On June 18, 2024, President Joe Biden announced a plan to open up the path to citizenship for noncitizen spouses of current U.S. citizens. Under this new plan, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will consider (on a case-by-case basis) requests for citizenship of certain spouses. In order to be eligible, these spouses must be:
- Currently living in the United States, and have been here for at least 10 years continuously by June 17, 2024.
- Legally married to someone who is a U.S. citizen
Those spouses who have a criminal history or are considered to be a threat to national security are not eligible for these requests. If your application is approved, you have:
- Three years to apply for a green card. During this time, you can also get a temporary work permit and be protected from being deported.
Further, children of noncitizens are also eligible if they currently live in the United States and have a “qualifying” stepchild relationship to a U.S. citizen.
Application process
To apply, you must complete and submit a form to USCIS, accompanied by supporting documents that demonstrate you meet the necessary requirements. Alongside the application, there is a required fee that must be paid.
Once USCIS receives a properly filed request, they will carefully evaluate each case on an individual basis. They will then make a decision on parole based on factors like your:
- Immigration history
- Criminal record
- Results of thorough background checks and national security screenings
The program, known as “parole in place”, is expected to have nearly 500,000 applicants, according to officials with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Contact Maison Immigration For a Consultation
At Maison Immigration, our team of lawyers can help you if you’re trying to make your way through the immigration process. Whether you want to apply for the “parole in place” program or simply look at your other options, we can point you in the right direction. Contact us today to set up an initial consultation.
