Immigration Task Force
Major Visa Categories Changed by the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744) Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Visas CURRENT CURRENT CATEGORY NAME OR CAP DESCRIPTION
NEW INITIAL CAP
NEW CAP IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS
AVG FLOW, FY 2003-12
H-1B
129,435*
Temporary
Base: 65,000.
Base: 115,000 to
Base cap may adjust by
worker of
STEM advanced
180,000 (starts at
5,000 to 20,000 annually
distinguished
degrees:
115,000).
(up or down) based on
merit and
20,000.
STEM advanced
previous year’s approvals,
ability
Uncapped:
degrees: 25,000.
within same 115,000 to
universities,
Uncapped: universities,
180,000 range.
nonprofit or
nonprofit or government
No cap increase if
government
research.
unemployment for
research.
Management, Professional, Related Occupations above 4.5 percent.
H-2A
Temporary
Uncapped
agricultural
Uncapped until W-3 and
Eliminated
48,265
18,000; eligibility
18,000; eligibility
364 (none
expanded.
expanded.
2003-
W-4 replace.
worker U
Crime victims
10,000
2008) V
Family
Uncapped
Uncapped.
Uncapped.
6,788
Category changed to
Category changed to
(none
unmarried sons and
unmarried sons and
2008-
daughters of LPRs,
daughters of LPRs,
2012)
married sons and
married sons and
daughters of citizens,
daughters of citizens,
siblings of citizens.
siblings of citizens.
Major Visa Categories Changed by the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744) | 1