Emergency Chinese Immigration Relief Act of 1989
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 1990 | House · vote #4 | ON PRESIDENTIAL VETO | Passed | 390–25 | See who voted → |
| Jan 24, 1990 | House · vote #3 | REFER BILL AND VETO JOINTLY TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND JUD. | Failed | 137–276 | See who voted → |
Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.
| Amendment | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| SAMDT 697 | — | Pending |
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Emergency Chinese Immigration Relief Act of 1989 - Waives the two-year home country residence requirement for nationals of the People's Republic of China (PRC) who: (1) are present in the United States on the date of enactment of this Act (or who would have been present but for a brief U.S. departure); (2) are on an exchange visitor (J) visa (student, teacher, research); and (3) apply for adjustment to immigrant status or change of nonimmigrant status within four years of enactment of this Act.
Presumes continuous U.S. residence for purposes of status adjustment or change of status for a national of the PRC who was in lawful U.S. nonimmigrant status as of June 5, 1989.
Permits Chinese nationals lawfully present in the United States as of June 5, 1989, on an (F), (J), or (M) visa (student, exchange visitor, vocational student) to work.
Requires the Attorney General to send explanatory notices of visa expirations (instead of deportation notices) to such aliens during the deferred departure period provided for under this Act.
Requires that careful consideration be given to all applications for asylum, withholding of deportation, and refugee status filed by nationals of the PRC who express a fear of persecution upon return because of such country's "one couple, one child" policy. States that applicants who establish that they have refused to abort or be sterilized shall be considered to have established a well-founded fear of political persecution upon return to the PRC.
Requires the Attorney General to promulgate implementing regulations within 60 days of enactment of this Act. Sets forth regulation guidelines.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- Engrossed Amendment House Formatted Text
- Engrossed Amendment Senate Formatted Text
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text
- Enrolled Bill Formatted Text
- Introduced in House Formatted Text
- Placed on Calendar Senate Formatted Text
- Reported in House Formatted Text
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2712: Emergency Chinese Immigration Relief Act of 1989. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2712/
"H.R. 2712: Emergency Chinese Immigration Relief Act of 1989." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2712/.
H.R. 2712, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2712/.
[H.R. 2712: Emergency Chinese Immigration Relief Act of 1989](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-HR-2712/)