Washington, September 9, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Indian-American Congressman Ami Bera and Democratic Representative Deborah Ross have introduced legislation seeking to create a pathway to permanent residency for eligible “Dreamers” and children of long-term visa holders who take up public-service jobs in the United States.
The SERVICE for America Act would cover young immigrants working in sectors including healthcare, education, public safety, the military, social work, early-childhood education, government and nonprofit organisations.
The legislation could particularly benefit “Documented Dreamers” — children who entered the US legally as dependents of employment-based visa holders but face the loss of dependent status upon turning 21, even as their families remain caught in lengthy green-card backlogs.
Many of these young immigrants are from Indian families affected by prolonged employment-based permanent-residency queues.
“Dreamers and Documented Dreamers are already giving back to our country as teachers, health care workers, service members, and public servants,” Bera said, adding that the legislation would create an earned route to permanent residency and provide greater certainty to young immigrants building their futures in the US.
Under the proposal, qualifying public-service employees would be eligible for a new W nonimmigrant visa, initially valid for three years and extendable once for another three years as long as the recipient continues in an eligible position.
Applicants would generally need to have legally lived in the US for at least five years as the dependent child of an employment-based nonimmigrant or have received protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme. They would also need to hold, or have a job offer for, qualifying public-service employment.
Spouses and minor children of W-visa holders would be eligible for the same status and authorised to work.
Eligible immigrants could seek lawful permanent residency after completing at least two years in a qualifying public-service job, while generally requiring at least seven years of aggregate physical presence in the US.
Ross said the country needs more social workers, teachers, service members and caretakers, and argued that young immigrants already stepping into these roles deserve a pathway to permanent residency.
The bill would also allow eligible DACA recipients and qualifying children of employment-based visa holders to serve through AmeriCorps.
Dip Patel, founder of Improve The Dream, welcomed the legislation, saying it could provide a route for long-term immigrants who grew up lawfully in the US and face aging out of their families’ pending green-card applications because of backlogs.
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