Green Card & Visa News

USCIS reminds certain eligible widows or widowers of deceased U.S. citizens to file their visa petitions by October 28, 2011 – the deadline imposed by the FY2010 DHS Appropriations Act.  This Act, signed into law by the President on October 28, 2009, removed the requirement that the marriage must have existed for two years before the death of the U.S. citizen spouse in order for the surviving spouse to self-petition for lawful permanent residence status.  The elimination of the so-called "widow penalty" also allows any minor children of the widow(er) to apply for status.  However, the law imposed a two-year deadline to file the petition.  Applicants whose U.S.