USCIS Release Date: 07/17/2024
On June 18, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced actions to support family unity in the immigration process.
DHS is introducing a new process to consider, on a case-by-case basis, parole requests from noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have resided in the U.S. for at least a decade. This parole, if granted, will allow eligible noncitizens to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country.
USCIS will start accepting applications on August 19. Applications submitted before this date will be rejected. Detailed information about eligibility and the application process will be published in an upcoming Federal Register notice.
To qualify for this discretionary grant of parole, applicants must:
Be present in the U.S. without admission or parole.
Have been continuously present in the U.S. 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.
Have no disqualifying criminal history or pose a threat to national security or public safety.
Merit a favorable exercise of discretion.
Additionally, noncitizen children of eligible requestors may also be considered if they were physically present in the U.S. without admission or parole as of June 17, 2024, and have a qualifying stepchild relationship with a U.S. citizen.
Although applications are not yet being accepted, you can start preparing by gathering evidence of your eligibility, such as:
Proof of a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen.
Documentation of identity.
Evidence of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship.
Proof of continuous presence in the U.S. for at least 10 years.
For noncitizen children, required eligibility evidence includes:
The child’s relationship with the noncitizen parent
Noncitizen parent’s legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen
Child’s presence in the United States
To avoid scams, remember not to pay for government forms, which are free on uscis.gov/forms. Always request a signed, written agreement outlining services, read it before signing, and keep a copy. Obtain copies of any documents prepared for you and ask for a receipt with the provider’s name and address.
USCIS reminds the public to beware of immigration scams. Applications cannot be submitted until the process officially opens. Only licensed attorneys or accredited representatives can provide legal advice. Warning signs of unethical practitioners include guaranteed outcomes, predatory pricing, and requests for signatures on blank documents. Fraudulent activities will result in ineligibility for benefits and potential legal consequences. The public can report immigration fraud and abuse through USCIS’s online tip form.
