Justice appropriations bill directing the House conferees to disagree to the permanent extension of section 245(i) that was included in the Senate version of the bill. In 1994. Congress passed section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. a temporary provision that was to have expired on September 30. 1997. This provision has since been extended until November 7. 1997. by the two continuing resolutions. I urge my colleagues to oppose this motion to instruct and to allow section 245(i) to be extended permanently. Section 245(i) allows certain immigrants who have fallen out of status. but who are now eligible for permanent U.S. residency. to pay a $1.000 fee and have their paperwork processed while they remain in the United States. Without 245(i) these immigrants would have to return to their native countries for visa processing before once again reentering the United States. Section 245(i) is only available to those immigrants already on the brink of becoming legal permanent residentspeople who are already eligible to become permanent residents. These are people who the INS has already determined should be able to become permanent residents based on their family and employment relationships. that is. they have been sponsored by either a family member who is a legal resident or citizen. or a business willing to employ the applicant. Despite the charges of many. section 245(i) is not a vehicle for criminals and terrorists to become U.S. citizens.
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visa immigrants Immigration