Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has temporarily blocked the Senate from passing HR 3012, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act. The companion Senate bill was introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). It is labeled S. 1857.
HR 3012/S 1857 seeks to eliminate per-country caps on employment-sponsored green cards. Sen. Grassley has held the bill because “it does nothing to better protect Americans.”
Sen. Grassley has long sought major changes in the H-1B rules. He has not specified what changes he is seeking in HR 3012/S 1857. It does not seem likely that the Senator would allow any amendment to increase visa numbers or provide for a faster-track Schedule A visa process.