[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 98 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 98

  To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, 
    investment, and research in the United States, to eliminate the 
          diversity immigrant program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 7, 2015

  Mr. Vitter introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
               referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, 
    investment, and research in the United States, to eliminate the 
          diversity immigrant program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``STEM Jobs Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR CERTAIN ADVANCED STEM GRADUATES.

    (a) Worldwide Level of Immigration.--Section 201(d)(2) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(d)(2)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(D)(i) In addition to the increase provided under subparagraph 
(C), the number computed under this paragraph for fiscal year 2016 and 
subsequent fiscal years shall be further increased by the number 
specified in clause (ii), to be used in accordance with paragraphs (6) 
and (7) of section 203(b), except that--
            ``(I) immigrant visa numbers made available under this 
        subparagraph but not required for the classes specified in 
        paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 203(b) shall not be counted 
        for purposes of subsection (c)(3)(C); and
            ``(II) for purposes of paragraphs (1) through (5) of 
        section 203(b), the increase under this subparagraph shall not 
        be counted for purposes of computing any percentage of the 
        worldwide level under this subsection.
    ``(ii) The number specified in this clause is 55,000, reduced for 
any fiscal year by the number by which the number of visas under 
section 201(e) would have been reduced in that year pursuant to section 
203(d) of the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (8 
U.S.C. 1151 note) if section 201(e) had not been repealed by section 3 
of the STEM Jobs Act of 2015.
    ``(iii) Immigrant visa numbers made available under this 
subparagraph for fiscal year 2016, but not used for the classes 
specified in paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 203(b) in such year, may 
be made available in subsequent years as if they were included in the 
number specified in clause (ii) only to the extent of the cumulative 
number of petitions under section 204(a)(1)(F), and applications for a 
labor certification under section 212(a)(5)(A), filed in fiscal year 
2016 with respect to aliens seeking a visa under paragraph (6) or (7) 
of section 203(b) up to, but not exceeding, the number specified in 
clause (ii) for such year. Such immigrant visa numbers may only be made 
available in fiscal years after fiscal year 2016 in connection with a 
petition under section 204(a)(1)(F), or an application for a labor 
certification under section 212(a)(5)(A), that was filed in fiscal year 
2016.
    ``(iv) Immigrant visa numbers made available under this 
subparagraph for fiscal year 2017, but not used for the classes 
specified in paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 203(b) during such year, 
may be made available in subsequent years as if they were included in 
the number specified in clause (ii) only to the extent of the 
cumulative number of petitions under section 204(a)(1)(F), and 
applications for a labor certification under section 212(a)(5)(A), 
filed in fiscal year 2017 with respect to aliens seeking a visa under 
paragraph (6) or (7) of section 203(b) up to, but not exceeding, the 
number specified in clause (ii) for such year. Such immigrant visa 
numbers may only be made available in fiscal years after fiscal year 
2017 in connection with a petition under section 204(a)(1)(F), or an 
application for a labor certification under section 212(a)(5)(A), that 
was filed in fiscal year 2017.
    ``(v) Immigrant visa numbers made available under this subparagraph 
for fiscal year 2018, but not used for the classes specified in 
paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 203(b) in such year, may be made 
available in subsequent years as if they were included in the number 
specified in clause (ii), but only--
            ``(I) to the extent of the cumulative number of petitions 
        under section 204(a)(1)(F), and applications for a labor 
        certification under section 212(a)(5)(A), filed in fiscal year 
        2018 with respect to aliens seeking a visa under paragraph (6) 
        or (7) of section 203(b) up to, but not exceeding, the number 
        specified in clause (ii) for such year;
            ``(II) if the immigrant visa numbers used under this 
        subparagraph for fiscal year 2017 with respect to aliens 
        seeking a visa under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 203(b) 
        were less than the number specified in clause (ii) for such 
        year; and
            ``(III) if the processing standards set forth in sections 
        204(a)(1)(F)(ii) and 212(a)(5)(A)(vi) were not met in fiscal 
        year 2018.
Such immigrant visa numbers may only be made available in fiscal years 
after fiscal year 2018 in connection with a petition under section 
204(a)(1)(F), or an application for a labor certification under section 
212(a)(5)(A), that was filed in fiscal year 2018.
    ``(vi) Immigrant visa numbers made available under this 
subparagraph for fiscal year 2019, but not used for the classes 
specified in paragraphs (6) and (7) of section 203(b) in such year, may 
be made available in subsequent years as if they were included in the 
number specified in clause (ii), but only--
            ``(I) to the extent of the cumulative number of petitions 
        under section 204(a)(1)(F), and applications for a labor 
        certification under section 212(a)(5)(A), filed in fiscal year 
        2019 with respect to aliens seeking a visa under paragraph (6) 
        or (7) of section 203(b) up to, but not exceeding, the number 
