Aligning Temporary Immigration Visas with US Labor Market Needs: The Case for Provisional Visas
Reform of a rigid employment-based visa system that is out of sync with the needs of employers, the U.S. economy, U.S. society and immigrants must all be part of effective comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
In this report, MPI recommends creation of a new stream of visas known as provisional visas that would bridge temporary and permanent admissions to the United States for work purposes in a predictable and transparent way. The authors make the case that the concept hits the sweet spot in balancing the two main goals of labor market immigration policy: it supports economic growth and competitiveness while protecting the wages and interests of US workers, and it facilitates the social and economic integration of immigrants.
Papademetriou, D. G., Meissner, D., Rosenblum, M. R., and Sumption, M. (2009). Aligning Temporary Immigration Visas with US Labor Market Needs: The Case for Provisional Visas. Washington, D.C.: Migration Policy Institute.