Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
On March 30, 2009, U.S. Representative Jeff Flake (R.-AZ) introduced legislation (H.R. 1791) that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize “certain aliens who have earned a Ph.D. degree from a United States institution of higher education in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics” to be exempted from the numerical caps on H-1B visas. The bill, titled “Stopping Trained in America Ph.D.s From Leaving the Economy Act of 2009” (the “STAPLE Act”), was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. In addition to the exemption from the H-1B numerical cap, the legislation also would exempt the specified foreigners from the numerical limitations on permanent residence.