SERVICE for America Act

The SERVICE for America Act introduces a new W nonimmigrant visa category for individuals working in designated public service jobs. These roles span critical sectors such as emergency management, public safety, healthcare, education, social work, and non-profit organizations, aiming to provide a legal pathway for individuals contributing to these essential services. Eligibility for the W-visa is primarily for those lawfully present as dependent children of certain employment-based nonimmigrants for at least five years, or who are DACA recipients. Applicants must also have been physically present in the U.S. for five years and be employed or have an offer for a public service job. The W-visa is valid for three years, extendable once, and includes employment authorization for the holder, spouse, and minor children. The legislation also creates a pathway to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status . To qualify, individuals must meet specific criteria, including prior lawful presence as a dependent child for seven years, DACA status, or at least two years with a W-visa, along with seven years of physical presence and a minimum of two years in a public service job. Additionally, the bill expands eligibility for the AmeriCorps program to include DACA recipients and certain long-term dependent children of employment-based nonimmigrants. It also allows for waivers of specific inadmissibility grounds for both W-visa and LPR applicants for humanitarian purposes, family unity, or public interest.