New Process for Immediate Family Members

[TOTOEMY 2]

Hello Everyone... I just noticed this from the USCIS website and was wondering if anyone had some more insight on this? Thanks

Secretary Napolitano Announces Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process

Released: Jan. 2, 2013

Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010

WASHINGTON— Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today announced the posting of a final rule in the Federal Register that reduces the time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives (spouse, children and parents), who are in the process of obtaining visas to become lawful permanent residents of the United States under certain circumstances. The final rule establishes a process that allows certain individuals to apply for a provisional unlawful presence waiver before they depart the United States to attend immigrant visa interviews in their countries of origin. The process will be effective on March 4, 2013 and more information about the filing process will be made available in the coming weeks at www.uscis.gov.

“This final rule facilitates the legal immigration process and reduces the amount of time that U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives who are in the process of obtaining an immigrant visa,” said Secretary Napolitano.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received more than 4,000 comments in response to the April 2, 2012 proposed rule and considered all of them in preparing the final rule.

“The law is designed to avoid extreme hardship to U.S. citizens, which is precisely what this rule achieves,” USCIS Director Mayorkas said. “The change will have a significant impact on American families by greatly reducing the time family members are separated from those they rely upon.”

Under current law, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are not eligible to adjust status in the United States to become lawful permanent residents must leave the U.S. and obtain an immigrant visa abroad. Individuals who have accrued more than six months of unlawful presence while in the United States must obtain a waiver to overcome the unlawful presence inadmissibility bar before they can return to the United States after departing to obtain an immigrant visa. Under the existing waiver process, which remains available to those who do not qualify for the new process, immediate relatives cannot file a waiver application until after they have appeared for an immigrant visa interview abroad and the Department of State has determined that they are inadmissible.

In order to obtain a provisional unlawful presence waiver, the applicant must be an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, inadmissible only on account of unlawful presence, and demonstrate the denial of the waiver would result in extreme hardship to his or her U.S. citizen spouse or parent. USCIS will publish a new form, Form I-601A, Application for a Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, for individuals to use when applying for a provisional unlawful presence waiver under the new process.

Under the new provisional waiver process, immediate relatives must still depart the United States for the consular immigrant visa process; however, they can apply for a provisional waiver before they depart for their immigrant visa interview abroad. Individuals who file the Form I-601A must notify the Department of State’s National Visa Center that they are or will be seeking a provisional waiver from USCIS. The new process will reduce the amount of time U.S. citizen are separated from their qualifying immediate relatives. Details on the process changes are available at www.regulations.gov.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=dc9af51016bfb310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=68439c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

[Ms Hogan 295]

To me it reads like they are changing the rules on banning people if they've overstayed?

[TOTOEMY 2]

To me it reads like they are changing the rules on banning people if they've overstayed?

Yeah I think that was what I got out of it..guess I was getting my hopes up for a faster process for our loved ones that are living apart from us..

[hamigirl710 112]

this is for somebody who is married to a USC and living in the USA out of status more than likely because they entered the USA without inspection. This program will benefit many people from countries such as Mexico where there is a high population of people who entered the USA without inspection.

[wantknow 11]

this is for somebody who is married to a USC and living in the USA out of status more than likely because they entered the USA without inspection. This program will benefit many people from countries such as Mexico where there is a high population of people who entered the USA without inspection.

Thanks for clarifying this ... I must say I too was getting my hopes up for a faster process

[Ismael&Blair 66]

Thanks for clarifying this ... I must say I too was getting my hopes up for a faster process

I was just thinking the same thing myself...hopeful for a loophole to get my husband here faster!

[sachinky 465]

It waives the ban period for those married to USC spouses but entered illegally. That's what is sounds like to me.

[yassir32 0]

am agree whit hamigirl70 is true what she say

This program will benefit many people from countries such as Mexico where there is a high population of people who entered the USA without inspection.

[Darnell 8,478]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/407078-secretary-napolitano-announces-final-rule-to-support-family-unity-during-waiver-process/

[TBoneTX 45,319]

*** Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to General Immigration Discussion, to be with the other threads on this topic. ***