A new bill in the US, called the Americans First Immigration Act, is aiming to bring big changes to the country’s immigration system.
Introduced by Barry Moore, the proposal focuses on prioritising American workers and tightening existing immigration rules.
However, it’s important to note that this is only a proposed bill and has not become law yet.
End of Green Card Lottery?
One of the biggest proposed changes is the removal of the Diversity Visa Lottery.
This program, officially known as the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, currently offers up to 50,000 visas every year through a random selection process.
The bill suggests ending this system completely, arguing that immigration should be based on skills rather than luck.
Supporters of the bill also claim the lottery system has faced issues like fraud and security concerns in the past.
Shift to a Points-Based System
Another major proposal is to replace the current employment-based visa system with a points-based model.
Under this system, applicants would be scored based on factors like:
Age
Education
English language skills
Salary level
Military service
To qualify, applicants may also need to earn at least twice the median wage of the state they plan to work in.
The idea is to select immigrants who can contribute more directly to the economy.
Stricter Family Immigration Rules
The bill also proposes tighter rules for family-sponsored immigration.
If passed, only close family members would be eligible. This includes:
Spouses
Minor children
Parents, siblings, and adult children of US citizens would no longer qualify under this category.
This marks a major shift from the current system, which allows a wider range of family members to immigrate.
What About Religious Workers?
While the bill proposes cutting down several immigration pathways, it does keep space for certain categories.
For example, a quota of 3,000 visas for religious workers is expected to remain protected.
What This Means Right Now
At this stage, nothing has changed yet.
The Americans First Immigration Act is still a proposal and must pass through Congress before becoming law.
Until then, current US immigration rules remain in place.
For anyone planning to move to the US, it’s best to stay updated and rely on official government sources for the latest information.
