“Z VISA”: A PROPOSED “POINT” SYSTEM FOR GREEN CARDS
by Michael J. Gurfinkel, Esq.

On May 17, 2007 the Senate and White House announced an agreement that would grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants in the U.S by creating a new “Z” Visa, which is based on a merit or “point” system.

According to the Associated Press, the plan would create a temporary worker program to bring new arrivals to the U.S (a “Y” visa), and a separate plan that would allow some 12 million illegal immigrants already in the U.S to obtain a “Z” Visa, which could eventually lead to a green card.

President Bush hailed the proposal as a “historic moment”, and looked forward to signing the proposal into law, hopefully, by the end of summer.

The “Z” visa would be based on a “point system”, that would, for the first time, prioritize immigrants’ education and skill level over family connections, in deciding how to award green cards. (In other words, a person would be awarded so many points based on their age, level of education, and number of family members in the U.S, which is similar to point systems in other countries such as Canada). Z visa applicants would also be required to pay filing fees and a $5,000 fine. To be eligible, the alien must have been illegally present in the U.S before January 1, 2007. After a probationary period, the person and his immediate family could eventually be granted green cards.

I again want to emphasize that this is yet another PROPOSAL, and is not yet a law. Ever since President Bush was elected in 2000, he had sought some kind of immigration reform for illegal aliens. But nothing had happened yet. We have had the Dream Act, the Strive Act, and numerous other proposals. Let us hope that this new 380 page proposal is the one that finally becomes law. However, it must first be passed by both the Senate and House of Representatives, and eventually signed into law by the President. Until that happens, there is nothing yet to apply for.

But this most recent Z Visa proposal may be the strongest and best hope for all the millions of people in America who desperately seek to legally participate in the “American Dream”.

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