Is a reform coming? What can I do to prepare?

​The Biden Administration unveiled the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, which includes a pathway to citizenship for noncitizens and DACA holders physically present in the United States as of January 1, 2021.  Although this is just a proposal and will likely go through many changes, this is a step in the right direction since it signals the Biden Administration’s willingness to reform our immigration laws.
 
So if there is an immigration reform, is there something you can do to prepare? The answer is YES!
 
These are some recommendations that might be of help:
 
First, most immigration reforms like Amnesty and DACA are based on the physical presence and continuous residence of undocumented immigrants prior to enactment of the law. As a result, it is a good idea to keep monthly mailed documents like bills, receipts, bank statements etcetera in a safe place since these documents can be used to prove that you have been physically present in the United States.
 
Second, most immigration reforms often require individuals to prove that they were physically present on the day that the law passed. For example, for people who want to get the benefit under 245(i), individuals have to prove that they were physically present in the United States on December 21, 2000— the day the LIFE Act was signed into law. For DACA, individuals have to prove that they were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012—the day the DACA policy was established. As a result, the moment you hear that a reform has been passed by Congress and signed by the President, it is a good idea to document your physical presence in the United States by making a purchase using your debit card or checking in at a specific location on social media.
 
Third, if you have any arrests, any apprehensions at the border, multiple entries and exits, have filed an application in the past that you no longer have copies of or have any doubts about your immigration or criminal history, you should consider getting background checks. Because background checks can take several months to receive, this is one of the most important actions you can take to better prepare for a possible reform. You can learn more about background checks by clicking on this link:  https://www.eulloquilaw.com/blog/what-are-background-checks-and-which-ones-do-i-need Getting your background checks now rather than later, will make the process of applying for the actual reform much quicker.
 
 
If you have any questions, contact us at 714-624-5632. Consultations are free and are now available on Sundays!