President Bush this week signed H.R. 4558, which extends the Q-2 visa for Irish nationals. The visa, also known as the Walsh visa, is available to Irish nationals coming to the US to participate in cultural events and training programs. With the extension, it will be available until 2006.
S. 3051, introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make the six-year limit on H-1B status inapplicable to anyone who has had an application for labor certification or an I-140 pending for more than 365 days.
S. 3053, would make a number of changes to the immigrant investor visa program.
The contents of both of these bills were included in the recently passed 2003 appropriations bill for the Justice Department.