[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2960 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 337
111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2960

To exempt aliens who are admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are 
 employed overseas by the Federal Government from the 1-year physical 
    presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens 
   lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 2010

   Mr. Leahy (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Feingold, and Mr. Cardin) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

               March 26 (legislative day, March 25), 2010

                Reported by Mr. Leahy, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To exempt aliens who are admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are 
 employed overseas by the Federal Government from the 1-year physical 
    presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens 
   lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Refugee Opportunity 
Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. EXCEPTION TO ONE-YEAR PHYSICAL PRESENCE REQUIREMENT 
              FOR ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM AND 
              EMPLOYED OVERSEAS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 209 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1159) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by inserting 
        ``(except as provided under subsection (d))'' after ``one 
        year'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``(except 
        as provided under subsection (d)),'' after ``asylum''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Exception to 1-Year Residency Requirement for 
Adjustment of Status.--An alien who does not meet the physical presence 
requirement under subsection (a)(1)(B) or (b)(2), but who otherwise 
meets the requirements under subsection (a) or (b) for adjustment of 
status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, 
shall be eligible for such adjustment of status if the alien did not 
meet the 1-year physical presence requirement because the alien was 
employed outside of the United States by the Federal Government or by a 
contractor of the Federal Government.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Refugee Opportunity Act''.

SEC. 2. EXCEPTION TO ONE-YEAR PHYSICAL PRESENCE REQUIREMENT FOR 
              ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS FOR ALIENS GRANTED ASYLUM AND 
              EMPLOYED OVERSEAS BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

    Section 209 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1159) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B), by inserting ``(except as 
        provided under subsection (d))'' after ``one year'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2), by inserting ``(except as 
        provided under subsection (d)),'' after ``asylum''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) An alien who does not meet the 1-year physical presence 
requirement under subsection (a)(1)(B) or (b)(2), but who otherwise 
meets the requirements under subsection (a) or (b) for adjustment of 
status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, 
may be eligible for such adjustment of status if the alien:
            ``(1) Is or was employed by the U.S. Government or a 
        contractor of the U.S. Government overseas and performing work 
        on behalf of the U.S. Government for the entire period of 
        absence, which may not exceed 1 year; or
            ``(2) Is or was employed by the U.S. Government or a 
        contractor of the U.S. Government in the alien's country of 
        nationality or last habitual residence for the entire period of 
        absence, which may not exceed 1 year, and the alien was under 
        the protection of the U.S. Government or a contractor while 
        performing work on behalf of the U.S. Government during the 
        entire period of employment; and
            ``(3) Returned immediately to the United States upon the 
        conclusion of the employment.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 337

111th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2960

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To exempt aliens who are admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are 
 employed overseas by the Federal Government from the 1-year physical 
    presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens 
   lawfully admitted for permanent residence, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

               March 26 (legislative day, March 25), 2010

                       Reported with an amendment