        specified in clause (ii) for such year;
            ``(II) if the immigrant visa numbers used under this 
        subparagraph for fiscal year 2018 with respect to aliens 
        seeking a visa under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 203(b) 
        were less than the number specified in clause (ii) for such 
        year; and
            ``(III) if the processing standards set forth in sections 
        204(a)(1)(F)(ii) and 212(a)(5)(A)(vi) were not met in fiscal 
        year 2019.
Such immigrant visa numbers may only be made available in fiscal years 
after fiscal year 2018 in connection with a petition under section 
204(a)(1)(F), or an application for a labor certification under section 
212(a)(5)(A), that was filed in fiscal year 2019.''.
    (b) Numerical Limitation to Any Single Foreign State.--Section 
202(a)(5)(A) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(a)(5)(A)) is amended by 
striking ``or (5)'' and inserting ``(5), (6), or (7)''.
    (c) Preference Allocation for Employment-Based Immigrants.--Section 
203(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (8); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) Aliens holding doctorate degrees from united states 
        doctoral institutions of higher education in science, 
        technology, engineering, or mathematics.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Visas shall be made available, 
                in a number not to exceed the number specified in 
                section 201(d)(2)(D)(ii), to qualified immigrants who--
                            ``(i) hold a doctorate degree in a field of 
                        science, technology, engineering, or 
                        mathematics from a United States doctoral 
                        institution of higher education; and
                            ``(ii) have taken all doctoral courses in a 
                        field of science, technology, engineering, or 
                        mathematics, including all courses taken by 
                        correspondence (including courses offered by 
                        telecommunications) or by distance education, 
                        while physically present in the United States.
                    ``(B) Definitions.--For purposes of this paragraph, 
                paragraph (7), and sections 101(a)(15)(F)(i)(I) and 
                212(a)(5)(A)(iii)(III):
                            ``(i) The term `distance education' has the 
                        meaning given such term in section 103 of the 
                        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003).
                            ``(ii) The term `field of science, 
                        technology, engineering, or mathematics' means 
                        a field included in the Department of 
                        Education's Classification of Instructional 
                        Programs taxonomy within the summary groups of 
                        computer and information sciences and support 
                        services, engineering, mathematics and 
                        statistics, and physical sciences.
                            ``(iii) The term `United States doctoral 
                        institution of higher education' means an 
                        institution that--
                                    ``(I) is described in section 
                                101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
                                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)) or is a 
                                proprietary institution of higher 
                                education (as defined in section 102(b) 
                                of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1002(b)));
                                    ``(II) was classified by the 
                                Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement 
                                of Teaching on January 1, 2014, as a 
                                doctorate-granting university with a 
                                very high or high level of research 
                                activity or classified by the National 
                                Science Foundation after the date of 
                                enactment of this paragraph, pursuant 
                                to an application by the institution, 
                                as having equivalent research activity 
                                to those institutions that had been 
                                classified by the Carnegie Foundation 
                                as being doctorate-granting 
                                universities with a very high or high 
                                level of research activity;
                                    ``(III) has been in existence for 
                                at least 10 years; and
                                    ``(IV) is accredited by an 
                                accrediting body that is itself 
                                accredited either by the Department of 
                                Education or by the Council for Higher 
                                Education Accreditation.
                    ``(C) Labor certification required.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security may not 
                        approve a petition filed for classification of 
                        an alien under subparagraph (A) unless the 
                        Secretary of Homeland Security is in receipt of 
                        a determination made by the Secretary of Labor 
                        pursuant to the provisions of section 
                        212(a)(5)(A), except that the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security may waive this requirement if 
                        the Secretary determines such waiver to be in 
                        the national interest.
