For asylum seekers there have been some improvements in the legalization process:

1.  The one-year asylum filing deadline has been eliminated in the Senate bill.    

2. Asylum seekers who were denied asylum because they did not apply within the one-year deadline will have the right to file a Motion to Reopen their cases.  

3. The Senate Bill updates the category of family members who may apply for derivative asylum status by including children of the refugee or asylee’s spouse or children.

4. The Bill expands the capacity of asylum officers to grant asylum after credible fear interviews and thus alleviates the work-load of immigration courts.

5.  The Bill clarifies that asylum applicants are eligible for work authorization within 180 days after the filing of the asylum application. 

6.  Despite these improvements, the Bill contains some restrictive provisions: (a) asylee will have their status terminated if they return to their country of origin after being granted status in the US and (b) immigrants who were employed without work authorization will not be entitled to claim social security benefits related to unauthorized employment after their status has been legalized unless the social security number was obtained prior to 2004.