LIFE Act Definition

The common name for the Legal Immigration Family Equity Act, signed into law by President Clinton in 2000. The Act included many changes to the immigration laws, including an extension of Section 245(i) (allowing certain categories of green card applicants who wouldn't otherwise be eligible to adjust status in the United States to do so by paying a penalty fee); a new K-3 visa category allowing married people to use a variation of the existing K-1 "fiancé visa" to enter the United States in order to apply for adjustment of status (rather than completing the entire permanent residence application overseas); and a new V visa category for spouses and children of lawful permanent residents who had filed an immigrant visa petition on or before December 21, 2000 but who after three years were still waiting for petition approval or for their Priority Date to become current and a visa to become available.