                            ``(ii) Requirement deemed satisfied.--The 
                        requirement under clause (i) shall be deemed 
                        satisfied with respect to an employer and an 
                        alien in a case in which a certification made 
                        under section 212(a)(5)(A)(i) has already been 
                        obtained with respect to the alien by that 
                        employer.
            ``(7) Aliens holding master's degrees from united states 
        doctoral institutions of higher education in science, 
        technology, engineering, or mathematics.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any visas not required for the 
                class specified in paragraph (6) shall be made 
                available to the class of aliens who--
                            ``(i) hold a master's degree in a field of 
                        science, technology, engineering, or 
                        mathematics from a United States doctoral 
                        institution of higher education that was either 
                        part of a master's program that required at 
                        least 2 years of enrollment or part of a 5-year 
                        combined baccalaureate-master's degree program 
                        in such field;
                            ``(ii) have taken all master's degree 
                        courses in a field of science, technology, 
                        engineering, or mathematics, including all 
                        courses taken by correspondence (including 
                        courses offered by telecommunications) or by 
                        distance education, while physically present in 
                        the United States; and
                            ``(iii) hold a baccalaureate degree in a 
                        field of science, technology, engineering, or 
                        mathematics or in a field included in the 
                        Department of Education's Classification of 
                        Instructional Programs taxonomy within the 
                        summary group of biological and biomedical 
                        sciences.
                    ``(B) Labor certification required.--
                            ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), 
                        the Secretary of Homeland Security may not 
                        approve a petition filed for classification of 
                        an alien under subparagraph (A) unless the 
                        Secretary of Homeland Security is in receipt of 
                        a determination made by the Secretary of Labor 
                        pursuant to the provisions of section 
                        212(a)(5)(A), except that the Secretary of 
                        Homeland Security may waive this requirement if 
                        the Secretary determines such waiver to be in 
                        the national interest.
                            ``(ii) Requirement deemed satisfied.--The 
                        requirement under clause (i) shall be deemed 
                        satisfied with respect to an employer and an 
                        alien in a case in which a certification made 
                        under section 212(a)(5)(A)(i) has already been 
                        obtained with respect to the alien by that 
                        employer.''.
    (d) Procedure for Granting Immigrant Status.--Section 204(a)(1)(F) 
of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(F)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``(F)'' and inserting ``(F)(i)'';
            (2) by striking ``203(b)(1)(B), 203(b)(1)(C), 203(b)(2) or 
        203(b)(3)'' and inserting ``paragraph (1)(B), (1)(C), (2), (3), 
        (6), or (7) of section 203(b)'';
            (3) by striking ``Attorney General'' and inserting 
        ``Secretary of Homeland Security''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(ii) The following processing standards shall apply with respect 
to petitions filed under clause (i) relating to alien beneficiaries 
qualifying under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 203(b):
            ``(I) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall adjudicate 
        such petitions not later than 60 days after the date on which 
        the petition is filed. If additional information or 
        documentation is requested by the Secretary during such 60-day 
        period, the Secretary shall adjudicate the petition not later 
        than 30 days after the date on which such information or 
        documentation is received.
            ``(II) The petitioner shall be notified in writing not 
        later than 30 days after the date of filing if the petition 
        does not meet the standards for approval.
            ``(III) Notification under subclause (II) shall include--
                    ``(aa) a description of the specific deficiencies 
                in the petition; and
                    ``(bb) an explanation of the process available to 
                the applicant for the prompt resubmission of a modified 
                petition.''.
    (e) Labor Certification and Qualification for Certain Immigrants.--
Section 212(a)(5) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in clause (ii)--
                            (i) in subclause (I), by striking ``, or'' 
                        at the end and inserting a semicolon;
                            (ii) in subclause (II), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
                            (iii) by adding at the end the following:
                                    ``(III) holds a doctorate degree in 
                                a field of science, technology, 
                                engineering, or mathematics from a 
                                United States doctoral institution of 
                                higher education (as defined in section 
