Parole in Place Stopped as of 11/13/2024 by USCIS:
USCIS Issues Guidance After Federal Court Vacated the Keeping Families Together Program
USCIS posted the following message on November 13, 2024, stating that effective immediately:
- Pending Form I-131F applications will not be adjudicated and intake of new Form I-131F applications will cease.
- Anyone with a future Application Support Center appointment in support of a filed Form I-131F should consider that appointment cancelled immediately. Anyone who appears for such an appointment will be turned away.
- External engagements on the KFT parole process are cancelled.
This is in response to the November 7, 2024, decision from a Texas federal judge that found that Texas and other states had standing to challenge the Keeping Families Together program and process and vacated the parole-in-place program for certain spouses of U.S. citizens as unlawful.
1st Announcement
- Spouses and children of U.S. citizens who have been living in the United States for at least 10 years – you may be eligible to apply for your green card without leaving the United States, if, as of June 17, 2024:
- You are in the United States after entering without permission;
- You have lived in the United States for at least 10 years and have never left;
- You are legally married to a U.S. citizen or have a qualifying stepchild relationship with a U.S. citizen; and
- You do not have certain criminal history or pose a threat to national security or public safety.
If you meet these criteria, the government MAY grant you parole-in-place.
- Parole would be granted for a one-time period of three years.
- You may also be eligible for employment authorization for up to three years.
- If you are granted parole, you may apply for your green card within three years of approval.
- Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.
2nd Announcement
- College-educated DACA recipients and Dreamers who are qualified for nonimmigrant status, such as an H-1B specialty occupation visa, you may be eligible to apply for a temporary visa more easily, if:
- You have a degree from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education; and
- You have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to your degree.