USCIS ISSUES REMINDER ON THE PROCESS TO PROMOTE THE UNITY AND STABILITY OF FAMILIES

On June 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced actions to promote family unity in the immigration process. DHS is establishing a process to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests for parole in place from certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have been in the U.S. for at least a decade. If parole is granted, noncitizens who are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence based on their marriage to a U.S. citizen will be able to do so without having to leave the United States.

USCIS will begin accepting applications on August 19, 2024. If an individual applies before August 19, their application will be rejected.

To be considered for a discretionary grant of parole, on a case-by-case basis, under this process, an individual must:

•Be present in the United States without admission or parole;

•Have been continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years

as of June 17, 2024;

•Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024;

•Not have any disqualifying criminal history or otherwise constitute a threat

to national security or public safety; and

•Otherwise merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

USCIS may also consider certain noncitizen children of requestors under this process if, as of June 17, 2024, they were physically present in the United States without admission or parole, and have a qualifying stepchild relationship to a U.S. citizen. USCIS will continue to release information about this update in later Federal Register notices.

For more information, view the USCIS alert.

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