Keeping Families Together

Update as of September 11, 2024:
In June 2024, the Biden administration announced a new process for temporary stay permits (PIP) for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. The purpose of this process is to allow eligible applicants to adjust their status (obtain a green card) without having to leave the United States and risk being separated from their families. This process went into effect on August 19, 2024, and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began approving applications immediately. However, on August 23, 2024, the state of Texas along with 15 other states filed a lawsuit against this process. On August 26, 2024, a federal court in Texas ordered USCIS to immediately stop approving PIP applications while the court decides several issues in the case.
On September 4, 2024, the court extended the order preventing USCIS from approving applications until September 23, 2024, while the court resolves several issues in the case. But on September 11, 2024, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered all lower court proceedings to be paused until the Fifth Circuit resolves a separate matter related to the case. This will put the PIP process on hold indefinitely. For now, USCIS will accept applications, but will not be able to issue approvals.
For now, the Keeping Families Together Temporary Parole (KFT PIP) process is on schedule. USCIS continues to accept applications for this process, but cannot issue approvals. If you apply now, while the process is on hold, or applied before the time limit, USCIS will keep your application on hold until the Court decides that this process can continue. Please note that if you decide to apply now, you risk losing your application fee if USCIS continues to be restricted from approving applications.
The KFT PIP process was announced in June 2023 and took effect on August 19, 2024. The purpose of KFT PIP is to allow certain spouses and stepchildren of American citizens to adjust their status (obtain their green card) without having to leave the U.S. and risk being separated from their families. Those who are approved for KFT PIP will be eligible to apply for a work permit and be protected from deportation for up to three years.
Unfortunately, this process is currently on hold due to a federal lawsuit filed by Texas and 15 other states on August 23, 2024. The federal courts have put the process on hold indefinitely and for now USCIS will not be able to approve any KFT PIP applications until the courts decide to reinstate the process.