I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1520

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to give priority, in the

allotment of immigrant visas to unmarried sons and daughters of citizens,

to an alien who attains the age of 21 after the date on which a petition

to classify the alien is filed, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 22, 1999

Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself and Mr. ROGAN) introduced the following

bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to give priority, in the allotment of immigrant visas to unmarried

sons and daughters of citizens, to an alien who attains

the age of 21 after the date on which a petition to

classify the alien is filed, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Child Status Protec5 tion Act of 1999’’.
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1 SEC. 2. PRIORITY IN IMMIGRANT VISA ISSUANCE FOR CER2 TAIN YOUNGER UNMARRIED SONS AND

3 DAUGHTERS OF CITIZENS.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 203(e)(1) of the Immigra5 tion and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(e)(1)) is

6 amended—

7 (1) by striking ‘‘(1) Immigrant’’ and inserting

8 ‘‘(1)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), immigrant’’;

9 and

10 (2) by adding at the end the following:

11 ‘‘(B)(i) In issuing immigrant visas made available

12 under subsection (a)(1), priority shall be given to an eligi13 ble unmarried son or daughter who is an alien described

14 in clause (ii), and is the beneficiary of an approved peti15 tion under section 204 that is, or derives from, the petition

16 described in such clause. Subject to the conditions on

17 availability in subsection (a)(1) and sections 201(a)(1),

18 201(c), and 202, the alien shall be considered eligible to

19 apply for an immigrant visa under subsection (a)(1) re20 gardless of the date on which the petition described in

21 clause (ii) was filed with the Attorney General.

22 ‘‘(ii) The aliens, and the petitions, described in this

23 clause are as follows:

24 ‘‘(I) An alien who was a child of a citizen of the

25 United States on the date on which a petition was

26 filed with the Attorney General under section 204 to
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1 classify the alien as a immediate relative under sec2 tion 201(b)(2)(A)(i).

3 ‘‘(II) An alien who was a child of a parent law4 fully admitted for permanent residence on the date

5 on which a petition was filed with the Attorney Gen6 eral under section 204 to classify the alien as an im7 migrant under subsection (a)(2)(A), and who was a

8 child on the date of such parent’s naturalization.

9 ‘‘(III) An alien who was a married son or

10 daughter of a citizen of the United States on the

11 date on which a petition was filed with the Attorney

12 General under section 204 to classify the alien as an

13 immigrant under subsection (a)(3), and who was

14 under 21 years of age on the date of the legal termi15 nation of the alien’s marriage.

16 ‘‘(iii) The Secretary of State shall maintain informa17 tion on the number of visas issued pursuant to this sub18 paragraph.’’.

19 (b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendments made by sub20 section (a) apply to immigrant visas made available on or

21 after the date of the enactment of this Act under section

22 203(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, without

23 regard to when any classification petition referred to in
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1 section 203(e)(1)(B) of such Act (as added by such

2 amendments) was filed.

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