Two bills seeking to add Ireland to the E3 nonimmigrant visa program have been introduced in the US House of Representatives this week.
The first bill, introduced on May 14, is sponsored by Representative Richard Neal (D-MA) and cosponsored by Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA). The two, who are co-chairs of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Caucus, previously introduced similar legislation in 2022.
The second bill, introduced on May 15, is sponsored by Representative Mike Lawler (D-NY) and is cosponsored by Representative Kevin Mullin (D-CA).
Both bills have been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
The efforts to add Ireland to the E3 Visa program have been running for years. Legislation nearly passed in 2018 but was narrowly defeated.
In May 2019, Neal reintroduced legislation to grant Irish access to the E3 visa program - it unanimously passed the House in March 2020 but was never voted upon in the US Senate.
Neal and Kelly again reintroduced legislation in 2022, however, it lapsed when Congress concluded at the end of the year.
Introduced in 2005 as part of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), the E3 visa program makes 10,500 visas available to skilled Australian nationals annually.
However, Australians use only roughly half of the available visas each year.
"In broad strokes, this bill would enable qualified Irish workers to access the unused Australian E-3 visas going forward," Congressmen Neal and Kelly said in a joint statement this week, according to The Irish Echo.
The statement added: "E-3 visas are limited to professionals visiting the United States to perform services in 'specialty occupations' in a confirmed job from a U.S. employer. Under the agreement reached with the Australians, the applicant must have university degree, or its equivalent, as a minimum for entry into the United States. The E-3 visa allows the holder to stay in America for two years with an option to renew."
Congressman Neal said in the statement that the legislation would "further strengthen" the relationship between Ireland and the US and would create "significant opportunities" for both countries.
The efforts to add Ireland to the E3 Visa program have been running for years. Legislation nearly passed in 2018 but was narrowly defeated.
In May 2019, Neal reintroduced legislation to grant Irish access to the E3 visa program - it unanimously passed the House in March 2020 but was never voted upon in the US Senate.
Neal and Kelly again reintroduced legislation in 2022, however, it lapsed when Congress concluded at the end of the year.
Last summer, Tánaiste Micheál Martin provided an update regarding the E3 visa in the US.
After noting that the reintroduction in 2022 was "welcome," Martin said: "The Government strongly advocated for this proposal which, if passed, would bring about new two-way traffic between Ireland and the United States that could impact positively on economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties," the Tánaiste said.
"New immigration flows would also reinvigorate Irish communities across the United States and, overall, add to the vibrancy of our sizeable Irish diaspora in the US.
"While the Government continues to support efforts to get an ‘Irish specific’ category of E3 visa, the challenges to enactment should not be underestimated. Almost every US legislative proposal related to immigration reform in the last decade has stalled in Congress.
"Nonetheless, I will continue to take all opportunities to develop new immigration pathways for Irish people who wish to live and work in the United States."
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