While most foreign residents can apply for permanent residency after seven years, maids are not eligible.
Hong Kong's highest court is hearing an appeal in a case that will decide whether maids will be eligible to apply for permanent residency.
Hong Kong's top court has ruled that domestic workers are not eligible to apply for permanent residency, ending a two-year battle that has split opinion.
Others have called for shorter residency limits - such as four or six years - for domestic helpers so that they cannot apply for permanent residency.
"Assuming they haven't violated any of the conditions of that status, " he says, the newly legalized person could apply for permanent residency, possibly leading to citizenship, after some years but Mr. Rubio doesn't specify how many years.
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Even then, those here illegally would have to qualify for a "probationary legal status" that would allow them to live and work here but not qualify for federal benefits before being able to apply for permanent residency.
After 10 years, people with provisional legal status could apply for permanent residency if the new security and fencing plans were operating, a new mandatory employment verification system was in place, and a new electronic exit system was tracking who leaves the country.
Non-permanent residents apply for and receive only time-limited residency visas (usually one to three years).
Some letter writers and commentators have said they fear their jobs will be taken if having permanent residency allows former domestic helpers to apply for other jobs.
The undocumented could immediately apply for a special protective status to avoid deportation, but it would take them about eight years to get legal permanent residency (a green card) and another four or five years to become a U.S. citizen.
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