By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Washington —The Department of Homeland Security this week announced the implementation of Keeping Families Together, a system that simplifies the immigration process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens.
Eligible individuals could apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the country, DHS stated in the final rule posted on the Federal Register. The new system went into effect on Aug. 19.
"This is part of an effort to promote the unity and stability of families, increase the economic prosperity of American communities, strengthen diplomatic relationships with partner countries in the region, reduce strain on limited U.S. government resources, and further national security, public safety and border security objectives," DHS said.
DHS estimates that 500,000 noncitizen spouses and 50,000 noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens may meet these eligibility criteria.
“Too often, noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens – many of them mothers and fathers – live with uncertainty due to undue barriers in our immigration system.” said Ur M. Jaddou, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“This process to keep U.S. families together will remove these undue barriers for those who would otherwise qualify to live and work lawfully in the U.S., while also creating greater efficiencies in the immigration system, conducting effective screening and vetting, and focusing on noncitizens who contribute to and have longstanding connections within American communities across the country.”
USCIS will immediately begin accepting requests from eligible individuals for this process on Aug. 19.
Individuals must file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, online after creating a myUSCIS account. The filing fee is $580. Fee waiver requests for Form I-131F will not be accepted.In order to be eligible for consideration, noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens must:
Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2014, through the date of filing your request;
Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024;
Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and
Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.
Noncitizen stepchildren of U.S. citizens must:
Have been under the age of 21 and unmarried on June 17, 2024;
Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
Have been continuously physically present in the United States since at least June 17, 2024, through the date of filing your request;
Have a noncitizen parent who entered into a legally valid marriage with a U.S. citizen on or before June 17, 2024, and before their 18th birthday;
Have no disqualifying criminal history and otherwise not deemed to be a threat to public safety, national security, or border security; and
Submit biometrics and undergo required background checks and national security and public safety vetting.
USCIS said it employs existing training and practices to identify fraudulent evidence and reviews evidence supporting the existence of a legally valid marriage.
"In its consideration of the Form I-131F, USCIS will employ rigorous procedures to detect potential fraud concerns, ensuring that potentially fraudulent marriages will not serve as the basis for a grant of adjustment of status following access to this process," the office said.
Officials said Keeping Families Together is consistent with longstanding, congressionally supported policies, including a similar process for family members of certain U.S. military personnel and veterans.
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