The Reuniting Families Act makes major changes to U.S. immigration law to make it easier for families to stay together. Here's what it does in practical terms:

The bill significantly increases the number of family-based immigration visas available each year. It more than quintuples visas for unmarried adult children of permanent residents (from 23,400 to 127,200) and nearly triples visas for married children and siblings (from 65,000 to 191,520). It also allows unused visa numbers from previous years to be carried forward, creating more opportunities for family members waiting in line.

The law expands who counts as an "immediate relative" (people who can immigrate without waiting in a visa line). This now includes people whose citizen or permanent resident family member has died, as long as they file within two years. It also recognizes same-sex permanent partners the same way it recognizes spouses. People who were previously deported or left the country because they didn't qualify as immediate relatives can now potentially return and adjust their status.

The bill makes it easier for people to overcome immigration obstacles. It allows government officials to waive certain grounds for denying entry or removing someone if it's for family unity or humanitarian reasons. It also protects people whose qualifying family member dies during the immigration process—their visa applications can still be approved as if the death hadn't happened. Young people who mistakenly claimed to be citizens before age 21 won't be permanently barred from immigrating. Additionally, the law reduces the physical presence requirement for cancellation of removal (a form of relief from deportation) from 10 years to 7 years, and creates a new way for people with close U.S. citizen or permanent resident family members to get this protection.

Finally, the bill includes special provisions for Filipino veterans' families and fiancé(e)s with children, making it easier for their family members to immigrate and work in the United States.