SECTION 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION OF NON-
IMMIGRANT NURSES IN HEALTH PROFES-
SIONAL SHORTAGE AREAS. 
(a) EXTENSION OF PERIOD OF AUTHORIZED ADMIS-
SION.—Section 212(m)(3) of the Immigration and Nation-
ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(m)(3)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) The initial period of authorized admission as a 
nonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(c) shall be 
3 years, and may be extended once for an additional 3- 
year period.’’. 
(b) NUMBER OF VISAS.—Section 212(m)(4) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(m)(4)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘500.’’ and inserting ‘‘300.’’. 
(c) PORTABILITY.—Section 214(n) of the Immigra-
tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(n)) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3)(A) A nonimmigrant alien described in subpara-
graph (B) who was previously issued a visa or otherwise 
provided 
nonimmigrant 
status 
under 
section 
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(c) is authorized to accept new employ-
ment performing services as a registered nurse for a facil-
ity described in section 212(m)(6) upon the filing by the 
prospective employer of a new petition on behalf of such 
nonimmigrant as provided under subsection (c). Employ-
ment authorization shall continue for such alien until the
new petition is adjudicated. If the new petition is denied, 
such authorization shall cease. 
‘‘(B) A nonimmigrant alien described in this para-
graph is a nonimmigrant alien— 
‘‘(i) who has been lawfully admitted into the 
United States; 
‘‘(ii) on whose behalf an employer has filed a 
nonfrivolous petition for new employment before the 
date of expiration of the period of stay authorized by 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, except that, if 
a 
nonimmigrant 
described 
in 
section 
101(a)(15)(H)(i)(c) is terminated or laid off by the 
nonimmigrant’s employer, or otherwise ceases em-
ployment with the employer, such petition for new 
employment shall be filed during the 45-day period 
beginning on the date of such termination, lay off, 
or cessation; and 
‘‘(iii) who, subsequent to such lawful admission, 
has not been employed without authorization in the 
United States before the filing of such petition.’’. 
(d) APPLICABILITY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—During the 3-year period be-
ginning on the commencement date described in 
paragraph (2), the amendments made by section 2 
of the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas Act
of 1999 (Public Law 106–95), and the amendments 
made by this section, shall apply to classification pe-
titions filed for nonimmigrant status. This period 
shall be in addition to the period described in section 
2(e) of the Nursing Relief for Disadvantaged Areas 
Act of 1999. 
(2) COMMENCEMENT DATE.—Not later than 60 
days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security shall determine 
whether regulations are necessary to implement the 
amendments made by this section. If the Secretary 
determines that no such regulations are necessary, 
the commencement date described in this paragraph 
shall be the date of such determination. If the Sec-
retary determines that regulations are necessary to 
implement any amendment made by this section, the 
commencement date described in this paragraph 
shall be the date on which such regulations (in final 
form) take effect. 
Passed the House of Representatives August 1, 
2011. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1933 
AN ACT 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
modify the requirements for admission of non-
immigrant nurses in health professional shortage 
areas.