American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act

A law passed in the year 2000 which contained a great many provisions - mostly beneficial to foreign nationals and employers. Among the most important provisions: An increase in the H-1B cap for a three-year period. An H-1B nonimmigrant who is running out of the allowable six years of H-1B time but who has filed some form of permanent residence application or petition before the beginning of the sixth year may get additional H-1B time (one year increments if simply waiting or processing of a labor certification or I-140 to complete, three years at a time if waiting for a priority date to become current). An H-1B nonimmigrant who wished to switch employers could in most cases begin work with the new employer as soon as the H-1B amendment petition is on file. A foreign national with an adjustment of status application pending more than 180 days may change employers without forfeiting the existing permanent residence case as long as the I-140 has been or is eventually approved and the new position is in the same basic field.