The Senate bill does not offer amnesty or a free pass to anyone. If you want to stay here. you have to earn it. Under the comprehensive. bipartisan Senate bill. undocumented immigrants who have been present in the U.S. for at least 5 years would be able to apply for a work visa lasting 6 years. They would also pay thousands of dollars In fines. clear background checks. and must remain gainfully employed and lawabiding. They would go to the back of the line behind those already waiting for their applications to be judged. After 6 years of working in the U.S. on a temporary visa. an immigrant could apply for permanent residencya process that takes 5 yearsprovided he or she paid an additional fee. proved payment of taxes and could show knowledge of English and United States civics. Only after a combined period of 11 years could the immigrant apply for U.S. citizenship. Those who have been here betwee 2 to 5 years would have to apply through a stricter guest worker program. and would have to wait even longer before they could win legal residency. We should have rolled up our sleeves long ago to pass realistic and compassionate immigration reform. And the Senate finally has. But the House has shirked its responsibilities with its enforcementonly focus.
Keywords matched
undocumented immigrant immigration immigrants visa work visa