes such nonimmigrant alien to accept new employment as a registered nurse at any facility which qualifies for the H-1C program upon a prospective employer's filing of a new petition.

Continues employment authorization until adjudication of a new petition. Terminates such authorization if a petition is denied.

Requires such nonimmigrant alien: (1) to have been lawfully admitted to the United States; (2) to have not been employed without authorization since admission; and (3) to have had a prospective employer file a petition for new employment before the date of expiration of the authorized period of stay, except that if the alien is terminated or laid off by his or her employer such new employment petition shall be filed during the ensuing 45-day period.

[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1933 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1933

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements 
 for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage 
                                 areas.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 23, 2011

     Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Cuellar, and Mr. Roskam) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                             the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to modify the requirements 
 for admission of nonimmigrant nurses in health professional shortage 
                                 areas.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION OF NONIMMIGRANT NURSES IN HEALTH 
              PROFESSIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS.

    (a) Extension of Period of Authorized Admission.--Section 212(m)(3) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(m)(3)) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(3) The initial period of authorized admission as a nonimmigrant 
under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(c) shall be 3 years, and may be extended 
once for an additional 3-year period.''.
    (b) Number of Visas.--Section 212(m)(4) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(m)(4)) is amended by striking ``500.'' 
and inserting ``300.''.
    (c) Applicability.--
            (1) In general.--During the 3-year period beginning on the 
        commencement date described in paragraph (2), the amendments 
        made by section 2 of the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas 
        Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-95), and the amendments made by 
        subsections (a) and (b) of this section, shall apply to 
        classification petitions filed for nonimmigrant status. This 
        period shall be in addition to the period described in section 
        2(e) of the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act of 1999.
            (2) Commencement date.--Not later than 60 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland 
        Security shall determine whether regulations are necessary to 
        implement the amendments made by subsection (a) and (b). If the 
        Secretary determines that no such regulations are necessary, 
        the commencement date described in this paragraph shall be the 
        date of such determination. If the Secretary determines that 
        regulations are necessary to implement subsection (a) or (b), 
        the commencement date described in this paragraph shall be the 
        date on which such regulations (in final form) take effect.
                                 <all>