The Dignity Act of 2025 seeks to reduce visa backlogs, raise per-country caps, and protect Documented Dreamers, while offering a $20,000 premium processing option for long-waiting applicants.
A new US immigration bill, the Dignity Act of 2025, has been introduced by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) in a bipartisan move aimed at overhauling parts of the country’s immigration system. The bill proposes that individuals stuck in the green card backlog for over 10 years be allowed to fast-track their applications by paying a $20,000 fee, reported gujaratsamachar.com.
The Act promises backlog elimination by 2035, higher per-country caps, and new protections for Documented Dreamers.
According to the bill summary, “The legal visa backlog is reduced to a maximum of ten years. Individuals who have been waiting in the backlog (family or employment-based) for over ten years can pay a premium processing fee of $20,000 to receive that visa.”
- Per-Country Caps Raised
The bill increases the per-country cap from 7% to 15% for both employment-based and family-sponsored green cards. This change, coupled with other reforms, aims to dismantle the decades-long wait many immigrants face, particularly from countries like India and China.
- Documented Dreamers Protection
Another significant provision incorporates elements of the America’s Children Act, ensuring protections for Documented Dreamers—children who grow up in the US as dependents on their parents’ work visas but risk losing status when they turn 21. Under the new framework, Documented Dreamers who have legally lived in the US for at least 10 cumulative years will have a pathway to apply for lawful permanent residency (LPR).
The Dignity Act not only attempts to resolve long-standing green card backlogs but also modernises immigration law to reflect current demographic and economic realities. If passed, it would represent one of the most significant immigration reforms in recent years.
