“To add the Republic of Korea to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section expands the E-3 nonimmigrant visa category—currently available to Australian nationals in specialty occupations (i.e., similar to H-1B visas but exclusive to Australians)—to include nationals of the Republic of Korea on a basis of reciprocity and pursuant to an agreement as determined by the Secretary of State. It (1) establishes a shared annual cap of 10,500 approvals per fiscal year, limiting Korean nationals to the difference between 10,500 and prior fiscal year Australian approvals (with Korean approvals deemed to occur on September 30 of the prior year for numerical control purposes and applying only to principal aliens, not spouses or children); and (2) requires employers of Korean E-3 workers to participate in good standing in E-Verify (i.e., the employment eligibility verification program). The section takes effect 180 days after enactment.