Representative Carlos V. Gutierrez introduced a bill in the House of Representatives on December 14, 2009. However, passage of the bill is far from certain, in particular because Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) believes comprehensive immigration reform should start in the Senate.

Under the proposed legislation, an immigrant must establish presence in the U.S. on December 14, 2009, attest to contributions to the U.S. through employment, education, military service, or other volunteer/community service (with exemptions for minors, persons with disabilities, the elderly, or other unusual circumstances), complete criminal and security background checks and pay a $500 fine, show the absence of a serious criminal conviction.

The law does not immediately provide a green card to applicants. They are given a six-year “conditional permanent residence” in the United States, but may later “adjust status” to lawful permanent residence.

For more information about this bill, please see this article in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/us/politics/16immig.html