Venezuelan Adjustment Act

Key Points

• This bill, introduced by Representative Soto, would allow Venezuelan citizens living in the United States to apply for permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card. To qualify, a person must have entered the country on or before December 31, 2021, and lived here for at least one year before submitting their application.
• The policy aims to provide a stable legal future for thousands of Venezuelans who fled political and economic instability. It also extends eligibility to their spouses and children, helping families stay together legally in the country.
• People with serious criminal records, such as those convicted of major felonies or those who have participated in the persecution of others, are not eligible for this program. However, the bill allows people with past deportation orders to apply for a Green Card without having to go back through the court system to reopen their old cases.
• While waiting for the government to process their applications, individuals can receive work permits so they can legally hold jobs. If the government takes longer than 180 days to make a decision on an application, a work permit must be granted automatically.
• Applicants would have a three-year window to submit their paperwork once the bill becomes law. These Green Cards would not count against the normal yearly limits on how many people can immigrate to the U.S. from other countries, meaning they won't take away spots from other applicants.