Soviet Scientists Immigration Act of 1992

Short Titles as Passed Senate

Commonwealth and Baltic Scientists Immigration and Exchange Act of 1992

Short Titles as Reported to Senate

Commonwealth and Baltic Scientists Immigration and Exchange Act of 1992

Short Titles as Introduced

Commonwealth Scientists Immigration And Exchange Act of 1992

Official Titles as Amended by Senate

An Act to authorize the admission to the United States of certain scientists of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic states as employment-based immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes.

Official Titles as Introduced

A bill to authorize the admission to the United States of certain scientists of the Commonwealth of Independent States as employment-based immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act, and for other purposes.

12/25/1991 Dissolution of the Soviet Union

02/06/1992 Introduced in Senate

04/08/1992 Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. Without written report.

05/20/1992 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.

09/21/1992 Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 102-881, Part I.

09/21/1992 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

10/02/1992 Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.

10/15/1992 Presented to President.

10/24/1992 Signed by President.

10/24/1992 Became Public Law No: 102-509.

--S.2201--

S.2201

One Hundred Second Congress of the United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday, the third day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-two

An Act

To authorize the admission to the United States of certain scientists of the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states as employment-based immigrants under the Immigration and Nationality Act. 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 `Soviet Scientists Immigration Act of 1992'.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act-- (1) the term `Baltic states' means the sovereign nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia; (2) the term `independent states of the former Soviet Union' means the sovereign nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; and (3) the term `eligible independent states and Baltic scientists' means aliens-- (A) who are nationals of any of the independent states of the former Soviet Union or the Baltic states; and (B) who are scientists or engineers who have expertise in nuclear, chemical, biological or other high technology fields or who are working on nuclear, chemical, biological or other high-technology defense projects, as defined by the Attorney General.

SEC. 3. WAIVER OF JOB OFFER REQUIREMENT.

The requirement in section 203(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A)) that an alien's services in the sciences, arts, or business be sought by an employer in the United States shall not apply to any eligible independent states or Baltic scientist who is applying for admission to the United States for permanent residence in accordance with that section.

SEC. 4. CLASSIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT STATES SCIENTISTS AS HAVING EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY.

(a) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General shall designate a class of eligible independent states and Baltic scientists, based on their level of expertise, as aliens who possess `exceptional ability in the sciences', for purposes of section 203(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A)), whether or not such scientists possess advanced degrees. (b) REGULATIONS- The Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to carry out subsection (a). (c) LIMITATION- Not more than 750 eligible independent states and Baltic scientists (excluding spouses and children if accompanying or following to join) within the class designated under subsection (a) may be allotted visas under section 203(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A)). (d) TERMINATION- The authority of subsection (a) shall terminate 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.