,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bic ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #ac1 #bjac ,mr4 ,lee introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act to eliminate the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants1 to increase the per-country numerical limitation for family-sponsored immigrants1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,fairness for ,high-,skilled ,immigrants ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,numerical limitation to any single foreign state 7a7 ,in general ,section #bjb7;a77#b7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeb7;a77#b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in the paragraph heading1 by striking and employment-based2 7#b7 by striking 7#c71 7#d71 and 7#e71 and inserting 7#c7 and 7#d712 7#c7 by striking subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #bjc and inserting section #bjc7;a72 7#d7 by striking #g and inserting #ae2 and 7#e7 by striking such subsections and inserting such section4 7b7 ,conforming amendments ,section #bjb of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#c71 by striking both subsections 7a7 and 7b7 of section #bjc and inserting section #bjc7;a72 7#b7 by striking subsection 7a77#e72 and 7#c7 by amending subsection 7e7 to read as follows3 7e7 ,special rules for countries at ceiling ,if it is determined that the total number of immigrant visas made available under section #bjc7;a7 to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area will exceed the numerical limitation specified in subsection 7a77#b7 in any fiscal year1 in determining the allotment of immigrant visa numbers to natives under section #bjc7;a71 visa numbers with respect to natives of that state or area shall be allocated 7to the extent practicable and otherwise consistent with this section and section #bjc7 in a manner so that1 except as provided in subsection 7a77#d71 the proportion of the visa numbers made available under each of paragraphs 7#a7 through 7#d7 of section #bjc7;a7 is equal to the ratio of the total number of visas made available under the respective paragraph to the total number of visas made available under section #bjc7;a74 4 7c7 ,country-,specific offset ,section #b of the ,chinese ,student ,protection ,act of #aiib 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abee note7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by striking subsection 7e77 and inserting subsection 7d772 and 7#b7 by striking subsection 7d7 and redesignating subsection 7e7 as subsection 7d74 7d7 ,effective date ,the amendments made by this section shall take effect as if enacted on ,september #cj1 #bjab1 and shall apply to fiscal years beginning with fiscal year #bjac4 7e7 ,transition rules for employment-,based immigrants 7#a7 ,in general ,subject to the succeeding paragraphs of this subsection and notwithstanding title ,,ii of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaea et seq471 the following rules shall apply3 7,a7 ,for fiscal year #bjac1 #ae percent of the immigrant visas made available under each of paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of section #bjc7;b7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaec7;b77 shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining immigrant visas during fiscal year #bjaa under such paragraphs4 7,b7 ,for fiscal year #bjad1 #aj percent of the immigrant visas made available under each of such paragraphs shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining immigrant visas during fiscal year #bjab under such paragraphs4 7,c7 ,for fiscal year #bjae1 #aj percent of the immigrant visas made available under each of such paragraphs shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining immigrant visas during fiscal year #bjac under such paragraphs4 7#b7 ,per-country levels 7,a7 ,reserved visas ,with respect to the visas reserved under each of subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,c7 of paragraph 7#a71 the number of such visas made available to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area in the appropriate fiscal year may not exceed #be percent 7in the case of a single foreign state7 or #b percent 7in the case of a dependent area7 of the total number of such visas4 7,b7 ,unreserved visas ,with respect to the immigrant visas made available under each of paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 of section #bjc7;b7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaec7;b77 and not reserved under paragraph 7#a71 for each of fiscal years #bjac1 #bjad1 and #bjae1 not more than #he percent shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of any single foreign state4 7#c7 ,special rule to prevent unused visas ,if1 with respect to fiscal year #bjac1 #bjad1 or #bjae1 the operation of paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of this subsection would prevent the total number of immigrant visas made available under paragraph 7#b7 or 7#c7 of section #bjc7;b7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaec7;b77 from being issued1 such visas may be issued during the remainder of such fiscal year without regard to paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b7 of this subsection4 7#d7 ,rules for chargeability ,section #bjb7;b7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaeb7;b77 shall apply in determining the foreign state to which an alien is chargeable for purposes of this subsection4