Support migrant centric journalism today and donate
A new rule published by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the Federal Register on April 25, 2005 classifies some scientists from the Commonwealth of Independent States of the Former Soviet Union and the Baltic States as employment-based immigrants.
The new rule reinstates the authority of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to allot visas to eligible scientists or engineers from these regions who have "expertise in nuclear, chemical, biological, or other high-technology field or defense projects," and it is effective as of 25 May 2005 and will expire on 30 September 2006.
The previous rule -The Soviet Scientists Immigration Act of 1992 (SSIA) - allowed for 750 of such visas to be issued. The rule expired on 24 October 1996. The eligibility period was reopened on 30 September 2002 by the Foreign Relations Authorization Act FY03 and lasted for 4 years. This act also raised the limit to 950 visas. Spouses and children of the principal applicant are not counted toward the 950 limit.
