grants of the state or area described in section 203(a)(2) consistent with subsection (e), or

(ii) the number (if any) by which the maximum number of visas that may be made available under section 203(a) to immigrants of the state or area described in section 203(a)(2) consistent with subsection (e) exceeds the number of visas issued under section 203(a)(2)(A),

whichever is greater.

(D) LIMITING PASS DOWN FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (e).-In the case of a foreign state or dependent area to which subsection (e) applies, if the total number of visas issued under section 203(a)(2) exceeds the maximum number of visas that may be made available to immigrants of the state or area under section 203(a)(2) consistent with subsection (e) (determined without regard to this paragraph), in applying paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 203(a) under subsection (e)(2) all visas shall be deemed to have been required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such section.

(b) RULES FOR CHARGEABILITY.-Each independent country, selfgoverning dominion, mandated territory, and territory under the international trusteeship system of the United Nations, other than the United States and its outlying possessions, shall be treated as a separate foreign state for the purposes of a numerical level established under subsection (a)(2) when approved by the Secretary of State.50 All other inhabited lands shall be attributed to a foreign state specified by the Secretary of State. For the purposes of this Act the foreign state to which an immigrant is chargeable shall be determined by birth within such foreign state except that (1) an alien child, when accompanied by or following to join his alien parent or parents, may be charged to the foreign state of either parent if such parent has received or would be qualified for an immigrant visa, if necessary to prevent the separation of the child from the parent or parents, and if immigration charged to the for

50 § 714 of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97113) provides as follows:

IMMIGRANT VISAS FOR TAIWAN

SEC. 714. The approval referred to in the first sentence of section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall be considered to have been granted with respect to Taiwan (China). On Apr. 30, 1979, the Department of State made a final ruling whereby 22 CFR Part 42 was amended effective Apr. 23, 1979, to provide that aliens in Taiwan applying for immigrant visas shall be required to appear personally before a designated officer of the American Institute in Taiwan in connection with the execution of his immigrant visa application. This ruling, which was made pursuant to the authority contained in section 104 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, can be found at 44 F.R. 28659, May 16, 1979.

§103 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-649, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4985) provides as follows:

SEC. 103. TREATMENT OF HONG KONG UNDER PER COUNTRY LEVELS.

The approval referred to in the first sentence of section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act shall be considered to have been granted, effective beginning with fiscal year 1991, with respect to Hong Kong as a separate foreign state, and not as a colony or other component or dependent area of another foreign state, except that the total number of immigrant visas made available to natives of Hong Kong under subsections (a) and (b) of section 203 of such Act in each of fiscal years 1991, 1992, and 1993 may not exceed 10,000.

eign state to which such parent has been or would be chargeable has not reached a numerical level established under subsection (a)(2) for that fiscal year; (2) if an alien is chargeable to a different foreign state from that of his spouse, the foreign state to which such alien is chargeable may, if necessary to prevent the separation of husband and wife, be determined by the foreign state of the spouse he is accompanying or following to join, if such spouse has received or would be qualified for an immigrant visa and if immigration charged to the foreign state to which such spouse has been or would be chargeable has not reached a numerical level established under subsection (a)(2) for that fiscal year; (3) an alien born in the United States shall be considered as having been born in the country of which he is a citizen or subject, or, if he is not a citizen or subject of any country, in the last foreign country in which he had his residence as determined by the consular officer; and (4) an alien born within any foreign state in which neither of his parents was born and in which neither of his parents had a residence at the time of such alien's birth may be charged to the foreign state of either parent.

(c) CHARGEABILITY FOR DEPENDENT AREAS.—Any immigrant born in a colony or other component or dependent area of a foreign state overseas from the foreign state, other than an alien described in section 201(b), shall be chargeable for the purpose of the limitation set forth in subsection (a), to the foreign state.

(d) CHANGES IN TERRITORY.-In the case of any change in the territorial limits of foreign states, the Secretary of State shall, upon recognition of such change, issue appropriate instructions to all diplomatic and consular offices.

