Legal Immigration & Family Equity Act

Contributed by Jabir Chatoo

Recently President Clinton signed into the new Immigration law called The Legal Immigration & Family Equity Act ("LIFE in short"). The highlights of this new LIFE law are as follows: 

• First, anyone who is physically in the United States as of December 21, 2000 without a current legal status is eligible to obtain a "Green Card" in the United
  States through sponsorship by an employer or a family member.  This window of opportunity is for four months only and the deadline for filing is April 30, 2001.  It is important to note that this is NOT a general amnesty and that anyone who arrives in the U.S. after December 21, 2000 will not be eligible to apply. 

• Second, current Green Card holders who filed at least three years ago for their spouse and/or child overseas can now come to the United States by applying
  for a new "V" visa at their U.S. Consulate overseas. 

• Third, American citizens whose spouses are outside the U.S. waiting for their immigrant visa can now bring their spouses into the U.S. earlier under the expanded version of the "K" visa.  

• Fourth, those individuals who had applied under the Late Amnesty Program of CSS and LULAC may be eligible to apply for a green card if certain criteria are met. The INS will issue these criteria in 120 days.

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