RIP: Congress Ends Widow Penalty — A Tiny Bit of Immigration Reform, More to Come?

The U.S. Senate has approved a measure that would end the much-maligned “widow penalty” — the government’s practice of annulling foreigners’ applications for permanent residency when their American spouses die before the marriage is two years old. The measure was contained in a conference report that accompanied an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The House of Representatives passed the conference report last week. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.  For the full N.Y. Times story, click here. For a FAQ about the new law, see Download Legislation_Passed_FAQ[1]

KJ