It has ganrnered bipartisan support, but not quite enough to date on the Senate Republican side.
Nevertheless, supporters of an E3 visa bill for the Irish are still hoping for a positive result before the current Congress adjourns for elections.
But any progress towards firm legislation now means a new standalone measure with House support and no holds on any House-approved bill that reaches the Senate.
Existing E3 proposals from Democrat Charles Schumer of New York, and Republican Senator Scott Brown from Massachusetts, have been stalled for several months in the Senate due to a lack of sufficient support on the GOP side, and more specifically a "hold" placed on further action by Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican from Iowa who has been generally hostile to any and all immigration initiatives.
But now, Schumer staffers are looking at a new bid for House of Representatives backing that would potentially see an E3 standing on its own feet - and not attached to any "country caps" bill.
The proposal for consideration would still provide 10,500 two year, renewable, E3 visas for eligible Irish applicants annually. But the program, as currently envisaged, could sunset after two years.
It would be open to applicants with a varied skills and educational qualifications, from high school graduates or equivalents with work experience, to skilled workers and college graduates.
"We're still in the game," said a source close to the renewed efforts taking place on Capitol Hill.
As has been the case thus far, the road to an E3 program is a bumpy one. With a presidential and congressional elections in November, Congress is certain to be even more its usual skittish self although expectations are that both parties are intent on passing some legislation in the coming months.
"In the midst of one of the most polarized Congresses in decades, Senate Democrats and Republicans expect to come together to pass a handful of bills this month before the legislative spigot gets turned down this summer and the parties begin to more furiously jockey ahead of the election," the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, recently reported.
If there is no positive result before the election, there is a possibility of one in the congressional lame duck session after the November vote and before the swearing in of the new congress in January.
E3 visas do not lead to a green card and eventual citizenship but are renewable on an indefinite basis. and holders of the visa can legally bring over immediate family members to the U.S. Several countries, most notably, Australia, already have E3 agreements with the U.S.
