The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

President Biden’s plan for immigration reform has finally been revealed and proposed to congress. The proposed law is called The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. The details of the proposed law will now be debated and decided. It is likely that portions will be changed or removed and we do not know whether it will pass in Congress. Although we expect this process to take some time, we are very excited about the proposed changes. These are just some of the most exciting changes that we found:

• Lawful Permanent Residency for DACA recipients – this would allow those with DACA or eligible for DACA to legalize, and eventually become citizens
• Unlawful presence and permanent bars removed – this means that many people will no longer require complex waivers, and many who were permanently barred will now be able to gain lawful status.
• Triple U Visa caps – There is currently a limit of 10,000 U visas per year available for victims of crime and there is a very long waiting list. The law proposes 30,000 visas per year so U visas will become available much more quickly, and victims of crimes will not have to wait for many years in order to be granted status.
• Less Strict Waivers – this means that many more waivers will be available for those who need them because they are not eligible for residency due to criminal history or prior immigration violations, but also that it will be easier to qualify for the waiver.
• Lawful Prospective Immigrant status (“LPI”) – LPI will be a way for certain undocumented immigrants to move into legal status. It will allow for travel and work authorization. Eventually, this status provides the opportunity for permanent residency (a green card) and U.S. citizenship.

There are many more exciting changes proposed and our office will be tracking this proposal carefully. In addition to the proposal themselves, we are excited to see positive changes to immigration laws being discussed and taken seriously.

Please note that this is still a proposed law, meaning you cannot apply for anything yet. Do not pay anyone to try to apply for benefits under this proposed law because it is not in effect. This includes notarios or anyone claiming it is possible to get to the front of the line or apply early.

If the law is passed, make sure you work with a licensed attorney in the preparation of your case. You and your life in the U.S. are worth it.

Call our office today if you would like advice on your legal options today or to discuss the possibilities if this law were to pass.