This bill establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category for alien relatives of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, allowing them to visit the U.S. temporarily for family purposes . This new B(iii) category broadly defines "family purposes" to include social visits, major life events, religious events, or other similar reasons, and covers a wide range of relatives such as spouses, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. To qualify, applicants must secure a declaration of financial support from a U.S. petitioner or sponsor and obtain short-term travel medical insurance covering their stay. Visitors are limited to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year and must express a clear intent to depart the United States at the conclusion of their authorized admission. Crucially, individuals admitted under this category are explicitly restricted from changing their nonimmigrant status or adjusting to permanent resident status while in the U.S. The legislation includes safeguards, prohibiting petitioners from sponsoring new relatives if a previously sponsored individual overstayed their authorized admission , unless the overstay was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the relative's control. It also permits individuals who are awaiting an immigrant visa to utilize this temporary family purpose visa, but clarifies that such temporary admission does not confer eligibility for adjustment of status.
This bill establishes a new nonimmigrant visa category for alien relatives of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, allowing them to visit the U.S. temporarily for family purposes . This new B(iii) category broadly defines "family purposes" to include social visits, major life events, religious events, or other similar reasons, and covers a wide range of relatives such as spouses, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews. To qualify, applicants must secure a declaration of financial support from a U.S. petitioner or sponsor and obtain short-term travel medical insurance covering their stay. Visitors are limited to a maximum of 90 days per calendar year and must express a clear intent to depart the United States at the conclusion of their authorized admission. Crucially, individuals admitted under this category are explicitly restricted from changing their nonimmigrant status or adjusting to permanent resident status while in the U.S. The legislation includes safeguards, prohibiting petitioners from sponsoring new relatives if a previously sponsored individual overstayed their authorized admission , unless the overstay was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the relative's control. It also permits individuals who are awaiting an immigrant visa to utilize this temporary family purpose visa, but clarifies that such temporary admission does not confer eligibility for adjustment of status.