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Dedicated Visas for Long-Serving Foreign US Government Employees.

This Act establishes a dedicated pool of immigrant visas for foreign nationals who have provided at least 15 years of exceptional service to the U.S. Government abroad. The goal is to recognize their loyalty and ensure a path to permanent residency for them and their immediate families when standard visa categories are backlogged. The program's implementation involves a temporary reduction in the number of visas available through the annual Diversity Visa lottery.
Key points
A new visa program (GRATEFUL Act) allocates up to 3,500 visas in the first year (and 3,000 thereafter) for foreign employees supporting U.S. operations abroad.
Eligible individuals must have at least 15 years of exceptional service in agencies like the State Department or Department of Defense.
The introduction of these visas may temporarily reduce the number of visas available in the annual Diversity Visa Lottery.
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_1887
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]
Process start date: 2023-06-08
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Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

GRATEFUL Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_1887.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-06-08.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • A new visa program (GRATEFUL Act) allocates up to 3,500 visas in the first year (and 3,000 thereafter) for foreign employees supporting U.S. operations abroad.
  • Eligible individuals must have at least 15 years of exceptional service in agencies like the State Department or Department of Defense.
  • The introduction of these visas may temporarily reduce the number of visas available in the annual Diversity Visa Lottery.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Migration