As the Gang of Eight works through immigration policies, new sites are surmising the possible changes coming to immigration policy. Many of these changes involve obtaining green cards. At present, green cards are given to foreigners so that they can stay and working the United States. These small identification cards are a legal document, and protect the immigrant from deportation or arrest for being in the country illegally. Right now immigrants can only get these green cards if a an immediate family member or a company sponsors them in getting this identification. Cubans and refugees do not have to get sponsors because they are admitted under different programs.

The new bill proposed by the Gang of Eight would make it more difficult for siblings and adult children of U.S. citizens to get permanent residence visas or green cards. This means that if an adult wants to come to the United States and asks his mother, who is a U.S. citizen to sponsor him, he may not be able to get the documentation that he wants. In addition to undermining the importance of a family-sponsored green card, the new proposal may eliminate "diversity" green cards. These are green cards that were formerly issued to Africans to help encourage them to immigrate to the United States. The bill would create another way to get a green card based on a brand new points system.

A report on Yahoo! News says the point system would help the government to determine the most eligible immigrants in the U.S. who deserve a green card and should be permitted to remain in the country. The applicants would receive points for their level of education and their employment experience. They would also be awarded points if they have had an entrepreneurship, and if they can past an English language proficiency test. In addition, family ties would be considered and help an individual to receive more points.

Those with the most points would be most eligible for a green card, and may be able to complete the process promptly. Reports say that foreigners who have a doctorate degree will get 15 points towards their green card and those that have a full-time job will get an additional 10 points. Those that can speak and write English fluently would receive another 10 points under the system. Immigrants also would receive two points for every year that they were lawfully employed in the United States. Then, those with a higher amount of points would be granted merit-based visas.

Some activists are asking the government to avoid doing away with reunification visas. They ask what will become of the women in foreign countries who don't have educational opportunities or the broken families who need each other to pull through a difficult time. The points system is not a new concept. Both Canada and Australia use points systems in order to grant people legal status. Both countries believe that the points system has helped them to attract skilled and educated workers.

The government is now focusing on how immigration can be utilized to boost the American economy. Many government officials believe that if they encourage highly skilled workers to come to the United States, it will eventually help America's economic state while providing jobs. The government is particularly interested in attracting individuals with degrees in engineering or technology.

The immigration efforts may not work in favor of low-skilled workers, through government officials say that they will do their best to accommodate those that have a lower educational level and will be needed for low-skill jobs such as harvesting. If you want more information about the deliberations in Congress at present you can talk to a local immigration attorney.