INS Stops Issuing High-Tech Visas

The Immigration and Naturalization Service stopped issuing new visas for temporary high-tech workers, saying it has already reached the category’s 65,000 annual limit. The move injected urgency into congressional efforts to raise the cap. Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) said that the INS announcement makes passage of his measure “urgent” and that he hopes for a vote as early as today. A competing bill in the House is sponsored by Rep. Lamar S. Smith (R-Texas). The Clinton administration opposes raising the cap without also reforming the visa program to protect U.S. workers.