News article on private bills contains good explanation of the process, strategy, and chances of success. Single-family immigration bills face great difficulty in Congress, McClatchy Newspapers, Tucson, Arizona (June 15, 2008), http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/243832



Some useful information from the article:

• Bill may be focused on individual or a family;
• Person subject to bill may remain in U.S. while the bill is pending;
• Bill may be reintroduced yearly;
• If not renewed, DHS will attempt to deport the February of the following congressional session.
• Since 1997, only 41 of 945 of these bills have passed (about 5%).
• In the House, a representative must make a formal request for a private bill, in a case of "extreme hardship" at a public meeting of the immigration subcommittee.
• The Senate does not require "extreme hardship" or a formal meeting of the subcommittee.