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United States · Law · S

S. 358 (101st)

Immigration Act of 1990

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

7 February 1989

Last action

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Status

Became Public Law No: 101-649.

Sponsors

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Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

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Summary

Title I: Immigration Act of 1989 - Immigration Act of 1989 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a three-year two-tiered immigration annual entry level of 590,000 with adjustments made up of 440,000 "family connection" immigrants and 150,000 "independent" (employment-related) immigrants. Requires the Attorney General to report annually to the President and to the appropriate congressional committees on the social, economic, and environmental impacts of immigration. Requires the President, at three-year intervals, to submit to the Congress a determination to maintain or change such immigration levels. Sets forth House and Senate procedures for the consideration of a joint resolution with respect to a change in the number of immigrant visas transmitted by the President under this Act. Limits annual "family connection" and "independent" visas from each foreign country. Revises the immigration admissions preference system to allocate "family connection" preferences as follows: (1) unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (15 percent of worldwide level); (2) spouses and unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens (65 percent of worldwide level); (3) married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens (ten percent of worldwide level); and (4) never married brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens (ten percent of worldwide level). Allocates "independent" preferences as follows: (1) special immigrants (five percent of worldwide level); (2) aliens who are members of the professions with advanced degrees or aliens of exceptional ability (23 percent of worldwide level); (3) skilled workers (23 percent of worldwide level); (4) employment creation (four percent of worldwide level, or 5,000 visas, whichever is greater, to any alien with a minimum $1,000,000 capital investment which will create at least ten jobs); and (5) selected immigrants chosen on a point system basis. Sets forth the following system criteria: (1) age; (2) education; (3) English language ability; (4) U.S. occupational demand; and (5) occupational training and work experience. Amends the petitioning procedure provisions of such Act to permit special immigrant petitions to be filed with the Attorney General. Amends labor certification provisions of such Act to exclude certain classes of immigrants unless the Secretary of Labor certifies that there are not sufficient qualified U.S. workers and that employment of aliens in such positions will not adversely affect U.S. workers' wages and conditions. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study, and hold public hearings, about the labor certification process and to report to the appropriate congressional committees. Establishes a two-year conditional permanent resident status for certain alien entrepreneurs and their families. Provides for selected immigrant visas fees to be charged for the filing of a petition for certain immigrant categories. Amends Federal law to credit a Department of State fund (derived from fees collected by consular officers) to pay the expenses of research and development of visa and passport functions. Directs the Attorney General to prepare a study and report quarterly to the Congress regarding immigration from Cuba into the United States. Title II: Naturalization Amendments of 1989 - Naturalization Amendments of 1989 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) establish an administrative naturalization procedure; and (2) make such procedure the sole procedure for naturalization. Reduces State residency requirements. Provides for review of a denied application before the Board of Immigration Appeals and thereafter in U.S. district court. Directs the Attorney General to provide the public with information regarding naturalization benefits. Directs the Attorney General to provide for the naturalization of certain Filipino veterans who served in the U.S. armed forces during World War II.

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11 official files

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