                                203(b)(6)(B)(iii)).'';
                    (B) by redesignating clauses (ii) through (iv) as 
                clauses (iii) through (v), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
                            ``(ii) Job order.--
                                    ``(I) In general.--An employer who 
                                files an application under clause (i) 
                                shall submit a job order for the labor 
                                the alien seeks to perform to the State 
                                workforce agency in the State in which 
                                the alien seeks to perform the labor. 
                                The State workforce agency shall post 
                                the job order on its official agency 
                                website for a minimum of 30 days 
                                beginning not later than 3 days after 
                                receipt using the employment statistics 
                                system authorized under section 15 of 
                                the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et 
                                seq.).
                                    ``(II) Links.--The Secretary of 
                                Labor shall include links to the 
                                official websites of all State 
                                workforce agencies on a single webpage 
                                of the official website of the 
                                Department of Labor.''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(vi) Processing standards for alien 
                        beneficiaries qualifying under paragraphs (6) 
                        and (7) of section 203(b).--The following 
                        processing standards shall apply with respect 
                        to applications under clause (i) relating to 
                        alien beneficiaries qualifying under paragraph 
                        (6) or (7) of section 203(b):
                                    ``(I) The Secretary of Labor shall 
                                adjudicate such applications not later 
                                than 180 days after the date on which 
                                the application is filed. If additional 
                                information or documentation is 
                                requested by the Secretary during such 
                                180-day period, the Secretary shall 
                                adjudicate the application not later 
                                than 60 days after the date on which 
                                such information or documentation is 
                                received.
                                    ``(II) The applicant shall be 
                                notified in writing not later than 60 
                                days after the date of filing if the 
                                application does not meet the standards 
                                for approval.
                                    ``(III) Notification under 
                                subclause (II) shall include--
                                            ``(aa) a description of the 
                                        specific deficiencies in the 
                                        petition; and
                                            ``(bb) an explanation of 
                                        the process available to the 
                                        applicant for the prompt 
                                        resubmission of a modified 
                                        petition.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``(2) or (3)'' and 
        inserting ``(2), (3), (6), or (7)''.
    (f) GAO Study.--Not later than June 30, 2020, the Comptroller 
General of the United States shall submit to Congress the results of a 
study on the use by the National Science Foundation of the 
classification authority provided under section 203(b)(6)(B)(iii)(II) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1153(b)(6)(B)(iii)(II)), as added by subsection (c).
    (g) Public Information.--The Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
make available to the public on the official website of the Department 
of Homeland Security, and shall update not less than monthly, the 
following information, organized by month and fiscal year, with respect 
to aliens granted status under paragraph (6) or (7) of section 203(b) 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)), as added by 
this section:
            (1) The name, city, and State of each employer who 
        petitioned pursuant to either of such paragraphs on behalf of 1 
        or more aliens who were granted status in the month and fiscal 
        year to date.
            (2) The number of aliens granted status under either of 
        such paragraphs in the month and fiscal year to date based upon 
        a petition filed by such employer.
            (3) The occupations for which such alien or aliens were 
        sought by such employer and the job titles listed by such 
        employer on the petition.
    (h) Effective Date.--
            (1) In general.--The amendments made by this section shall 
        take effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply with respect to 
        fiscal years beginning on or after such date.
            (2) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection may be 
        construed to prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from 
        accepting petitions before October 1, 2015, under section 
        204(a)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1154(a)(1)(F)) relating to alien beneficiaries qualifying under 
        paragraph (6) or (7) of section 203(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1153(b)), as added by subsection (c).

