As we reported previously on this blog, on February 9, 2012, legislators introduced H.R. 3992 which would allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E–2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel. We have provided below a copy of the Bill. At this time this is not Law yet, and the Bill will need to go through several stages if and when it will become effective.
Upon introduction, bills are assigned a number. At the beginning of each biennial session. Separately, the Senate and the House debate the bill, offer amendments and cast votes. If the bill is defeated in either the Senate or the House, the bill dies.
Sometimes, the House and the Senate pass the same bill, but with different amendments. In these cases, the bill goes to a conference committee made up of members of Congress. The conference committee works out differences between the two versions of the bill.
Then the bill goes before all of Congress for a vote. If a majority of both the Senate and the House votes for the bill, it goes to the President for approval. f the President approves the bill and signs it, the bill becomes a law. However, if the President disapproves, he can veto the bill by refusing to sign it. We hope the E2 Bill will become law this year. We will keep you posted.