The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021
The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, is a comprehensive immigration legislation that improves paths to
- Citizenship,
- Family-based immigration, and
- Employment-based immigration.
The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 targets three areas:
(1) Provide pathways to citizenship and strengthen labor protections.
(2) Prioritize smart border controls; and
(3) Address root causes of migration.
PROVISIONAL STATUS
- Proof of living in the United States on or before January 01st, 2021, or seek waiver on humanitarian grounds.
- Pay all required fees and penalties.
- Get Work Authorization, Travel Documents.
- Receive Provisional Legal Status.
GREEN CARD STATUS
- Maintaining Provisional Status for 5 years.
- Pay all fees and penalties
- Show proof of paying taxes
- Biometrics & Background checks clearances.
- Apply for a green Card.
CITIZENSHIP
- Hold Green Card for 3 years
- Pay all required fees.
- Pass additional background checks
- Pass English and Civic Tests
- Apply for the US Citizenship.
Main Points:
- A pathway to citizenship to undocumented individuals, along with significantly reducing the amount of time required to become a citizen for such individuals. This will allow applicants such as DACA recipients, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers to immediately apply for green cards and after three years, apply to become U.S. citizens so long as the applicant satisfies background checks and demonstrates knowledge of English and U.S. civics.
- A system to clear family- and employment-based immigration backlogs and increasing per-country visa numbers.
- H-4 dependents of H-1B visa holders work authorization,
- Preventing Children from “aging out” of the immigration system.
- Eliminate “3- and 10-year bars,” which bars individuals from re-entering the United States who have accrued a certain amount of unlawful presence.
- Improve the employment verification process and protects workers who are victims of workplace retaliation from deportation, through a new process whereby labor agencies may interview these workers.
- Expedite screening and enhance the ability to identify narcotics and other contraband” found at the port of entry.
- The bill also provides funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to advance guidelines for standards of care for individuals and families in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody.
- Reduce immigration court backlogs, as well as provide expanded training for immigration judges and improve existing technology in the immigration court system.
- Eliminates the one-year deadline for filing asylum claims, provides funding to reduce asylum application backlogs.
- Increases protection and visa numbers for U visas, T visas, and VAWA applicants.
- New processing centers near the US – Mexico border to register qualifying refugees and resettle them in the United States.
We at Misbah Chaudhry & Associates PLLC – Immigration Law Firm is keeping a close eye on the related advancements and will keep our audience posted.
