The Senate has passed a bill that would eliminate the often criticized Widow Penalty. The Widow Penalty refers to the government’s policy of denying a widow’s permanent residency application when the U.S. Citizen spouse dies before the marriage is two years old.
President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. Additionally, it appears that the law will be retroactive – meaning that even those widows and widowers whose spouse died before the expected enactment date of this bill will be able to gain permanent residency.