I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 519 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote family unity, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2013 
Mr. NADLER (for himself, Mr. HANNA, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. DENT, Mr. 
POLIS, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. 
POCAN, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. 
PELOSI, Mr. HOYER, Mr. HONDA, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. GARCIA) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote 
family unity, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; AMENDMENTS TO IMMIGRATION 
AND NATIONALITY ACT. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Uniting American Families Act of 2013’’. 
(b) AMENDMENTS TO IMMIGRATION AND NATION-
ALITY ACT.—Except as otherwise specifically provided, 
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whenever in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed 
as the amendment or repeal of a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to that sec-
tion or provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS OF PERMANENT PARTNER AND PER-
MANENT PARTNERSHIP. 
Section 101(a) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (15)(K)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partnership’’ after ‘‘marriage’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(53) The term ‘permanent partner’ means an 
individual 18 years of age or older who— 
‘‘(A) is in a committed, intimate relation-
ship with another individual 18 years of age or 
older in which both parties intend a lifelong 
commitment; 
‘‘(B) is financially interdependent with 
that other individual; 
‘‘(C) is not married to or in a permanent 
partnership with anyone other than that other 
individual; 
‘‘(D) is unable to contract with that other 
individual a marriage cognizable under this Act; 
and 
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‘‘(E) is not a first-, second-, or third-de-
gree blood relation of that other individual. 
‘‘(53) The term ‘permanent partnership’ means 
the relationship that exists between two permanent 
partners. 
‘‘(54) The term ‘alien permanent partner’ 
means the individual in a permanent partnership 
who is being sponsored for a visa’’. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF CHILD. 
(a) TITLES I AND II.—Section 101(b)(1) (8 U.S.C. 
1101(b)(1)) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(H)(i) a biological child of an alien permanent 
partner if the child was under the age of 18 at the 
time the permanent partnership was formed; or 
‘‘(ii) a child adopted by an alien permanent 
partner while under the age of 16 years if the child 
has been in the legal custody of, and has resided 
with, such adoptive parent for at least 2 years and 
if the child was under the age of 18 at the time the 
permanent partnership was formed.’’. 
(b) TITLE III.—Section 101(c) (8 U.S.C. 1101(c)) 
is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or as de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1)(H)’’ after ‘‘The term 
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‘child’ means an unmarried person under twenty-one 
years of age’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘or a de-
ceased permanent partner of the deceased parent, 
father, or mother,’’ after ‘‘deceased parent, father, 
and mother’’. 
SEC. 4. WORLDWIDE LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION. 
Section 201(b)(2)(A)(i) (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i)) 
is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘permanent partners,’’ after 
‘‘spouses,’’; 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ after 
‘‘spouse’’ each place it appears; 
(3) by inserting ‘‘(or, in the case of a perma-
nent partnership, whose permanent partnership was 
not terminated)’’ after ‘‘was not legally separated 
from the citizen’’; and 
(4) by striking ‘‘remarries.’’ and inserting ‘‘re-
marries or enters a permanent partnership with an-
other person.’’. 
SEC. 5. NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS ON INDIVIDUAL FOR-
EIGN STATES. 
(a) PER COUNTRY LEVELS.—Section 202(a)(4) (8 
U.S.C. 1152(a)(4)) is amended— 
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(1) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)(iii)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’ each place it appears; and 
(B) in subclause (I), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partnership’’ after ‘‘marriage’’ each 
place it appears; 
(3) in subparagraph (A)(v)(I), by inserting 
‘‘permanent partner,’’ after ‘‘is the spouse,’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (A)(vi)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or termination of the 
permanent partnership’’ after ‘‘divorce’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘, permanent partner,’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(5) in subparagraph (B)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’ each place it appears; 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner-
ship’’ after ‘‘marriage’’ in clause (ii)(I)(aa) and 
the first place it appears in clause (ii)(I)(bb); 
and 
(C) in clause (ii)(II)(aa)(CC)(bbb), by in-
serting ‘‘(or the termination of the permanent 
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partnership)’’ after ‘‘termination of the mar-
riage’’. 
(b) IMMIGRATION
FRAUD
PREVENTION.—Section 
204(c) (8 U.S.C. 1154(c)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ after 
‘‘spouse’’ each place it appears; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partnership’’ 
after ‘‘marriage’’ each place it appears. 
