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The “Border Pill” Bill in the U.S. Promises to Accelerate Green Cards for Brazilians with New Investments and More Immigration Judges.
The United States Senate recently received the “Border Pill” Bill, a proposal that aims to allocate US$ 118.2 billion in foreign assistance to countries such as Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Additionally, the bill aims to strengthen the U.S. border and immigration system, generating high hopes about its impact on obtaining a green card for Brazilians, a document that allows permanent residence in the country.
Investment in Immigration Judges
One of the central measures of the bill is the acceleration of the green card approval process for Brazilians.
To this end, the bill allocates US$ 440 million for hiring more immigration judges, significantly increasing the judicial system’s capacity to handle permanent residency applications.
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According to João Mateus Loyola, a lawyer at Gondim Law Corp in California, this initiative could considerably reduce wait times.
In December 2023, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) reported that there were over 3 million pending immigration cases in U.S. courts.
The overload in the courts is one of the main causes of delays in green card approvals, and the investment proposed in the bill aims to mitigate this issue.
The bill also proposes the granting of an additional 250,000 permanent residency visas over five years, distributed as 18,000 employment-based green cards and 32,000 family-based green cards annually, from 2025 to 2029.
Loyola believes that with more resources for the judicial system, the pace of approvals can significantly improve.
How to Obtain a Green Card for Brazilians?
The green card is essential for those who wish to reside and work legally in the United States.
Although the process is complex, there are various pathways to obtain it, often requiring the assistance of immigration specialists.
For those who wish to work in the U.S., the process typically begins with a job offer from an American employer willing to sponsor the visa.
After meeting the requirements for work experience and education, the candidate may apply for authorization.
There is also the possibility of obtaining a green card without a sponsoring employer for foreign workers with advanced skills, whose presence is of national interest.
Another option is to apply through family members who are already permanent residents or U.S. citizens.
This process involves submitting an immigration petition by the family member, demonstrating the relationship and the ability to support the applicant in the U.S.
Marriage to a U.S. citizen is a common route to obtaining a green card. However, the marriage must be legitimate, as fraud is severely punished.
The foreign spouse initially receives a conditional green card for two years, followed by a 10-year green card after a new interview by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
There are also special programs, such as the Diversity Visa Lottery, which offers a chance for candidates from certain countries to obtain a green card randomly.
In all cases, the process is rigorous and requires careful planning and precise documentation.
Brazilians in the United States!
The “Border Pill” Bill has the potential to transform the U.S. immigration system, especially for Brazilians seeking a green card.
With the proposal to hire more judges and grant new visas, a significant reduction in wait times and an acceleration of approval processes are expected.
Attention is now focused on the debates in the Senate and the potential approval of this legislation, which could bring significant changes for immigrants in the U.S.
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