A bill was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Leahy (D-VT) in May 2012 to extend the EB-5 Regional Center program, the E-Verify electronic employee eligibility verification program, the R Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker program and the Conrad State 30 J-1 Visa Waiver program. The bill was passed by the Senate on August 2, 2012, with unanimous consent. It was extended in the Senate to include a 3-year extension of the four immigrant programs.

On September 13, 2012, the House passed the bill as well by a vote of 412 to 3. President Obama signed the bill into law on September 28, 2012