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Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-4276| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Tom Malinowski

Tom Malinowski

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (27)
Chris Stewart (Republican)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Van Taylor (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Young Kim (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Joe Wilson (Republican)Liz Cheney (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Dean Phillips (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Blake D. Moore (Republican)Anthony Gonzalez (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Michelle Steel (Republican)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Colin Z. Allred (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2021 This bill provides for temporary protected status (TPS) for qualifying Hong Kong residents and contains other immigration-related provisions. Hong Kong shall be treated as a TPS-designated territory for 18 months starting from this bill's enactment. (Qualifying nationals of a TPS-designated territory or country may not be removed from the United States and shall have employment authorization while the designation is in effect.) Furthermore, Hong Kong shall be treated as separate from China for the purposes of various numerical limitations on immigrant visas. (In the treaty that transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong to China, China pledged that Hong Kong "will enjoy a high degree of autonomy.") The bill also establishes Priority Hong Kong Resident status for qualified individuals. To obtain such status, an individual must meet certain requirements, such as having resided in Hong Kong for at least ten years as of the day of this bill's enactment and not having citizenship in any jurisdiction other than China, Hong Kong, or Macau. For seeking refugee status or asylum, a Priority Hong Kong Resident may establish a well-founded fear of persecution based on various factors, such as fear based on the individual's significant role in certain protests against China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of State may provide special immigrant status to an eligible Priority Hong Kong Resident with a bachelor's or graduate degree if DHS determines that doing so would provide a significant benefit to the United States.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8428
Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-7428
Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act
Jun 30, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 30, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8428
    Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-7428
    Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act


  • June 30, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • June 30, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 117-3524: EAGLE Act
AlliancesArea studies and international educationAsiaAustraliaCanadaChinaCitizenship and naturalizationCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadElections, voting, political campaign regulationEuropeHong KongHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationJapanNews media and reportingOceaniaProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionSouth KoreaSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTravel and tourismUnited KingdomUser charges and feesVisas and passports

Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2021

USA117th CongressHR-4276| House 
| Updated: 11/1/2022
Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act of 2021 This bill provides for temporary protected status (TPS) for qualifying Hong Kong residents and contains other immigration-related provisions. Hong Kong shall be treated as a TPS-designated territory for 18 months starting from this bill's enactment. (Qualifying nationals of a TPS-designated territory or country may not be removed from the United States and shall have employment authorization while the designation is in effect.) Furthermore, Hong Kong shall be treated as separate from China for the purposes of various numerical limitations on immigrant visas. (In the treaty that transferred sovereignty of Hong Kong to China, China pledged that Hong Kong "will enjoy a high degree of autonomy.") The bill also establishes Priority Hong Kong Resident status for qualified individuals. To obtain such status, an individual must meet certain requirements, such as having resided in Hong Kong for at least ten years as of the day of this bill's enactment and not having citizenship in any jurisdiction other than China, Hong Kong, or Macau. For seeking refugee status or asylum, a Priority Hong Kong Resident may establish a well-founded fear of persecution based on various factors, such as fear based on the individual's significant role in certain protests against China's encroachment into Hong Kong's autonomy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or the Department of State may provide special immigrant status to an eligible Priority Hong Kong Resident with a bachelor's or graduate degree if DHS determines that doing so would provide a significant benefit to the United States.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-8428
Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 116-7428
Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act
Jun 30, 2021
Introduced in House
Jun 30, 2021
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Nov 1, 2022
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-8428
    Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act of 2020


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 116-7428
    Hong Kong People’s Freedom and Choice Act


  • June 30, 2021
    Introduced in House


  • June 30, 2021
    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.


  • November 1, 2022
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Tom Malinowski

Tom Malinowski

Democratic Representative

New Jersey

Cosponsors (27)
Chris Stewart (Republican)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)Van Taylor (Republican)Claudia Tenney (Republican)Young Kim (Republican)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Joe Wilson (Republican)Liz Cheney (Republican)Rodney Davis (Republican)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Dean Phillips (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Blake D. Moore (Republican)Anthony Gonzalez (Republican)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Andy Kim (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Michelle Steel (Republican)Adam Kinzinger (Republican)Dan Crenshaw (Republican)Brian K. Fitzpatrick (Republican)Colin Z. Allred (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)

Foreign Affairs Committee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 117-3524: EAGLE Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
AlliancesArea studies and international educationAsiaAustraliaCanadaChinaCitizenship and naturalizationCongressional oversightCultural exchanges and relationsDetention of personsDiplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadElections, voting, political campaign regulationEuropeHong KongHuman rightsImmigration status and proceduresInternational exchange and broadcastingInternational organizations and cooperationJapanNews media and reportingOceaniaProtest and dissentRacial and ethnic relationsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsReligionSouth KoreaSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusTravel and tourismUnited KingdomUser charges and feesVisas and passports