They will be able to travel back and forth to their native country, and will not be precluded from applying for green cards granting permanent residence.

ECONOMIST: At last, sense about illegal workers

Moreover, reform is needed for green cards (permanent residence), since newly sponsored skilled foreign nationals, particularly from India and China, could wait years or decades for an employment-based green card.

FORBES: Want to Attract Jobs and Capital? Change U.S. Tax and Immigration Laws

The card would not in itself lead to permanent residence (a green card).

FORBES: Taking a Good Look at the "Red Card Solution"

Advocates are also concerned that the bill requires certain goals on border security to be met before anyone can get a green card qualifying them for legal permanent residence and ultimately citizenship, and some say that the path to citizenship takes too long.

NPR: Advocates Criticize Senate Immigration Bill

Alastair Gordon - A WSJ. contributing editor, Alastair Gordon wrote "Art in Residence, " on Gian Enzo Sperone's Swiss house, and "Wild Green Yonder, " about back-to-nature golf courses, for this issue.

WSJ: Contributors