Irish expats may get USA visas via new bill

A new bill being considered by US lawmakers could mean 5,000 Irish citizens a year being granted US visas.

Unlikely a it sounds given the present political situation in the USA, a bill now being considered by US lawmakers may result in up to 5,000 Irish citizens being eligible to apply for the USA’s E3 visa. At the present time, only Australian citizens are entitled to this visa, but the rule could be extended to Irish nationals. Every year, some 10,500 E3 visas are made available to specified applicants in Australia , but only around half are taken up by prospective immigrants. Should the bill pass the House and the Senate, Irish citizens could be allowed to pick up on the 4,000 – 5,000 surplus.

The E3 visa allows individuals and their partners to move temporarily to the USA if they manage to secure a job, with the possibility of a vote on the bill as early as next week now that the mid-term elections are over. Congressmen Massachusetts Democrat Richard Neal and Wisconsin Republican Jim Sensenbrenner proposed the bill, stating that bipartisan support should make sure it passes without controversy.

Introducing the bill into Congress is just the first step in the process of legalising it , and should it pass it will need to be debated and voted on by the US Senate. Discussions are ongoing between the US office of Speaker Paul Ryan and Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs head as to what Ireland will offer in return for access to the visas. It’s expected that requirements for USA citizens wishing to retire in Ireland will be eased, along with granting US citizens working rights for up to 20 hours a week and a lower requirement on annual income levels.