SEC. 3. ELIMINATION OF DIVERSITY IMMIGRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Worldwide Level of Diversity Immigrants.--Section 201 of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (B) by striking ``; and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (2) and inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (3); and
            (2) by striking subsection (e).
    (b) Allocation of Diversity Immigrant Visas.--Section 203 of such 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (c);
            (2) in subsection (d), by striking ``(a), (b), or (c),'' 
        and inserting ``(a) or (b),'';
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (2);
            (4) in subsection (f), by striking ``(a), (b), or (c)'' and 
        inserting ``(a) or (b)''; and
            (5) in subsection (g), by striking ``(a), (b), and (c)'' 
        and inserting ``(a) and (b)''.
    (c) Procedure for Granting Immigrant Status.--Section 204 of such 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1154) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking subparagraph (I); and
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``(a), (b), or (c)'' and 
        inserting ``(a) or (b)''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply with respect to fiscal years 
beginning on or after such date.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION REPORT.

    (a) Report Required.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
        National Science Foundation shall submit a report regarding the 
        science, technology, engineering, and math workforce in the 
        United States to--
                    (A) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
                    (B) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate;
                    (C) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                Pensions of the Senate;
                    (D) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
                Representatives;
                    (E) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                of the House of Representatives; and
                    (F) the Committee on Education and the Workforce of 
                the House of Representatives.
            (2) Contract authority.--The National Science Foundation 
        may contract with the National Academies for more detailed 
        studies to support the report required under paragraph (1).
    (b) Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) assess the extent to which the science, technology, 
        engineering, and math workforce in the United States is meeting 
        the needs of employers and the goal of improving the 
        international economic competitiveness of the United States;
            (2) assess the success of institutions of elementary, 
        secondary, and higher education in the United States in 
        preparing United States citizens and aliens lawfully admitted 
        to the United States for permanent residence for jobs in the 
        science, technology, engineering, and math workforce;
            (3) assess the wages, working conditions, and career 
        prospects of United States citizens and aliens lawfully 
        admitted to the United States for permanent residence in the 
        science, technology, engineering, and math workforce;
            (4) assess the impact of this Act on each of the issues 
        described in paragraphs (1) through (3); and
            (5) recommend to the Congress whether the amendments made 
        under section 2 of this Act should be reauthorized before the 
        period of their effectiveness has terminated.

