SERVICE for America Act
Sponsored By: Representative Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a new public-service nonimmigrant visa (W) and a green-card path for long-term public-service workers and people who arrived as children. It also opens AmeriCorps to DACA recipients and authorizes work for spouses and minor children of W-visa holders.
Show full summary
- Workers & families: The W-visa covers people employed in defined public-service jobs, is valid for 3 years with one 3-year extension, and lets spouses and minor children work. Applicants must generally show at least 5 aggregate years of presence as a dependent or DACA status to qualify.
- Aspiring permanent residents: Individuals who entered as children can seek adjustment to lawful permanent resident status after meeting either 7 years' physical presence and 2 years of public-service employment, or 2 years in W-status. Certain grounds of inadmissibility may be waived and applicants may not be detained or removed while their application is pending.
- Service & program access: The bill explicitly adds DACA recipients to AmeriCorps eligibility and defines “public service job” broadly to include health care, education, law enforcement, social work, public interest law, 501(c)(3) work, Tribal college faculty, and other public services.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Green card route for long‑time public servants
If enacted, the bill would create a new adjustment pathway to lawful permanent residence for long‑term public‑service workers. One route requires 7 aggregate years present as a dependent child of a qualifying nonimmigrant, another allows DACA recipients, and a third allows W‑status holders with at least 2 years in that status. You would also need 7 aggregate years' physical presence and at least 2 years employed in U.S. public service. The Secretary could waive specified inadmissibility grounds for humanitarian, family‑unity, or public‑interest reasons, and you could not be detained or removed while your application is pending.
New multi‑year work visa for public servants
If enacted, the bill would create a new W nonimmigrant status for full‑time public‑service workers. The status would last 3 years and could be extended once for another 3 years while you remain in a qualifying public‑service job. Your spouse and minor children would be allowed to work incident to that status. To apply you would need either 5 aggregate years present as a dependent child of a qualifying worker or DACA from June 15, 2012, plus 5 aggregate years' physical presence, and a qualifying public‑service job or job offer. The Secretary could waive certain inadmissibility grounds for humanitarian reasons, family unity, or the public interest.
AmeriCorps access for DACA and long‑present youth
If enacted, the bill would let DACA recipients (deferred action from June 15, 2012) join AmeriCorps. It would also let people who were lawfully present as dependent children for at least 5 aggregate years join, with some dependent visa types excluded. Eligible noncitizens would be able to take AmeriCorps service slots and access program benefits like living allowances and education awards under existing AmeriCorps rules.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 9/3/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov