The US Congress has passed a bill that would make widows and widowers of U.S. citizens eligible for green cards even if their spouses died before their applications were approved. This comes as a welcome relief to widows and widowers of US citizens such as Dahianna Heard, Raquel Williams and Ana Maria Moncayo-Gigax who have, for ages, fought tooth and nail for approval of their green card.

Part of the Homeland Security appropriations bill, this move does away with the infamous “widow penalty”. It had demanded that the couple be married for two years before the surviving spouse can apply for residency.

This unfair stipulation was a cause of worry for hundreds of people who were not granted a green card due to the untimely death of their spouse. Many have already been deported by the US Immigration due to this provision and many more are waging a legal battle against deportation.

Though the federal government announced that deportation proceedings will be suspended for two years so that applicants can stay in the U.S. while their legal status was being resolved, many, including immigration attorneys felt that it didn’t go far enough in doing justice to the surviving spouses.

With the passing of this bill, green card eligibility will be granted irrespective of when the spouse died or how long have they been married. In addition to the surviving spouse, green card application can be submitted for their children also.

The bill has been forwarded to President Obama for his nod. Once it is signed by him it will ensure a smooth passage for surviving spouses of US citizens applying for green card.