Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 4.djvu/580

This page needs to be proofread.

106 STAT. 3316 PUBLIC LAW 102-509—OCT. 24, 1992 Public Law 102-509 102d Congress An Act Oct. 24, 1992 To authorize the admission to the United States of ceri:ain scientists of the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states as employment- [S. 2201] based immigrants under the Immigration and Nationahty Act. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Soviet Scientists the United States of America in Congress assembled, Immigration Act of 1992. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the "Soviet Scientists Immigration Act of 1992". 8 USC 1153 note. SEC. 2. DEFENITIONS. For purposes of this Act— (1) the term "Baltic states" means the sovereign nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia; (2) the term "independent states of the former Soviet Union" means the sovereign nations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan; and (3) the term "eligible independent states and Baltic scientists" means aliens— (A) who are nationals of any of the independent states of the former Soviet Union or the Baltic states; and (B) who are scientists or engineers who have expertise in nuclear, chemical, biological or other high technology fields or who are working on nuclear, chemical, biological or other high-technology defense projects, as defined by the Attorney General. 8 USC 1153 note. SEC. 3. WAIVER OF JOB OFFER REQUIREMENT. The requirement in section 203(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A)) that an aUen'services in the sciences, arts, or business be sought by an employer in the United States shall not apply to any eligible independent states or Baltic scientist who is applying for admission to the United States for permanent residence in accordance with that section. 8 USC 1153 note. SEC. 4. CLASSIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT STATES SCIENTISTS AS HAVING EXCEPTIONAL ABILITY. (a) IN GENERAL. — The Attorney General shall designate a class of eligible independent states and Baltic scientists, based on their level of expertise, as aliens who possess "exceptional ability in the sciences", for purposes of section 203(b)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A)), whether or not such scientists possess advanced degrees. (b) REGULATIONS.— The Attorney General shall prescribe regulations to carry out subsection (a). (c) LIMITATION. —Not more than 750 eligible independent states and Baltic scientists (excluding spouses and children if accompany- ing or following to join) within the class designated under subsection