(e) 51 SPECIAL RULES FOR COUNTRIES AT CEILING.-If it is determined that the total number of immigrant visas made available under subsections (a) and (b) of section 203 to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area will exceed the numerical limitation specified in subsection (a)(2) in any fiscal year, in determining the allotment of immigrant visa numbers to natives under subsections (a) and (b) of section 203, visa numbers with respect to natives of that state or area shall be allocated (to the extent practicable and otherwise consistent with this section and section 203) in a manner so that

(1) the ratio of the visa numbers made available under section 203(a) to the visa numbers made available under section 203(b) is equal to the ratio of the worldwide level of immigration under section 201(c) to such level under section 201(d);

(2) except as provided in subsection (a)(4), the proportion of the visa numbers made available under each of paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 203(a) is equal to the ratio of the total number of visas made available under the respective paragraph to the total number of visas made available under section 203(a), and

(3) the proportion of the visa numbers made available under each of paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 203(b) is equal to

51 Subsection (e) was amended in its entirety by § 102(5) of the Immigration Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-649, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4984), effective October 1, 1991. For subsection as in effect before such date, see Appendix II.A.2.

the ratio of the total number of visas made available under the respective paragraph to the total number of visas made available under section 203(b).

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the number of visas that may be issued to natives of a foreign state or dependent area under section 203(a) or 203(b) if there is insufficient demand for visas for such natives under section 203(b) or 203(a), respectively, or as limiting the number of visas that may be issued under section 203(a)(2)(A) pursuant to subsection (a)(4)(A).

ALLOCATION OF IMMIGRANT VISAS

SEC. 203. [8 U.S.C. 1153] (a) 52 PREFERENCE ALLOCATION FOR FAMILY-SPONSORED IMMIGRANTS.-Aliens subject to the worldwide level specified in section 201(c) for family-sponsored immigrants shall be allotted visas as follows:

(1) UNMARRIED SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF CITIZENS.-Qualified immigrants who are the unmarried sons or daughters of citizens of the United States shall be allocated visas in a number not to exceed 23,400, plus any visas not required for the class specified in paragraph (4).

(2) 53 SPOUSES AND UNMARRIED SONS AND UNMARRIED DAUGHTERS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS.-Qualified immigrants(A) who are the spouses or children of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or

(B) who are the unmarried sons or unmarried daughters (but are not the children) of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence,

shall be allocated visas in a number not to exceed 114,200, plus the number (if any) by which such worldwide level exceeds 226,000, plus any visas not required for the class specified in paragraph (1); except that not less than 77 percent of such visa numbers shall be allocated to aliens described in subparagraph (A).

(3) MARRIED SONS AND MARRIED DAUGHTERS OF CITIZENS.Qualified immigrants who are the married sons or married daughters of citizens of the United States shall be allocated visas in a number not to exceed 23,400, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(4) BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CITIZENS.-Qualified immigrants who are the brothers or sisters of citizens of the United States, if such citizens are at least 21 years of age, shall be allocated visas in a number not to exceed 65,000, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) through (3). (b) 54 PREFERENCE ALLOCATION FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANTS.-Aliens subject to the worldwide level specified in section

52 Subsection (a) was amended in its entirety by § 111(2) of the Immigration Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-649, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4986), effective October 1, 1991. For subsection (a) as in effect before such date, see Appendix II.A.2.

53 Note that 55,000 additional immigrant visa numbers were made available in each of fiscal years 1992, 1993, and 1994 to spouses and children of eligible, legalized aliens under § 112 of the Immigration Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-649, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4987), shown in Appendix II.A.1. 54 Subsection (b) was inserted by § 121(a) of the Immigration Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-649, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4987), effective October 1, 1991, and was amended by § 302(b)(2) of the Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Naturalization Amendments of 1991 (P.L. 102-232, Dec. 12, 1991, 105 Stat. 1743).

