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S 1247 111th Congress Senate

Orphans, Widows, and Widowers Protection Act

Official title: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote family unity, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 11, 2009 See on congress.gov
Immigration Administrative remediesFamily relationshipsImmigration status and proceduresVisas and passports
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This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 11, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 11, 2009
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action June 11, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Orphans, Widows, and Widowers Protection Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the definition of "immediate relative" to: (1) permit a widow or widower of a U.S. citizen to seek permanent resident status if married less than two years by showing through a preponderance of the evidence that the marriage was entered into in good faith and not solely to obtain an immigration benefit; and (2) include an alien who was the child or parent of a U.S. citizen at the time of the citizen's death if the alien parent files a petition within two years after such date or the alien child files a petition prior to reaching 21 years old.

Provides specified relief for orphans and spouses regarding: (1) petitions for immediate relative status; (2) parole eligibility; (3) permanent resident status adjustment; and (4) processing of immigrant visas.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2709 Related bill Reuniting Families Act
  • S 1085 Related bill Reuniting Families Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Democratic 1
D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Jun 11, 2009
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1247: Orphans, Widows, and Widowers Protection Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1247/
MLA
"S. 1247: Orphans, Widows, and Widowers Protection Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1247/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1247, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1247/.
Markdown link
[S. 1247: Orphans, Widows, and Widowers Protection Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-1247/)
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