Child Status Protection Act
Public Law 107-208 · H.R. 1209 · 107th Congress · began in the House
Signed by George W. Bush (R) on Aug 6, 2002 · Immigration
Sponsor: Rep. George Gekas (R-PA-17)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateUnanimous consent
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Child Status Protection Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that the determination of whether an unmarried alien son or daughter of a U.S. citizen is considered an "immediate relative child" (under 21 years old) shall be made at the time an immigration visa petition is filed for such classification on his or her behalf. (Under existing law unmarried children may apply for immigrant status as immediate relatives without numerical limitation.)
Makes similar determinations in the case of: (1) permanent resident parents who subsequently naturalize after having filed family-sponsored immigration petitions for a son or daughter (age determination at time of parents' naturalization); or (2) citizen parents who filed family-sponsored immigration petitions for a married son or daughter and such son or daughter later divorces (age determination at time of divorce).
(Sec. 3) States that with respect to an unmarried son or daughter seeking status as family-sponsored, employment-based, or diversity "child" (unmarried, under 21 years old) immigrant: (1) such an alien's age will be determined using the age of the alien on the date on which an immigrant visa becomes available reduced by the number of days in which the petition was pending; and (2) if the alien's age is determined to be 21 years or older the original (pre-21 years old) priority date shall be retained.
(Sec. 4) States that a son or daughter who was unmarried and under 21 years old when the parent applied for asylee or refugee status shall retain such "child" classification during the pendency of the asylee or refugee application.
(Sec. 6) Provides that the family-sponsored petition of an unmarried alien son or daughter whose permanent resident alien parent subsequently becomes a naturalized U.S. citizen shall be converted to a petition for an unmarried son or daughter of a U.S. citizen, unless the son or daughter elects otherwise. States that any petition priority date assigned prior to such naturalization may be maintained regardless of whether or not the petition is converted.
(Sec. 7) States that nothing in this Act shall be construed to limit or deny specified benefits for alien children.
(Sec. 8) States that the amendments made by this Act shall take effect upon enactment of this Act and shall apply to an alien beneficiary of: (1) an immigrant petition approved but not with a final determination prior to such date; (2) a petition pending on or after such date; or (3) an application pending before the Department of Justice or Department of State on or after such date.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- Aug 6, 2002Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 107-208.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Jul 30, 2002PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Jul 22, 2002Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Sensenbrenner moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment.
- FloorFloor · DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1209.
- Jun 13, 2002FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- May 16, 2002CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jun 7, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
- Jun 6, 2001FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 0 (Roll no. 152).House roll call 152
- FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Sensenbrenner moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Apr 20, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
- Apr 4, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
- Mar 26, 2001CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.