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RELIEF Act

USA116th CongressS-2603| Senate 
| Updated: 10/16/2019
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Cosponsors (6)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act or the RELIEF Act This bill revises provisions related to family- and employment-based visas. The bill (1) increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15%, (2) eliminates the 7% cap for employment-based immigrant visas, and (3) removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for individuals from China. The annual cap for visas for the unmarried children of citizens is increased, and the formula for calculating the cap for the unmarried children of residents is revised. The bill also establishes transition rules for employment-based visas from FY2020-FY2022, by reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability), EB-3 (skilled and other workers), and EB-5 (investors) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas. Of the unreserved visas, not more than 85% shall be allotted to immigrants from any single country. The Department of State shall increase allocations of family- and employment-based visas by the number of beneficiaries of such applications filed before this bill's enactment, to be allocated FY2020-FY2024 to beneficiaries of applications filed before this bill's enactment who have not yet received a visa. The minor children and spouses of permanent residents and those accompanying a qualified alien shall be treated as an immediate relative for immigration purposes. Whether an alien qualifies as a minor shall be determined according to the alien's age at the time a relevant petition is filed.
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Timeline
Oct 16, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Oct 16, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S5843-5845)
Mar 19, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6290
Introduced in House
  • October 16, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 16, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S5843-5845)


  • March 19, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6290
    Introduced in House

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 116-386: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019
  • HR 116-5327: RELIEF Act
  • HR 116-1044: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020
Citizenship and naturalizationForeign laborImmigration status and proceduresMarriage and family statusVisas and passports

RELIEF Act

USA116th CongressS-2603| Senate 
| Updated: 10/16/2019
Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act or the RELIEF Act This bill revises provisions related to family- and employment-based visas. The bill (1) increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15%, (2) eliminates the 7% cap for employment-based immigrant visas, and (3) removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for individuals from China. The annual cap for visas for the unmarried children of citizens is increased, and the formula for calculating the cap for the unmarried children of residents is revised. The bill also establishes transition rules for employment-based visas from FY2020-FY2022, by reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability), EB-3 (skilled and other workers), and EB-5 (investors) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas. Of the unreserved visas, not more than 85% shall be allotted to immigrants from any single country. The Department of State shall increase allocations of family- and employment-based visas by the number of beneficiaries of such applications filed before this bill's enactment, to be allocated FY2020-FY2024 to beneficiaries of applications filed before this bill's enactment who have not yet received a visa. The minor children and spouses of permanent residents and those accompanying a qualified alien shall be treated as an immediate relative for immigration purposes. Whether an alien qualifies as a minor shall be determined according to the alien's age at the time a relevant petition is filed.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 16, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Oct 16, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S5843-5845)
Mar 19, 2020

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-6290
Introduced in House
  • October 16, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 16, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text: CR S5843-5845)


  • March 19, 2020

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-6290
    Introduced in House
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democratic Senator

Illinois

Cosponsors (6)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 116-386: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019
  • HR 116-5327: RELIEF Act
  • HR 116-1044: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2020
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Citizenship and naturalizationForeign laborImmigration status and proceduresMarriage and family statusVisas and passports