Thousands of young Irish people from Northern Ireland and the Border counties of the Republic will be eligible for US visas for training purposes following Congress approval.
The Senate has now passed the Bill authorising 12,000 one-year visas over three years under the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Programme. It had already been approved by the House of Representatives where it had been sponsored by a Republican congressman, Mr James Walsh, and other Irish-American members.
The House Speaker, Mr Newt Gingrich, whose support was vital in overcoming some Republican objections to new immigration legislation, said he was "proud that Congress passed this Bill to benefit people from these underprivileged areas in Ireland by offering them a chance to learn and work in our country".
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, also welcomed the Bill, for which the Irish Embassy had lobbied. The visas will be "non-immigrant" and will not permit holders to stay in the US after the expiry date.