USA IMMIGRATION NEWS

Senators Introduce Reuniting Families Act

Tuesday, 2 June 2009

Senators Menendez (D-NJ), Gillibrand (D-NY), Kennedy (D-MA) and Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Reuniting Families Act (S.1085).

The bill aims to reunite family members in the United States who have been separated due to bureaucratic delays in the processing of their family-based green card applications, thus promoting family stability and fostering economic growth.

To accomplish these goals, the bill, among other things, redefines the term "Immediate Relative" and increases the number of immigrant visa numbers available for certain family-based immigrant visa categories. Currently, an "Immediate Relative" refers to children, spouses and parents of a U.S. citizen. The bill will expand this definition to include children and parents of legal permanent residents (i.e. green card holders). The bill would also increase the immigrant visa numbers available for the family-based first preference immigrant visa category from 23,000 to 38,000, and the third preference immigrant visa category from 65,000 to 90,000.

The bill also extends additional benefits to orphans, widows and widowers. Under the bill these persons would be permitted to file a family based immigrant visa petition after their legal permanent resident or U.S. citizen spouse or child is deceased. These orphans, widows and widowers would need to initiate the green card application process within two years of the death or before the child reaches age 21 to be eligible for this benefit. Further, if an orphan, widow and widower’s legal permanent resident or U.S. citizen spouse or child died prior to the enactment of the bill, the orphan, widow and widower would still be entitled to this benefit provided they initiate the green card application process within two years of the death or before the child reaches age 21.

Should this bill pass it will remove a significant portion of the bureaucratic backlog that currently plagues the family-based green card application process, while extending new benefits to various beneficiaries.

For additional information regarding the above or for assistance with your US visa application please visit migrationexpert.com.