(c) RESTRICTIONS ON PETITIONS BASED ON MAR-
RIAGES ENTERED WHILE IN EXCLUSION OR DEPORTA-
TION PROCEEDINGS.—Section 204(g) (8 U.S.C. 1154(g)) 
is amended by inserting ‘‘or permanent partnership’’ after 
‘‘marriage’’ each place it appears. 
(d) SURVIVAL OF RIGHTS TO PETITION.—Section 
204(h) (8 U.S.C. 1154(h)) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partnership’’ 
after ‘‘marriage’’ each place it appears; and 
(2) by inserting ‘‘or formation of a new perma-
nent partnership’’ after ‘‘Remarriage’’. 
SEC. 8. ANNUAL ADMISSION OF REFUGEES AND ADMISSION 
OF EMERGENCY SITUATION REFUGEES. 
Section 207(c) (8 U.S.C. 1157(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’ each place it appears; 
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(B) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’s’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’s’’; and 
(C) in subparagraph (A)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘(D),’’; and 
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, or (H)’’ after 
‘‘(E)’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘or perma-
nent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse.’’. 
SEC. 9. ASYLUM. 
Section 208(b)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(3)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ‘‘OR 
PERMANENT PARTNER’’ after ‘‘SPOUSE’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘or’’ after ‘‘(D),’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘, or (H)’’ after ‘‘(E)’’. 
SEC. 10. ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS OF REFUGEES. 
Section 209(b)(3) (8 U.S.C. 1159(b)(3)) is amended 
by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’. 
SEC. 11. INADMISSIBLE ALIENS. 
(a) CLASSES OF ALIENS INELIGIBLE FOR VISAS OR 
ADMISSION.—Section 212(a) (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)) is 
amended— 
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(1) in paragraph (3)(D)(iv), by inserting ‘‘per-
manent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse,’’; 
(2) in paragraph (4)(C)(i)(I), by inserting ‘‘, 
permanent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(3) in paragraph (6)(E)(ii), by inserting ‘‘per-
manent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse,’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (9)(B)(v), by inserting ‘‘, per-
manent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse’’. 
(b) WAIVERS.—Section 212(d) (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)) is 
amended— 
(1) in paragraph (11), by inserting ‘‘permanent 
partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse,’’; and 
(2) in paragraph (12), by inserting ‘‘, perma-
nent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse’’. 
(c) WAIVERS OF INADMISSIBILITY ON HEALTH-RE-
LATED
GROUNDS.—Section 212(g)(1)(A) (8 U.S.C. 
1182(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or permanent 
partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’. 
(d) WAIVERS OF INADMISSIBILITY ON CRIMINAL AND 
RELATED GROUNDS.—Section 212(h)(1)(B) (8 U.S.C. 
1182(h)(1)(B)) is amended by inserting ‘‘permanent part-
ner,’’ after ‘‘spouse,’’. 
(e) WAIVER OF INADMISSIBILITY FOR MISREPRESEN-
TATION.—Section 212(i)(1) (8 U.S.C. 1182(i)(1)) is 
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amended by inserting ‘‘permanent partner,’’ after 
‘‘spouse,’’. 
SEC. 12. NONIMMIGRANT STATUS FOR PERMANENT PART-
NERS AWAITING THE AVAILABILITY OF AN 
IMMIGRANT VISA. 
Section 214 (8 U.S.C. 1184) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (e)(2), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(2) in subsection (r)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner-
ship’’ after ‘‘marriage’’ each place it appears. 
SEC. 13. DERIVATIVE STATUS FOR PERMANENT PARTNERS 
OF NONIMMIGRANT VISA HOLDERS. 
