This bill would create a new W nonimmigrant visa for careworkers. It defines careworkers as people who provide childcare, eldercare, or in-home support for people with disabilities, and excludes workers who are primarily employed by large hospitals or facilities. Covered employers are private households or small caregiving businesses with fewer than 25 employees. Employers must be certified, file a petition with supporting documents, pay filing fees set by the Secretary, and pay a prevailing wage. The Department of Labor would certify wages, take complaints, and investigate wage or workplace violations. The bill sets an annual cap of 100,000 W visas, issues initial visas for 3 years with renewals available, and gives workers a 90-day grace period to change employers. It creates a path to adjust status for certain people present in the United States as of January 1, 2024, allows some waivers of inadmissibility, and includes non-retaliation and whistleblower protections. The Secretary of Homeland Security, with the Secretaries of Labor and State, must issue regulations within 90 days and report to Congress starting 2 years after enactment and annually thereafter.
The bill itself lists findings supporting the proposal: there is a growing shortage of qualified careworkers; an aging population will increase demand for eldercare and in-home support; reliable childcare and eldercare help other workers remain in the workforce; careworkers often work in informal settings with poor conditions; and a dedicated visa classification would formalize work relationships, ensure wage protections, and create a reliable pathway for employers to hire qualified careworkers.
No publicly available information.