Kamlager-Dove, Salazar Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Preserve Visa Access for U.S. Embassy Employees Abroad
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 18, 2023
Media Contact: Maya Valentine | maya.valentine@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and Congresswoman Maria Salazar (FL-27), members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the bipartisan Granting Recognition to Accomplished Talented Employees for Unwavering Loyalty (GRATEFUL) Act to ensure locally employed staff and their families, who are critical to the effective functioning of U.S. embassies abroad, are able to immigrate to the United States as promised after completing a career of service to the U.S. government. This is companion legislation to the bipartisan Senate bill introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC).
For 70 years, locally employed embassy staff have been recognized and rewarded for their service with a visa category that allows foreign nationals who have faithfully worked for the U.S. government for 15 years to immigrate with their families to the United States. But for the first time in the program’s history, there is a cumulative backlog of visa cases that has led to wait times of up to 14 years before those who qualify for a visa are able to receive one. This bill redirects to this category visas that were originally allocated for an underutilized offset created by the Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) in 1999. Out of 5,000 NACARA visas, only an average of 150 are used a year; under the GRATEFUL Act, 3,500 of that total will be redirected to the Government Employee Immigrant Visa (GIV) program for locally employed staff in FY24, and 3,000 will be re-allocated each year after.
“Locally employed staff are the backbone of the U.S. foreign policy apparatus, ensuring our embassies are able to function effectively and our diplomats receive the support they need,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “This is especially true in hardship posts where locally employed staff operate in difficult conditions, often at great personal risk, to advance U.S. foreign policy goals. At a time when we’re facing multiple challenges around the world, ensuring that we are attracting and retaining talented local staff is a national security imperative. The State Department cannot function without locally employed staff, and I am proud to introduce this legislation to keep our promise to them and bolster diplomatic efforts with a simple and commonsense legislative fix. We cannot leave our public servants behind.”
“Those who have served the U.S. faithfully for decades should not be stuck in unreasonable backlogs for visas they have earned and deserve,” said Congresswoman Salazar. “I’m proud to co-lead the GRATEFUL Act to ensure we support talented individuals who have provided exceptional service to the United States and advanced our interests abroad.”
To read the full bill text, click here.
To view a one-pager on the GRATEFUL Act, click here.
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