United States Code

8 U.S.C. § 1159

Adjustment of status of refugees

Statute Watch

Get an alert when any bill in Congress would change this law — and every time it moves.

Bills that would change it 52

S 4983 A bill to curb criminal activity by aliens, to defend against acts of international terrorism, to protect American workers from unfair la... Amends 1159(b) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4542 BOOT Sharia Law Act Amends · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8586 Americans First Immigration Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 7105 Guaranteeing the States Protection Against Invasion Act of 2026 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3419 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1159(b)(3) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6565 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1159(b)(3) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6225 PAUSE Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3009 Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 4393 DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025 Amends its part 1159(a)(15)(U), 1159(a)(15)(B) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 3194 U.S. Citizenship Act Amends its part 1159(a), 1159(a)(15)(V) · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 3599 DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023 Amends its part 1159(a), 1159(a)(15)(U) · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 6455 Climate Displaced Persons Act Amends 1159(a) · introduced · 118th Congress
S 3340 Climate Displaced Persons Act Amends 1159(a) · introduced · 118th Congress
S 1464 Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 5560 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1159(b)(3) · introduced · 118th Congress
S 2226 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 3407 Empowering Law Enforcement Act of 2023 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
S 1640 Empowering Law Enforcement Act of 2023 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 9685 Refugee Protection Act of 2022 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
S 5353 Refugee Protection Act of 2022 Amends · introduced · 117th Congress
S 5287 Startup Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
S 4645 Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 7549 Seasonal Worker Solidarity Act of 2022 Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 4796 Empowering Law Enforcement Act of 2021 Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 6706 ALIEN Act of 2022 Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 9050 Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 2826 To establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons, and for other purposes. Amends 1159(a) · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 1883 Protect America First Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
S 1582 Empowering Law Enforcement Act of 2021 Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 1177 U.S. Citizenship Act Amends its part 1159(a), 1159(a)(15)(V) · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 865 American Jobs First Act of 2021 Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
S 1335 A bill to establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons, and for other p... Amends 1159(a) · introduced · 117th Congress
S 859 Visa Lottery Repeal Act Amends its part · introduced · 117th Congress
S 348 U.S. Citizenship Act Amends its part 1159(a), 1159(a)(15)(V) · introduced · 117th Congress
HR 5210 Refugee Protection Act of 2019 Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
S 2936 Refugee Protection Act of 2019 Amends · introduced · 116th Congress
HR 4732 To establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons, and for other purposes. Amends 1159(a) · introduced · 116th Congress
S 2565 A bill to establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy, to authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons, and for other p... Amends 1159(a) · introduced · 116th Congress
HR 3799 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1159(b)(3) · introduced · 116th Congress
S 1632 Visa Lottery Repeal Act Amends its part · introduced · 116th Congress
S 328 Startup Act Amends its part · introduced · 116th Congress
HR 4944 Reuniting Families Act Amends 1159(b)(3) · introduced · 115th Congress
HR 4295 CLEAR Act of 2017 Amends its part · introduced · 115th Congress
S 2192 SECURE Act of 2017 Amends 1159(c), 1159(a)(1)(A) · introduced · 115th Congress
S 2082 Visa Lottery Repeal Act Amends its part · introduced · 115th Congress
S 1877 Startup Act Amends its part · introduced · 115th Congress
S 1757 Building America's Trust Act Amends 1159(c), 1159(a)(1)(A) · introduced · 115th Congress
HR 2826 Refugee Program Integrity Restoration Act of 2017 Amends 1159(a)(1), 1159(c) · introduced · 115th Congress
HR 2431 Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act Amends 1159(c) · introduced · 115th Congress
HR 2233 American Jobs First Act of 2017 Amends its part · introduced · 115th Congress

Showing the 50 most recently active.

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(a) Inspection and examination by Department of Homeland Security (1) Any alien who has been admitted to the United States under section 1157 of this title— (A) whose admission has not been terminated by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may prescribe, (B) who has been physically present in the United States for at least one year, and (C) who has not acquired permanent resident status, shall, at the end of such year period, return or be returned to the custody of the Department of Homeland Security for inspection and examination for admission to the United States as an immigrant in accordance with the provisions of sections 1225, 1229a, and 1231 of this title. (2) Any alien who is found upon inspection and examination by an immigration officer pursuant to paragraph (1) or after a hearing before an immigration judge to be admissible (except as otherwise provided under subsection (c)) as an immigrant under this chapter at the time of the alien’s inspection and examination shall, notwithstanding any numerical limitation specified in this chapter, be regarded as lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as of the date of such alien’s arrival into the United States. (b) Requirements for adjustment The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, in the Secretary’s or the Attorney General’s discretion and under such regulations as the Secretary or the Attorney General may prescribe, may adjust to the status of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence the status of any alien granted asylum who— (1) applies for such adjustment, (2) has been physically present in the United States for at least one year after being granted asylum, (3) continues to be a refugee within the meaning of section 1101(a)(42)(A) of this title or a spouse or child of such a refugee, (4) is not firmly resettled in any foreign country, and (5) is admissible (except as otherwise provided under subsection (c)) as an immigrant under this chapter at the time of examination for adjustment of such alien. Upon approval of an application under this subsection, the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General shall establish a record of the alien’s admission for lawful permanent residence as of the date one year before the date of the approval of the application. (c) Coordination with section 1182 The provisions of paragraphs (4), (5), and (7)(A) of section 1182(a) of this title shall not be applicable to any alien seeking adjustment of status under this section, and the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may waive any other provision of such section (other than paragraph (2)(C) or subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (E) of paragraph (3)) with respect to such an alien for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest.

Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