this title and grant the alien status as an alien law-
fully admitted for permanent residence if the alien— 
(A) is described in section 102(b)(1)(C); 
(B) has not abandoned the alien’s resi-
dence in the United States during the period in 
which the alien has permanent resident status 
on a conditional basis; and 
(C)(i) has obtained a degree from an insti-
tution of higher education, or has completed at 
least 2 years, in good standing, of a program in 
the United States leading to a bachelor’s degree 
or higher degree or a recognized postsecondary 
credential from an area career and technical 
education school providing education at the 
postsecondary level; 
(ii) has served in the Uniformed Services 
for at least 2 years and, if discharged, received 
an honorable discharge; or 
(iii) demonstrates earned income for peri-
ods totaling at least 3 years and at least 75 
percent of the time that the alien has had a 
valid employment authorization, except that, in 
the case of an alien who was enrolled in an in-
stitution of higher education, an area career 
and technical education school to obtain a rec-
ognized postsecondary credential, or an edu-
cation 
program 
described 
in 
section 
102(b)(1)(D)(iii), the Secretary shall reduce 
such total 3-year requirement by the total of 
such periods of enrollment. 
(2) HARDSHIP
EXCEPTION.—The Secretary 
shall remove the conditional basis of an alien’s per-
manent resident status and grant the alien status as 
an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence 
if the alien— 
(A) satisfies the requirements under sub-
paragraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1); 
(B) demonstrates compelling circumstances 
for the inability to satisfy the requirements 
under subparagraph (C) of such paragraph; and 
(C) demonstrates that— 
(i) the alien has a disability; 
(ii) the alien is a full-time caregiver; 
or 
(iii) the removal of the alien from the 
United States would result in hardship to 
the alien or the alien’s spouse, parent, or 
child who is a national of the United 
States or is lawfully admitted for perma-
nent residence.
(3) CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the conditional basis of an 
alien’s permanent resident status granted under 
this title may not be removed unless the alien 
demonstrates that the alien satisfies the re-
quirements under section 312(a) of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1423(a)). 
(B) EXCEPTION.—Subparagraph (A) shall 
not apply to an alien who is unable to meet the 
requirements under such section 312(a) due to 
disability. 
(4) APPLICATION
FEE.—The Secretary may, 
subject to an exemption under section 303(c), re-
quire aliens applying for removal of the conditional 
basis of an alien’s permanent resident status under 
this section to pay a reasonable fee that is commen-
surate with the cost of processing the application. 
(5) BACKGROUND
CHECKS.—The Secretary 
may not remove the conditional basis of an alien’s 
permanent resident status until the requirements of 
section 302 are satisfied. 
(b) TREATMENT FOR PURPOSES OF NATURALIZA-
TION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of title III of 
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1401 
et seq.), an alien granted permanent resident status 
on a conditional basis shall be considered to have 
been admitted to the United States, and be present 
in the United States, as an alien lawfully admitted 
for permanent residence. 
(2) LIMITATION ON APPLICATION FOR NATU-
RALIZATION.—An alien may not apply for natu-
ralization while the alien is in permanent resident 
status on a conditional basis. 
(c) TIMING OF APPROVAL OF LAWFUL PERMANENT 
RESIDENT STATUS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—An alien granted permanent 
resident status on a conditional basis under this title 
may apply to have such conditional basis removed at 
any time after such alien has met the eligibility re-
quirements set forth in subsection (a). 
(2) APPROVAL WITH REGARD TO INITIAL APPLI-
CATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any 
other provision of law, the Secretary or the At-
torney General shall adjust to the status of an 
alien lawfully admitted for permanent resident