Reuniting Families Act

Key Points

• Tries to cut long waits for family and work visas by using unused visas from past years and year-to-year leftovers.
• Would treat spouses, long-term partners, and minor children of green-card holders as “immediate relatives,” which can move them ahead in line.
• Raises the per-country share of visas, which could reduce extreme wait times for people from high-demand countries.
• Expands protections during immigration cases, including letting some people apply for relief more easily and stopping removal while certain applications are pending.
• Adds immigration recognition for “permanent partners” (not married), increases the diversity visa total to 80,000, and prioritizes refugee family reunification.