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HR 3012 112th Congress House Immigration Foreign labor Immigration status and procedures Visas and passports

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act

Introduced: September 22, 2011 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 23, 2012
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 293.
Dec 17, 2011
Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Nov 30, 2011
Received in the Senate.
Nov 29, 2011
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 389 - 15 (Roll no. 860).(text: CR H7903)
Nov 29, 2011
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7916-7917)
Nov 29, 2011
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Cohen objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Nov 29, 2011
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3012.
Nov 29, 2011
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Nov 29, 2011
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7903-7905)
Nov 29, 2011
Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Nov 18, 2011
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-292.
Nov 18, 2011
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 193.
Oct 27, 2011
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 27, 2011
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Sep 23, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
Sep 22, 2011
Introduced in House
Sep 22, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Nov 29, 2011 House · vote #860 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended Passed 38915 See who voted →
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on November 18, 2011. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011 - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to: (1) eliminate the per country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrants, and (2) increase the per country numerical limitation for family based immigrants from 7% to 15% of the total number of family-sponsored visas.

Amends the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 to eliminate the provision requiring the reduction of annual Chinese (PRC) immigrant visas to offset status adjustments under such Act.

Sets forth the following transition period for employment-based second and third preference (EB-2 and EB-3) immigrant visas: (1) for FY2012, 15% of such visas allotted to natives of countries other than the two countries with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2010; (2) for FY2013, 10% of such visas allotted in each category to natives of countries other than the two with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2011; and (3) for FY2014, 10% of such visas allotted in each category to natives of countries other than the two with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining such visas in FY2012.

Sets forth the following per country distribution rules: (1) for transition period visas, not more than 25% of the total number of EB-2 and EB-3 visas for natives of a single country; and (2) for non-transition period visas, not more than 85% of EB-2 and EB-3 visas for natives of a single country.

Provides that the amendments made by this Act will take place as if enacted on September 30, 2011, and shall apply beginning in FY2012.
What's happening now January 23, 2012

Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 293.

 Related & companion bills 5
 Bill text 5 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3012: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3012/
MLA
"H.R. 3012: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3012/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3012, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3012/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3012: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2011](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3012/)
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