201(d) for employment-based immigrants in a fiscal year shall be allotted visas as follows:

(1) PRIORITY WORKERS.-Visas shall first be made available in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (4) and (5), to qualified immigrants who are aliens described in any of the following subparagraphs (A) through (C): (A) ALIENS WITH EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY.—An alien is described in this subparagraph if—

(i) the alien has extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation, (ii) the alien seeks to enter the United States to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability, and (iii) the alien's entry into the United States will substantially benefit prospectively the United States. (B) OUTSTANDING PROFESSORS AND RESEARCHERS.—An alien is described in this subparagraph if—

(i) the alien is recognized internationally as outstanding in a specific academic area,

(ii) the alien has at least 3 years of experience in teaching or research in the academic area, and (iii) the alien seeks to enter the United States

(I) for a tenured position (or tenure-track position) within a university or institution of higher education to teach in the academic area,

(II) for a comparable position with a university or institution of higher education to conduct research in the area, or

(III) for a comparable position to conduct research in the area with a department, division, or institute of a private employer, if the department, division, or institute employs at least 3 persons full-time in research activities and has achieved documented accomplishments in an academic field.

(C) CERTAIN MULTINATIONAL EXECUTIVES AND MANAGERS. An alien is described in this subparagraph if the alien, in the 3 years preceding the time of the alien's application for classification and admission into the United States under this subparagraph, has been employed for at least 1 year by a firm or corporation or other legal entity or an affiliate or subsidiary thereof and the alien seeks to enter the United States in order to continue to render services to the same employer or to a subsidiary or affiliate thereof in a capacity that is managerial or executive. (2) ALIENS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSIONS HOLDING

ADVANCED DEGREES OR ALIENS OF EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY.—

(A) IN GENERAL.-Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in

paragraph (1), to qualified immigrants who are members of the professions holding advanced degrees or their equivalent or who because of their exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business, will substantially benefit prospectively the national economy, cultural or educational interests, or welfare of the United States, and whose services in the sciences, arts, professions, or business are sought by an employer in the United States.

(B) WAIVER OF JOB OFFER.-The Attorney General may, when he deems it to be in the national interest, waive the requirement of subparagraph (A) that an alien's services in the sciences, arts, professions, or business be sought by an employer in the United States.

(C) DETERMINATION OF EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY.-In determining under subparagraph (A) whether an immigrant has exceptional ability, the possession of a degree, diploma, certificate, or similar award from a college, university, school, or other institution of learning or a license to practice or certification for a particular profession or occupation shall not by itself be considered sufficient evidence of such exceptional ability. (3) SKILLED WORKERS, PROFESSIONALS, AND OTHER WORKERS.

(A) IN GENERAL.-Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 28.6 percent of such worldwide level, plus any visas not required for the classes specified in paragraphs (1) and (2), to the following classes of aliens who are not described in paragraph (2):

(i) SKILLED WORKERS.-Qualified immigrants who are capable, at the time of petitioning for classification under this paragraph, of performing skilled labor (requiring at least 2 years training or experience), not of a temporary or seasonal nature, for which qualified workers are not available in the United States.

(ii) PROFESSIONALS.-Qualified immigrants who hold baccalaureate degrees and who are members of the professions.

(iii) OTHER WORKERS.-Other qualified immigrants who are capable, at the time of petitioning for classification under this paragraph, of performing unskilled labor, not of a temporary or seasonal nature, for which qualified workers are not available in the United States.

(B) LIMITATION ON OTHER WORKERS.-Not more than 10,000 of the visas made available under this paragraph in any fiscal year may be available for qualified immigrants described in subparagraph (A)(iii).

(C) LABOR CERTIFICATION REQUIRED.—An immigrant visa may not be issued to an immigrant under subparagraph (A) until the consular officer is in receipt of a determination made by the Secretary of Labor pursuant to the provisions of section 212(a)(5)(A).

(4) CERTAIN SPECIAL IMMIGRANTS.-Visas shall be made available, in a number not to exceed 7.1 percent of such worldwide