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What is the 2023 Update on Key Federal Immigration Policy?
The Immigration Act of 1924 limited the number of immigrants entering the United States through a national quota. The quota availed immigration visas to two percent of people from each nationality in the United States. Recently, the House introduced the Dignity Act of 2023, a comprehensive and bipartisan immigration legislation.
The goal is to reduce illegal immigration and provide a solution for undocumented immigrants while strengthening the American workforce. A skilled immigration attorney in San Jose explains the new changes and their impact on green card applications.
A Modern Approach to the Immigration Policy
Attracting immigrants to the United States is crucial because of their invaluable contributions to the economy and society. The critical shortage of workers explains the need for bipartisan immigration reform to strengthen the economy, protect the rule of law, and strengthen the security of borders.
The president has lifted restrictions previously established during the coronavirus pandemic, which drastically reduced the number of visas issued to immigrants. With the changes, more new immigrants will be able to enter the country, and millions of unauthorized immigrants already in the country will achieve legal status.
Under the new bill, an immigrant may qualify for lawful permanent resident status if they have lived in the U.S. for at least seven consecutive years. The Renewing Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act updates the Registry cutoff date to allow more immigrants to apply for legal permanent residence. An experienced green card lawyer in San Jose provides more details.
The Latest 2023 USCIS Green Card Processing Times
When applying for a green card from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, it’s natural to want to know how long it will take to process. The USCIS is responsible for processing green card and naturalization applications and publishes the average processing times for various immigration forms. A San Jose green card can help you identify the current wait times.
Employment-Based Green Cards
Biden administration’s proposed legislation could boost the number of employment-based green cards, currently capped at about 140,000 per year. The proposal allows the use of unutilized visa slots to allow spouses and children of employment-based visa holders to receive green cards without being counted against the annual caps.
The measure could help clear the backlog of applications by eliminating the per-country cap that prevents several immigrants from getting green cards. The current wait time for employment-based green cards is 11-22 months, depending on the specific category. Consult a skilled green card lawyer in San Jose if you want help following up on your application.
Family-Based Green Cards
Family-based visas allow people to receive a green card if they have a child, spouse, sibling, or parent living in the country with U.S. citizenship. In the past, immigrants from countries with large numbers of applicants would often wait for years to receive a green card.
However, Biden’s proposal would expand access to family-based green cards in various ways. For example, it will increase the per-country caps and clear application backlogs. Family-based green cards will become the most common way for people to immigrate to the country. The current wait time for this type of visa is approximately 13 months.
Refugee Admissions
During the fiscal year 2021, the U.S. only admitted 11,400 refugees. The maximum number of refugees the country could accept each fiscal year was increased to 62,500 in 2021. In 2022, the Biden administration increased the cap to 125,000.
If you’re seeking a refugee-based green card, it’s advisable to work with a skilled immigration lawyer in San Jose. They can help you file your application and analyze it for mistakes that could make it denied. The current wait time for refugee-based visas is between 25 and 28 months.
Diversity Visas
About 50,000 people receive green cards through the U.S. diversity visa program each year. The program is also known as the visa lottery and seeks to diversify the U.S. immigration population by granting visas to underrepresented nations.
The proposed changes seek to increase the annual total to 80,000 diversity visas. Consult an immigration visa lawyer to learn how to benefit from the diversity-based green card. The current wait time is between 7 and 14 months, depending on how soon you apply for the visa.
H-1 B Green Cards
The government has reviewed policies that led to increased denial rates of H-1 B visas under the previous administration. The current administration has proposed legislation to provide permanent work permits to spouses of H-1B visa holders. Processing times can take as short as two months or as long as eight months, with the average being 3-5 months.
Temporary Protected Status
The Biden administration has proposed granting citizenship to certain immigrants who receive temporary protected status benefits. Those who meet certain conditions could apply for green cards immediately to become lawful permanent residents. They can apply for citizenship three years after receiving a green card, two years earlier than usual green-card holders.
An Experienced Green Card Attorney Guiding You on the New Immigration Policy
The new U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023 is a humane, common-sense, and long-overdue approach to solving immigration challenges. The legislation allows immigrants to earn citizenship through various types of green cards. If you want legal assistance in pursuing any of them, an experienced green card attorney in San Jose can help you.
Sadri Law, P.C. is an immigration firm law firm that provides legal representation in immigration services to help clients build a better future. Our immigration attorney can help you explore what the United States offers using an employment, refugee, or family-based visa. We can provide the legal counsel you need to ensure everything works in your favor. Call us at 408-402-4967 to schedule a consultation.