SEC. 5. PERMANENT PRIORITY DATES.

    (a) In General.--Section 203 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1153) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Permanent Priority Dates.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and subsection 
        (h)(3), the priority date for any employment-based petition 
        shall be--
                    ``(A) the date of filing of the petition with the 
                Secretary of Homeland Security (or the Secretary of 
                State, if applicable); or
                    ``(B) if the filing of the petition was preceded by 
                the filing of a labor certification with the Secretary 
                of Labor, the date of such labor certification filing.
            ``(2) Subsequent employment-based petitions.--Subject to 
        subsection (h)(3), an alien who is the beneficiary of any 
        employment-based petition that was approvable when filed 
        (including self-petitioners) shall retain the priority date 
        assigned with respect to that petition in the consideration of 
        any subsequently filed employment-based petition (including 
        self-petitions).''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply to aliens who are a 
beneficiary of a classification petition pending on or after such date.

SEC. 6. STUDENT VISA REFORM.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(a)(15)(F) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(F) an alien--
                    ``(i) who--
                            ``(I) is a bona fide student qualified to 
                        pursue a full course of study in a field of 
                        science, technology, engineering, or 
                        mathematics (as defined in section 
                        203(b)(6)(B)(ii)) leading to a bachelors or 
                        graduate degree and who seeks to enter the 
                        United States for the purpose of pursuing such 
                        a course of study consistent with section 
                        214(m) at an institution of higher education 
                        (as described in section 101(a) of the Higher 
                        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) or a 
                        proprietary institution of higher education (as 
                        defined in section 102(b) of such Act (20 
                        U.S.C. 1002(b))) in the United States, 
                        particularly designated by the alien and 
                        approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security, 
                        after consultation with the Secretary of 
                        Education, which institution shall have agreed 
                        to report to the Secretary of Homeland Security 
                        the termination of attendance of each 
                        nonimmigrant student, and if any such 
                        institution fails to make reports promptly the 
                        approval shall be withdrawn; or
                            ``(II) is engaged in temporary employment 
                        for optional practical training related to such 
                        alien's area of study following completion of 
                        the course of study described in subclause (I);
                    ``(ii) who has a residence in a foreign country 
                which the alien has no intention of abandoning, who is 
                a bona fide student qualified to pursue a full course 
                of study, and who seeks to enter the United States 
                temporarily and solely for the purpose of pursuing such 
                a course of study consistent with section 214(m) at an 
                established college, university, seminary, 
                conservatory, academic high school, elementary school, 
                or other academic institution or in a language training 
                program in the United States, particularly designated 
                by the alien and approved by the Secretary of Homeland 
                Security, after consultation with the Secretary of 
                Education, which institution of learning or place of 
                study shall have agreed to report to the Secretary of 
                Homeland Security the termination of attendance of each 
                nonimmigrant student, and if any such institution of 
                learning or place of study fails to make reports 
                promptly the approval shall be withdrawn;
                    ``(iii) who is the spouse or minor child of an 
                alien described in clause (i) or (ii) if accompanying 
                or following to join such an alien; or
                    ``(iv) who is a national of Canada or Mexico, who 
                maintains actual residence and place of abode in the 
                country of nationality, who is described in clause (i) 
                or (ii) except that the alien's qualifications for and 
                actual course of study may be full or part-time, and 
                who commutes to the United States institution or place 
                of study from Canada or Mexico.''.
    (b) Admission.--Section 214(b) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(b)) is amended by inserting ``(F)(i),'' before ``(L) 
or (V)''.
    (c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 214(m)(1) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)(1)) is amended, in the matter 
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ``(i) or (iii)'' and inserting 
``(i), (ii), or (iv)''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply to nonimmigrants who possess 
or are granted status under section 101(a)(15)(F) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)), as amended by subsection 
(a), on or after such date.

SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF THE ``V'' NONIMMIGRANT VISA PROGRAM FOR SPOUSES 
              AND CHILDREN OF PERMANENT RESIDENTS AWAITING THE 
              AVAILABILITY OF AN IMMIGRANT VISA.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(a)(15)(V) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(V)) is amended--
            (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``that 
        was filed with the Attorney General under section 204 on or 
        before the date of the enactment of the Legal Immigration 
        Family Equity Act,'';
            (2) in clause (i), by striking ``3 years or more;'' and 
        inserting ``1 year or more;''; and
            (3) in clause (ii), by striking ``3 years or more have'' 
        and inserting ``1 year or more has''.
    (b) Provisions Affecting Nonimmigrant Status.--Section 214(q) of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(q)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (2) and (3);
            (2) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``the Attorney 
                General'' and all that follows through ``; and'' and 
                inserting ``the alien may not be authorized to engage 
                in employment in the United States during the period of 
                authorized admission as such a nonimmigrant; and''; and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
                paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively; and
            (3) by striking ``(q)(1)'' and inserting ``(q)''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on October 1, 2015, and shall apply to an alien who--
            (1) applies for nonimmigrant status under section 
        101(a)(15)(V) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1101(a)(15)(V)) on or after such date; and
            (2) is the beneficiary of a classification petition filed 
        under section 204 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
        U.S.C. 1154) before, on, or after such date.

SEC. 8. OFFSET.

    The amounts expended to carry out this Act shall be offset by a 
corresponding reduction in Federal discretionary spending.
                                 <all>