SEC. _. PROTECTION FOR SCHOLARS. (a) NONIMMIGRANT CATEGORY."Section 101(a)(15) U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) of the Immigration and NationalityAct is amended by striking subparagraph (W), asadded by section 401(a)(4), and inserting the following:''(W) subject to section 214(s), an alien"''(i) who the Secretary of HomelandSecurity determines"''(I) is a scholar; and''(II) is subject to a risk of gravedanger or persecution in the alien'scountry of nationality on account ofthe alien's belief, scholarship, or identity;or''(ii) who is the spouse or child of analien described in clause (i) who is accompanyingor following to join such alien;''.
(b) CONDITIONS."Section 214 of the Immigrationand Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184), as amended by thisAct, is further amended by adding at the end the following:''(s) REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO PERSECUTEDSCHOLARS."''(1) ELIGIBILITY."''(A) IN GENERAL."An alien is eligible fornonimmigrant status under section.101(a)(15)(W)(i) if the alien demonstrates thatthe alien is a scholar in any field who is subjectto a risk of grave danger or persecution in thealien's country of nationality on account of thealien's belief, scholarship, or identity.''(B) CONSULTATION."In determining eligibilityof aliens under subparagraph (A), theSecretary of Homeland Security shall consultwith nationally recognized organizations thathave not less than 5 years of experience in assistingand funding scholars needing to escapedangerous conditions.''(2) NUMERICAL MINIMUMS."The number ofaliens who may be issued visas or otherwise providedstatus as nonimmigrants under section1101(a)(15)(W) in any fiscal year may not be lessthan 2,000, unless the Secretary determines thatless than 2,000 aliens who are qualified for such statusare seeking such status during the fiscal year.''(3) CREDIBLE EVIDENCE CONSIDERED."Inacting on any application filed under this subsection,the consular officer or the Secretary of HomelandSecurity, as appropriate, shall consider any credibleevidence relevant to the application, including infor.mation received in connection with the consultationrequired under paragraph (1)(B).''(4) NONEXCLUSIVE RELIEF."Nothing in thissubsection limits the ability of an alien who qualifiesfor status under section 101(a)(15)(W) to seek anyother immigration benefit or status for which thealien may be eligible.''(5) DURATION OF STATUS."''(A) INITIAL PERIOD."The initial periodof admission of an alien granted status as anonimmigrant under section 101(a)(15)(W) shall be not more than 2 years.''(B) EXTENSION OF PERIOD."The periodof admission described in subparagraph (A) may be extended for 1 additional 2-year period.''.
(c) EMPLOYMENT CREATION VISAS."Section203(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as redesignatedand amended by section 502(b)(3), is furtheramended"
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ''2,800''and inserting ''10,000''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ''1,500''and inserting ''7,500''..
