The move for increase in the number of visas for temporary highly skilled (H-1 B) workers has gathered momentum in the US Senate, with the introduction of yet another bill, ‘S 2611’ or ‘’a bill to provide for comprehensive immigration reform and for other purposes’’.

The bill proposes increasing the annual cap of 65,000 to 115,000, and to automatically increase the new cap by 20% each year the cap is reached. The bill also proposes to create a new exemption to the proposed cap for anyone who has an ‘’advanced degree in science, technology, engineering , or math’’ from any foreign university.

For the H-1 B worker there is more good news. As per the proposals in this bill, H-1 B workers are eligible for green cards and would be allowed to stay and work in the US for as long as it takes to process the green card application.

In other words, all that an H-1 B visa holder needs to do is apply for a green card to ensure that they can stay on in the US. At present H-1 B visas are issued for a period of six years. The bill would increase the annual cap on employment-based green cards by more than 500%, upping the current cap of 140,000 to 450,000 until 2016, and to 290,000, and exempting all immediate family members (spouses, children and parents) that currently count against the cap from the newly escalated cap.

The bill has been introduced by Senator Arlen Specter, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee. Most of the provisions of the bill are part of the comprehensive Immigration Bill that was passed by the committee.

However, the bill is in keeping with a strategy to ensure that proposals to increase skilled worker visas is not held up in the debate on illegal immigrants. The bill is co-sponsored by six senators — Sam Brownback, Lindsey Graham, Chuck Hagel, Edward Kennedy, Mel Martinez, and John McCain.