House Judiciary Committee Approves Bill Adding Israel to Nonimmigrant Investor Visa Eligibility List

---

On February 28, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary approved legislation that would add Israel to the E-2 nonimmigrant visa eligibility list of countries. The bill would allow Israelis to apply for E-2 visas if similarly situated U.S. nationals are eligible for such visas in Israel. Rep. Howard Berman (D-Cal.), said the legislation would bring Israeli business and innovations in “security and defense technologies, medicine, agriculture, high-tech, and clean energy” to the United States.

Last May, the Senate introduced a companion bill but has not yet moved it through the Senate Judiciary Committee.