House passes bill extending E-Verify, other immigration programs

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said the E-Verify program is used by nearly 400,000 U.S. companies to determine worker eligibility. He also said keeping E-Verify around would help ensure that jobs are given to the 23 million Americans still looking for work.

{mosads}The bill would also extend an investor visa program, under which 10,000 immigrants are given visas when they invest at least $500,000 in the United States in a way that creates at least 10 jobs.

Additionally, it would extend the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver Program, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), which helps bring doctors to the United States under exchange programs. These doctors are sent to medically underserved areas.

And, it would extend the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program.