Congress Extends Four Immigration Programs for Three Years

Congress has extended four immigration programs for three years, to September 30, 2015. The programs are the EB-5 regional center program, the E-Verify program, the special immigrant religious worker program, and the Conrad State 30 J-1 visa waiver program for certain foreign doctors working in medically underserved areas.

The Senate passed the extenders bill (S. 3245), as it was called, in early August. The House of Representatives passed the bill on September 13 by a vote of 412-3. The bill now goes to the President for signature.

Congress is unlikely to pass any other immigration bills before the November elections. According to one newspaper article, this session of Congress “is on track to be the least productive in modern history.” Major immigration reform will have to wait until 2013.