Legal Immigration Act of 1996

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Immigrants Title II: Nonimmigrants Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions Title IV: Effective Date Legal Immigration Act of 1996 - Title I: Immigrants - Subtitle A: Changes in Immigrant Classifications - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to revise the preference allocation for family sponsored immigrants as follows: (1) spouses and children of permanent resident aliens; (2) unmarried sons and daughters of citizens; (3) married sons and daughters of citizens; (4) unmarried sons and daughters of permanent resident aliens; and (5) brothers and sisters of citizens. Establishes a special visa allocation rule during the temporary family backlog reduction program. Directs the Secretary of State to study and report on the sibling visa backlog. (Sec. 102) Repeals the unskilled immigrant preference category. (Sec. 104) Restricts judicial review of visa determinations. (Sec. 105) Makes conforming amendments to the Act and other Federal law. (Sec. 106) Sets forth transition provisions. Subtitle B: Changes in Numerical Limitations on Immigrants - Amends the Act to: (1) reduce worldwide numerical limitations on admissions of family sponsored and diversity immigrants; and (2) revise limitations on immigrants from a single foreign state. (Sec. 114) Sets forth transition visa allocation rules for certain backlogged: (1) spouses and children of permanent resident aliens; and (2) brothers and sisters of citizens. Title II: Nonimmigrants - Amends the Act to revise (H-1b visa) provisions regarding specialty occupation or fashion model nonimmigrants with respect to: (1) employer investigations and penalties; (2) wages; and (3) the definition of an H-1b dependent employer. (Sec. 202) Extends the visa waiver pilot program. Revises probationary status provisions. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1988 to repeal (with a transition period) the Amerasian (Vietnamese-American) admission program as of October 1, 1997. (Sec. 302) Amends the Act to subject aliens who entered without inspection to the ten-year residence requirement for suspension of deportation benefits. (Sec. 303) Makes economic espionage or piracy of intellectual property grounds for exclusion. (Sec. 304) Requires international matchmaking organizations (mail-order marriages) doing business in the United States to provide recruits with immigration information. Directs the Attorney General to study such operations and related issues of fraud and domestic abuse. Title IV: Effective Date - Sets forth the effective date of amendments made by this Act.