# 114-hr-5657: H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2016

114-hr-5657, H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2016, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5657
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-5657
- Congress: 114
- Title: H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2016
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
- Introduced: 2016-07-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Immigration
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act of 2016 This bill amends the the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise employer and government requirements regarding visas for nonimmigrant aliens rated H-1B (specialty occupation) and L-1 (intracompany transfer to the United States from abroad). H-1B employer application requirements are revised. The bill establishes an H-1B visa allocation system, with first priority reserved for aliens who have earned an advanced degree in a field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from a U.S. institution of higher education. The bill requires completion of a U.S. degree (or an equivalent foreign degree) as a qualification for "specialty occupation" eligibility, eliminating experience in a specialty as an equivalent to the completion of such a degree. The bill prescribes an H-1B labor condition application fee. The Department of Labor may issue subpoenas and seek appropriate injunctive relief and specific performance of contractual obligations to ensure H-1B employer compliance. The period of authorized admission for an H-1B nonimmigrant is reduced from six to three years, with a three-year extension available for aliens with extraordinary ability or with advanced degrees, or professors. The bill denies an H-1B visa to any alien normally classifiable as an H-1 nonimmigrant who seeks U.S. admission to provide services in a specialty occupation. Labor may investigate applications for fraud and conduct H-1B compliance audits. Labor shall conduct annual audits of companies with more than 100 employees who work in the United States if more than 15% of those employees are H-1B nonimmigrants. The bill increases certain employer penalties, including the penalty for displacing a U.S. worker. An employer that violates any H-1B requirement shall be liable to the harmed employee for lost wages and benefits. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall give Labor any information in materials submitted by H-1B employers as part of the petition adjudication process that indicates employer noncompliance with H-1B visa program requirements. Labor may hire 200 additional employees to administer H-1B programs. The bill prohibits an employer, unless it receives a waiver from Labor, from hiring an L-1 nonimmigrant for more than one year who will: (1) serve in a capacity involving specialized knowledge, and (2) be stationed primarily at the worksite of an employer other than the petitioning employer. No employer may replace a U.S. worker with an L-1 worker. The bill prescribes L-1 requirements regarding: (1) employer petitions for employment at a new office, (2) wage rates and working conditions, and (3) employer penalties. Labor may initiate an L-1 employer investigation. Authority to administer L-1 visa blanket petitions is transferred from the Department of Justice to the Department of Homeland Security.

## Cosponsors (1)

- DANA ROHRABACHER (R-CA), 2016-07-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

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- 114-hr-3036: 9/11 Memorial Act
- 114-hr-2726: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act
- 114-hr-1288: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
- 114-hr-893: Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act

## Sources
- [114-hr-5657 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/5657)

## Related
- [114-hr-5621: To posthumously award a Congressional Gold Medal to Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Dob…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5621)
- [114-hr-3036: 9/11 Memorial Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3036)
- [114-hr-2726: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-2726)
- [114-hr-1475: Korean War Veterans Memorial Wall of Remembrance Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1475)
- [114-hr-1288: World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-1288)
- [114-hr-893: Boys Town Centennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-893)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5657 (as of 2025-11-18).