H.R. 1337: To add Ireland to the E3 nonimmigrant visa program.

This bill proposes to add Ireland to the E3 nonimmigrant visa program, which currently allows Australians to work in the United States under certain conditions. The changes to the program include the following key points:

E–3 Visas for Irish Nationals

General Amendment

The bill seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow nationals of Ireland to be eligible for E3 visas, similar to those available to Australians. This addition is based on the principle of reciprocity, meaning that it acknowledges some mutual benefit or agreement between the U.S. and Ireland.

Employer Requirements

To employ an Irish national under the E3 visa program, employers must comply with specific requirements. They are required to be active participants in the E-Verify program, which is an electronic system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S. This requirement would be applicable throughout the duration of the Irish national's authorized employment.

Application Allocation

The bill also defines how visa applications will be allocated between applicants from Australia and Ireland:

• For Australians, there will be a cap of 10,500 E3 visa applications that can be approved in a fiscal year.
• For Irish nationals, the number of applications approved will be equal to the difference between the 10,500 cap and the number of applications approved for Australians in the previous year.
• This ensures that the total number of visas granted to both countries does not exceed the originally set cap for Australians.

Additionally, it specifies that this cap on approvals applies only to the main applicants and not their spouses or children, allowing families to accompany the main visa holders without counting towards the total limit.

Summary of Visa Eligibility

By including Ireland in the E3 visa program, the bill aims to provide more opportunities for Irish nationals to work in the United States, potentially fostering closer ties between the two nations and benefiting U.S. employers seeking skilled workers.

Relevant Companies

• GOOGL - Alphabet Inc.: As a major employer of visa holders in tech, they might seek to hire Irish nationals under this program.
• FB - Meta Platforms Inc.: Similar to Google, Meta relies on a diverse workforce and may benefit from an increased talent pool from Ireland.
• AAPL - Apple Inc.: Apple has operations in both countries and could utilize E3 visas for Irish employees, contributing to its labor force.