The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) began accepting applications today, Monday, August 19, for certain undocumented persons married to U.S. citizens to obtain permanent residency without having to leave the country.
This benefit also extends to the stepchildren of a U.S. citizen.
To do so, spouses of qualifying U.S. citizens must submit a new form called I-131F, which will only be accepted electronically and will cost $580.
This application must be submitted separately for each beneficiary, including minors, who must also have their USCIS electronic account.
It should be noted that filing Form I-131F (Application for Permission to Stay in the Country or called “parole in place”) does not automatically grant a work permit, so a separate process must be completed once your request for “parole in place” is approved.
The official announcement of this program was made on June 18, but the details were unknown. President Joe Biden assured that this new immigration program promoted family unity. “This is a common-sense solution,” described the American president.
Before the program, also known as the “keeping families together” initiative or “parole in place,” was approved, which is nothing more than a discretionary granting of permission to remain in the country, spouses of U.S. citizens who entered the U.S. illegally had to return to their country of origin to apply for permanent residency through a consular process that could take decades.
Immigration authorities estimate that half a million spouses of U.S. citizens and 50,000 non-citizen children will be able to benefit from this process.
While pro-immigrant organizations support such measures, they believe they are not sufficient and that broader protections are needed that offer a path to citizenship for all.
“While this relief will be life-changing for thousands of individuals and families, it is only one part of the necessary solutions that offer relief and stability to members of our communities. The American people want humane solutions that prioritize a path to citizenship for all. While we celebrate that many people will be one step closer to that reality starting today, we stand with the millions more who do not qualify for this relief and urgently need Congress to act,” said Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Alliance for New Americans (NPNA), in a statement.
Who qualifies?
*A husband, stepson, or stepdaughter of a U.S. citizen
*Being present in the US without admission or any type of permit
*Be physically present in the United States since June 17, 2014, if you are seeking immigration benefits as a spouse, or since June 17, 2024 if it is the stepson or stepdaughter who is requesting protection.
*Be legally married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024.
*If the beneficiary is a stepchild, he or she must be under 18 years of age.
*Not having a criminal record.
*Not represent a threat to national security and public safety.
Stop fraud
Immigration authorities took advantage of the announcement to reiterate a warning against fraud against migrants seeking to request some type of immigration protection.
In a statement announcing the start of accepting I-131F applications, they indicated that there are many ways to become victims of scammers and fraud.
To this end, they gave some recommendations and advice so that immigrants are alert and do not get fooled by people who claim to be immigration service officials. “USCIS will only contact you through official government channels and never through social media,” they clarify in the document.
*Make sure that the information you receive is directly from official websites such as USCIS.gov or dhs.gov or agencies affiliated with Uscis.gov
*USCIS never asks you to transfer money over the phone or email.
*Beware of notaries public. In the US, these people are not authorized to offer legal advice or any services related to immigration benefits. In such cases, it is best to consult a lawyer.
#Undocumented #immigrants #married #citizens #apply #Green #Card #leaving #Diario #Página
