Immigration Reform Reconciliation Bill Text

Author: NY Immigration Lawyer Alena Shautsova

Great news, the Immigration reform Reconciliation Bill is finally here. Among the main things, it creates a residency path for dreamers, and anyone who came to the US at the age of 18 or under and has continuously resided here since January 1, 2021 would be considered a dreamer. To qualify for this path, however, some additional criteria must be met plus a fee of $1500 must be paid (and $250 for each dependent).

Essential workers: those who have continuously resided in the US since January 1, 2021, and have “demonstrated a consistent record of earned income in the United States in an occupation described in the guidance of the Department of Homeland Security entitled ‘Advisory Memorandum on Ensuring Essential Critical Infrastructure Worker’s Ability to Work During the COVID–19 Response’, issued on August 10, 2021, during the period beginning on January 31, 2020, and ending on
25 August 24, 2021.

TPS holders who have continuously resided in the US for 3 years and/or TPS eligible.

Certain criminal convictions will disqualify a person from this opportunity: any offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment for more than a year; 3 or more offenses with imprisonment in the aggregate for 90 days or more. A waiver may be available for certain cases. Expunged convictions will not be treated as such expunged automatically for Immigration purposes.

If otherwise eligible, a person who is currently in removal proceedings or with an outstanding order of removal will be able to apply as well. T

The law will take into effect wither 180 days from the date of enactment or May 1, 2022, whichever is earlier.

Also, the reconciliation bill makes provisions for recapturing certain visas, and allowing DV visa applicants to still use them for years 2017-2021 if they were unable to do so due to Trump’s bans or COVID.

This is just a first summary of the Act, and we will provide more details shortly.