""Visas"" — UNT Digital Library

Overview of Immigration Issues in the 112th Congress

Date: March 21, 2011

Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen

Description: This report synthesizes immigration issues as a multi-tiered debate. It breaks down the U.S. immigration law and policy into key elements: border control and visa security; legal immigration; documentation and verification; interior immigration enforcement; integration, status, and benefits; and refugees and other humanitarian populations. This report also delineates the debate in the 112th Congress for a range of issues, including border security, criminal aliens, and worksite enforcement.

Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33030/

Visa Security Policy: Roles of the Departments of State and Homeland Security

Date: May 6, 2011

Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen

Description: This report discusses the visa security and visa policy questions, debated in the 112th Congress.. The policy questions center on whether immigration law needs to be strengthened, whether funding should be increased, and which agency should take the lead.

Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc40089/

Nonimmigrant Overstays: Brief Synthesis of the Issue

Date: May 22, 2006

Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen

Description: None

Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10855/

Foreign Medical Graduates: A Brief Overview of the J-1 Visa Waiver Program

Date: June 5, 2008

Creator: Ester, Karma

Description: The Educational and Cultural Exchange Visitor program has become a gateway for foreign medical graduates (FMGs) to gain admission to the United States as nonimmigrants for the purpose of graduate medical education and training. These FMGs either enter under the J-1 nonimmigrant visa or receive waivers that require them to work in a designated healthcare professional shortage area for a minimum of three years. The ability of states to request such waivers is known as the "Conrad State Program," and was added temporarily to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) in 1994. It has been extended by the last several Congresses. Legislation has been introduced in the 110th Congress to address the program's expiration.

Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10688/

Immigration: S Visas for Criminal and Terrorist Informants

Date: May 17, 2006

Creator: Ester, Karma

Description: In response to the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001, Congress passed legislation making permanent a provision that allows aliens with critical information on criminal or terrorist organizations to come into the United States to provide information to law enforcement officials. The law (S. 1424, and then P.L. 107-45) amended the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent authority for the administration of the "S" visa, which was scheduled to expire on September 13, 2001. On November 29, 2001, then-Attorney General John Ashcroft announced the "Responsible Cooperators Program" to reach out to persons who may be eligible for the S visa. Up to 200 criminal informants and 50 terrorist informants may be admitted annually. Since FY2005, more than 500 informants and their accompanying family members have entered on S visas. No terrorist informants have been admitted into the U.S. since 1996.

Contributing Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department

Permallink:digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs10275/