US Department of Labor Proposes Expansion of Green Card Processing for STEM Occupations

The US Department of Labor (DOL) has initiated a significant move towards potentially broadening the ‘Schedule A’ list, which streamlines the green card processing procedure. The proposed expansion aims to include STEM-related and other occupations experiencing shortages of qualified US workers. Currently under federal review, the proposal is undergoing assessment by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), marking the initial phase in the regulatory process.

The existing regulations grant exemptions for permanent residence cases linked to Schedule A occupations from labor market testing and the PERM application process, facilitating a faster route to employment-based permanent residence. Schedule A presently focuses on specific healthcare occupations and individuals with exceptional abilities. The proposed expansion seeks to incorporate identified STEM and other scarce occupations, streamlining the process for employer-sponsored green cards.

This proposal is a direct response to a specific directive in the recent Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence (AI), issued on October 30 by President Biden. Among its various immigration-related provisions, the order instructs the DOL to issue a request for information (RFI) within 45 days to gather public input in identifying AI, STEM-related, and other occupations lacking a sufficient number of qualified US workers.

Upon OMB clearance, the DOL will publish the request for public comment in the Federal Register, setting a submission deadline. The Executive Order on AI mandates the DOL to release the request for public input by December 14. However, the final implementation of the proposed revisions could take several months.

Source: MSN