Foreign Techies Get Higher Priority in New Citizenship Plan

The United States seems set to overhaul its immigration system with an aim to attract the world’s best and the brightest, a move analysts say will help American businesses boost their competitiveness in the global marketplace.

A bipartisan group of US senators Wednesday offered their proposals for reforming the immigration system. Given the contents in the new proposal, immigrants with graduate degrees from U.S. universities in the fields of science, technology, engineering or math will find it easier to get permanent U.S. citizenship.

It is believed that there are more than 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Analysts say immigrants from Latin American countries will be the biggest beneficiaries if the new system is enforced.

Many members of Congress are beginning to ask: why send talented folks back home – when they could contribute to fueling the U.S. economy by setting up businesses and networks here.

“It makes no sense to educate the world’s future innovators and entrepreneurs only to ultimately force them to leave our country at the moment they are most able to contribute to our economy,” reported Information Week quoting the contents in the proposal.

The Senate group is comprised of four Democrats, among them New York’s Charles Schumer and four Republicans, including Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has also reportedly expressed his support.

There are also proposals that call on the government to raise the cap on H-1B visas from 65,000 to 115,000 for private sector workers.

Many politicians believe there is a need to issue visas to science and tech workers to meet the growing need of the nation’s lucrative technology sector.

Technology giants like Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett Packard and Google are believed to be supporting the plan to overhaul the immigration system.

Under its proposal, According to Reuters, undocumented immigrants would be allowed to register with the government, pay a fine, and then be given probationary legal status allowing them to work.