The United States Congress has recently approved and President Bill Clinton signed into law on Oct. 17 legislation raising the cap on H-1B visas that allow U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers. Yes it does.
Current law requires that a worker wait until the petition is approved before changing employers.
Yes, this exciting development resulted from a last-minute amendment to the bill. Currently, most applicants for adjustment of status must wait between two and three years before their applications are approved. During this time, they are obliged to work for the employer who sponsored them for permanent residence. The INS will be required to report to Congress on a regular basis on what the agency is doing to come into compliance with the legislation, and to provide Congress with detailed statistical reports. Of course, much depends on how much money Congress earmarks for INS backlog reduction in the agency's appropriations bill.