Even though there is little to no chance of comprehensive immigration reform passing, several proposed bills dealing with employment immigration and undocumented immigrants are expected to be debated in Congress in 2012. One of the smaller measures was co-sponsored by Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, who wants Irish immigrants to be able to take advantage of the E-3 visa program.

The Irish Immigration Reform and Encouragement Act is narrow in scope and would apply only to immigrants from Ireland.

Passage of the legislation would make Ireland the second country whose citizens could apply for an E-3 work visa. Seven years ago, President George W. Bush signed legislation giving Australians the right to apply for the limited E-3 visa, which permits qualified workers to seek skilled U.S. employment opportunities.

Brown and Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois want 10,500 specialty visas to be granted to Irish citizens each year, in part to recognize the strong historical alliance between the United States and Ireland.

An E-3 work visa allows an applicant with specific credentials to be employed in the United States for two years. The visa renewal process has an unlimited number of renewals available, as long as an immigrant's work conditions remain needed and stable.

The proposed measure introduces the possibility of more skilled-worker employment visas for Irish citizens in the future. The the pending legislation does not address the divisive subject of treatment of undocumented immigrants.

When people think of immigration, they often times only think of the politically charged topic of comprehensive reform. Many skilled workers from developed countries also want to find work in the United States, and visas like the E-3 make that possible.

Source: The Republican, "Sen. Scott Brown pushes for Irish immigration reform," Robert Rizzuto, Dec. 16, 2011