Senate Issue Brief
Immigration Innovation Act (I-Squared)
Request
We urge Senators to cosponsor the Immigration Innovation Act of 2015 (S. 153), also known as I-Squared. This
bill includes provisions critical to supporting international education and expands our ability to attract the
world's most talented students and scholars to our colleges and universities.
Issue
NAFSA supports creating an immigration process that strengthens our economy and reclaims the values that
make this nation a land of opportunity, equality, and freedom for all. One of the steps to make this vision a
reality is enacting the I-Squared bill, which will remove unnecessary obstacles impeding the United States’
ability to be more competitive for talented students and scholars from other nations. The following is a list of
provisions in the bill that must be supported by Congress in order to address challenges facing foreign students
seeking to study, conduct research, and contribute to innovation in the United States:
1. Attract talented foreign students by expanding dual intent. Educated students should be encouraged
to stay in the United States, but current law does the opposite. In order to get a student visa, students
must prove that they have no intention of staying, working, and contributing to our economy and local
communities after they graduate. I-Squared eliminates this requirement for foreign students studying to
receive a bachelor’s degree or higher.
2. Expand the contributions of foreign students by uncapping the H-1B limit. Each year, 20,000 H-1B
visas are allocated for foreign students with advance degrees from U.S. higher education institutions.
Unfortunately, 20,000 H-1Bs are not enough to meet the demand. I-Squared uncaps this limit, allowing
the United States to continue to benefit from more of these talented individuals after they graduate.
3. Provide greater access to green cards. Capped at 140,000 annually, there are not enough employmentbased green cards available to meet the needs of the country. We can no longer afford to turn away
talented individuals or make them and their families wait decades to obtain green cards, particularly
when other nations are competing for individuals who earn degrees from our colleges and universities. ISquared includes provisions to make additional green cards available by recapturing the unused green
cards from prior years. It would also exempt the following individuals from the cap: U.S. STEM
advance degree holders; immigrants with exceptional ability; outstanding professors and researchers;
and the spouses and children of employment-based immigrants.
Contact
Heather Stewart, Counsel and Director of Immigration Policy
202.737.3699, x2555; [email protected]
More Information
NAFSA immigration priorities and resources: nafsa.org/immigration
NAFSA: Association of International Educators
1307 New York Avenue, NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005-4701
nafsa.org/policy
March 2015