ANSWERS: 1
  • The Y visa and the Z visa were proposed as new visa classes in immigration reform legislation proposed in 2007. The legislation was not enacted, so these visa classes were never created.

    Y Visas

    The Y visa would have been available for "guest workers" to enter the United States temporarily to fill jobs that employers couldn't find U.S. workers to do.

    Z Visas

    The Z visa would have been available to immigrants living illegally in the United States as of Jan. 1, 2008. It offered a path to citizenship that involved paying a fine and back taxes and first applying for legal resident status.

    The Legislation

    The legislation was worked out in 2007 between the administration of President George W. Bush and a group of senators from both parties. The bill died in June 2007 with the failure of an attempt to end Senate debate and proceed to a final vote.

    Criticism

    Opponents of the legislation focused particularly on the Z visa provision, which they called an amnesty program for illegal immigrants.

    Prospects

    As of fall 2009, there was no legislation pending in Congress to establish Y and Z visas.

    Source:

    Homeland Security Department Fact Sheet on Legislation (PDF)

    USA Today

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