Section 101(a)(15) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (A)— 
(A) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘, which 
shall include permanent partners’’ after ‘‘imme-
diate family’’; 
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ‘‘, which 
shall include permanent partners’’ after ‘‘imme-
diate families’’; and 
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(C) in clause (iii), by inserting ‘‘, which 
shall include permanent partners,’’ after ‘‘im-
mediate families,’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (E), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (F)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (G)(i), by inserting ‘‘, 
which shall include his or her permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘members of his or their immediate family’’; 
(5) in subparagraph (G)(ii), by inserting ‘‘, 
which shall include permanent partners,’’ after ‘‘the 
members of their immediate families’’; 
(6) in subparagraph (G)(iii), by inserting ‘‘, 
which shall include his permanent partner,’’ after 
‘‘the members of his immediate family’’; 
(7) in subparagraph (G)(iv), by inserting ‘‘, 
which shall include permanent partners’’ after ‘‘the 
members of their immediate families’’; 
(8) in subparagraph (G)(v), by inserting ‘‘, 
which shall include permanent partners’’ after ‘‘the 
members of the immediate families’’; 
(9) in subparagraph (H), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
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(10) in subparagraph (I), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(11) in subparagraph (J), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(12) in subparagraph (L), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(13) in subparagraph (M)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(14) in subparagraph (O)(iii), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(15) in subparagraph (P)(iv), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(16) in subparagraph (Q)(ii)(II), by inserting 
‘‘or permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(17) in subparagraph (R), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(18) in subparagraph (S), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(19) in subparagraph (T)(ii)(I), by inserting 
‘‘or permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(20) in subparagraph (T)(ii)(II), by inserting 
‘‘or permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(21) in subparagraph (U)(ii)(I), by inserting 
‘‘or permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
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(22) in subparagraph (U)(ii)(II), by inserting 
‘‘or permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(23) in subparagraph (V), by inserting ‘‘perma-
nent partner or’’ after ‘‘beneficiary (including a’’. 
SEC. 14. CONDITIONAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS 
FOR CERTAIN ALIEN SPOUSES, PERMANENT 
PARTNERS, AND SONS AND DAUGHTERS. 
(a) SECTION HEADING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The heading for section 216 
(8 U.S.C. 1186a) is amended by inserting ‘‘AND 
PERMANENT PARTNERS’’ after ‘‘SPOUSES’’. 
(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of con-
tents is amended by amending the item relating to 
section 216 to read as follows: 
‘‘Sec. 216. Conditional permanent resident status for certain alien spouses and 
permanent partners and sons and daughters.’’. 
(b) IN
GENERAL.—Section 216(a) (8 U.S.C. 
1186a(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘or perma-
nent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(2) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ‘‘perma-
nent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse,’’; and 
(4) in paragraph (2)(C), by inserting ‘‘perma-
nent partner,’’ after ‘‘spouse,’’. 
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(c) TERMINATION
OF STATUS
IF FINDING THAT 
QUALIFYING MARRIAGE IMPROPER.—Section 216(b) of 
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a(b)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading, by inserting ‘‘OR PERMA-
NENT PARTNERSHIP’’ after ‘‘MARRIAGE’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting ‘‘or per-
manent partnership’’ after ‘‘marriage’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (1)(A)(ii)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or has ceased to satisfy 
the criteria for being considered a permanent 
partnership under this Act,’’ after ‘‘termi-
nated,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’. 
(d) REQUIREMENTS
OF
TIMELY
PETITION
AND 
INTERVIEW
FOR
REMOVAL
OF
CONDITION.—Section 
216(c) (8 U.S.C. 1186a(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraphs (1), (2)(A)(ii), (3)(A)(ii), 
(3)(C), (4)(B), and (4)(C), by inserting ‘‘or perma-
nent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’ each place it appears; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (3)(A), in the matter following 
clause (ii), and in paragraphs (3)(D), (4)(B), and 
(4)(C), by inserting ‘‘or permanent partnership’’ 
after ‘‘marriage’’ each place it appears. 
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(e) CONTENTS OF PETITION.—Section 216(d)(1) of 
such Act (8 U.S.C. 1186a(d)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in the heading of subparagraph (A), by in-
serting ‘‘OR PERMANENT PARTNERSHIP’’ after ‘‘MAR-
RIAGE’’; 
(2) in subparagraph (A)(i), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partnership’’ after ‘‘marriage’’; 
(3) in subparagraph (A)(i)(I), by inserting be-
fore the comma at the end ‘‘, or is a permanent 
partnership recognized under this Act’’; 
(4) in subparagraph (A)(i)(II)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or has not ceased to sat-
isfy the criteria for being considered a perma-
nent partnership under this Act,’’ after ‘‘termi-
nated,’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’; 
(5) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or 
permanent partner’’ after ‘‘spouse’’; and 
(6) in subparagraph (B)(i)— 
(A) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner-
ship’’ after ‘‘marriage’’; and 
(B) by inserting ‘‘or permanent partner’’ 
after ‘‘spouse’’. 
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