Deadline Set for New Law Offering Legal Residency

Eligible illegal immigrants wanting to attain legal resident status by paying a fine and staying in the country must apply for immigrant visas by April 30, officials said Friday.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service released official rules for a law signed in December by then-President Clinton. The law has made it easier for certain illegal immigrants to become legal by allowing them to apply in the United States.

Previously, immigrants had to return to their home countries to apply. That risked a 10-year ban from returning if they were found to have been in the United States illegally.

By applying for the visa under the new law, immigrants preserve their chances to apply for legal residency. Their immigrant visas must be approved before they are eligible to apply for the change in legal status.

“It is not necessary to apply for adjustment of status by the deadline,” said William Yates, INS executive associate commissioner. “But to preserve adjustment-of-status eligibility, they must be the beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition filed on or before April 30.”

Spouses, children, parents and siblings of U.S. citizens can apply for the visas. Spouses or unmarried children of legal permanent residents also are eligible. Applicants must show they were in the United States on Dec. 21, the day Clinton signed the bill.

Also eligible are immigrant laborers whose employers can demonstrate they are unable to find legal workers.

To apply for legal status, immigrants with visas will be required to pay $225 in application and fingerprinting fees and a $1,000 fine for entering the country illegally.