Washington Update on Extension of Section 245(i)
Posted Jul 13, 2001

As mentioned in previous MurthyBulletin articles, a law was signed by then President Bill Clinton on December 21, 2000 known as the LIFE Act. Included in this law was an extension of section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, to enable persons who filed their first stage of green card paperwork by April 30, 2001 to eventually become legal permanent residents of the United States based on a family or employment relationship, despite being illegally in the U.S.

Since April 30, 2001, immense pressure has been placed on Congress to extend the section 245(i) deadline. Recent legislative updates describe discussions between the Senate and House Committees on this issue.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to review a Senate bill that would extend Section 245(i) of the Legal Immigration and Family Equity Act (LIFE) of 2000, which would extend the 245(i) deadline for one year. This would provide eligible individuals a more realistic amount of time to file their applications to become eligible for 245(i) relief. The House of Representatives (House) on the other hand, has already passed its own bill. The House bill, however, only extends 245(i) for four months and requires that the family or employment relationship upon which the petition or application is based to have existed on or before April 30, 2001. 

There is both Democratic and Republican support for the bill in the Senate and some support in the House for a measure that will extend the 245(i) deadline for a longer period of time, with no new requirements. The Administration, which has been silent on the issue after an initial supportive letter from the President in favor of up to a one-year extension of Section 245(i), has been encouraged to clearly enunciate support for an extension with no new requirements.

Please contact your Senator or Representative and encourage her/him to vote for a 245(i) extension bill similar to the Senate version. Let us wait and see what transpires on this very important issue of 245(i) extension.