What You Need to Know About the US Citizenship Act of 2021
Yesterday, on President Joseph R. Biden’s first day in office, he issued an executive order introducing the US Citizenship Act of 2021. Though the Act has yet to be passed by Congress, it contains a wide variety of sweeping actions that will have a significant effect on the immigration system here in the United States if passed. Please continue reading and speak with our New Jersey immigration attorney to learn more about some of the key takeaways from the US Citizenship Act of 2021. Here are some of the questions you may have:
What does the US Citizenship Act of 2021 do?
To start, the Act will provide a pathway to citizenship for many immigrants who did not have such a clear path before. Immigrants who may now have a path to citizenship include essential workers, DACA recipients, and TPS holders. These people will have to pass various criteria and be in the United States on or before January 1, 2021. To start, these immigrants must first apply for legal status or green card lawful permanent resident status for five years, and from there, they will have to apply for permanent green card status after three years. They must then pay taxes and pass various background checks. Additionally, the Act will work to address the causes of illegal migration and provide relief to employment and family immigrant visa backlogs.
How will the US Citizenship Act of 2021 affect employment-based immigration?
The Act will also clear employment-based immigrant backlogs, eliminate per-country immigration caps, and exempt graduates of colleges and universities with advanced STEM degrees from immigrant visa caps. That being said, various non-immigrant employment-based visas, such as the H-1B and H-2B visas, have yet to be addressed and will be deliberated further into the Biden Administration. If you have any additional questions about the Act or how it may affect you, please do not hesitate to give us a call today. Our firm will, of course, provide you with updates as more information comes out and once the Act is passed by Congress.
Contact our experienced New Jersey firm
We understand how much is on the line when clients face matters related to immigration. If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for matters regarding immigration, please contact the Law Offices of Salvatore A. Falletta, LLC and we would be happy to provide you with assistance. Our firm is located in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
