On Tuesday January 13, 2015, a bi-partisan coalition of Senators reintroduced the “Immigration Innovation (I-Squared) Act of 2015 (S. 153).” The Immigration Innovation Act aims to reform the current immigration system for high-skilled workers. The bill’s key reform would increase the annual H-1B cap from 65,000 to at least 115,000 and up to 195,000 depending on market demand. The bill would also remove the existing 20,000 cap on the U.S. advanced degree exemption for H-1Bs and authorize employment for dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders.

Other notable reforms include:

• Recognition of “dual intent” for foreign students at U.S. colleges and universities, so foreign students aren’t penalized for trying to stay in the U.S. after graduation.
• Exemptions from the employment-based green card cap for dependents of employment-based immigrant visa recipients, U.S. STEM advanced degree holders, persons with extraordinary ability, and outstanding professors and researchers.
• Elimination of annual country-specific limits for employment-based visa petitioners and adjustment of country specific caps for family-based immigrant visas.

Additional information on the Immigration Innovation Act can be found here and here.