Congress Passes FY 2020 Spending Bills

The issue

Congress has passed two appropriations bills that will fund the federal government – including immigration operations – through FY 2020, which ends September 30, 2020.  President Trump is expected to sign the spending package into law.

A pair of appropriations bills passed today by Congress will fund the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, Labor and other federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year, averting a government shutdown.  A temporary spending measure passed in November was set to expire on December 20.

Immigration programs reauthorized

The spending package also extends four immigration programs through September 30, 2020.

E-Verify, the Conrad 30 waiver program for foreign medical graduates working in underserved areas, and the special immigrant non-minister religious worker program were extended without changes through the end of this fiscal year.

The EB-5 Regional Center program for foreign investors was also reauthorized without legislative changes through September 30, 2020. The reauthorization follows a recent USCIS regulation that increases the minimum EB-5 investment levels and gives USCIS sole authority over the designation of Targeted Employment Areas (TEAs).

What this means for employers and foreign nationals

The passage of the spending bills means that there will be no interruption of federal immigration operations.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.