To add Ireland to the E3 nonimmigrant visa program.

Summary

Adds Irish nationals to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa classification and requires any U.S. employer filing an attestation for an Irish E-3 worker to be and remain an E-Verify participant for the worker’s authorized employment. It also sets how the annual 10,500 E-3 principal visas are split between Australian and Irish nationals, with the Irish share equal to the difference between 10,500 and the number approved for Australians in the prior fiscal year; spouses and children are not counted against the 10,500 cap.

• Irish nationals are added to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa classification for specialty occupations.
• Employers filing attestations for Irish E-3 workers must be enrolled in and remain participants in E-Verify for the worker’s employment period.
• The annual 10,500 principal E-3 visa cap is allocated first to Australians (up to 10,500); the Irish share equals 10,500 minus the prior year’s Australian approvals.
• Approvals for Irish nationals are deemed to have occurred on September 30 of the prior fiscal year for numerical control purposes.
• The 10,500 cap covers only principal beneficiaries; spouses and children are not counted against that limit.
• Department of State handles visa approvals and numerical accounting; DHS/USCIS handles employer attestations and E-Verify requirements.
• Employers (including small businesses) that hire Irish E-3 workers may face new compliance steps and costs to enroll and remain in E-Verify.
• This is a targeted immigration policy change; it does not create new appropriations or alter tax law.
• The change could indirectly affect the number of E-3 slots available to Australians in any given year.