The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the implementation of a new Family Reunification Parole (FRP) program for foreign nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
The program will benefit nationals of such countries whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and have received approval to join their family in the United States. Certain nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who are beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative may be eligible to be considered for parole under the new Family Reunification Parole program.
Nationals of these countries can be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis for a period of up to three years while they wait to apply to become a lawful permanent resident. This means that those who are eligible for parole will have the opportunity to lawfully reside inside the United States while applying for lawful permanent residence for a period of up to three years. Qualifying beneficiaries must be outside the United States, meet all requirements, including screening and vetting, and medical requirements, and must not have already received an immigrant visa.
The parole procedure begins with an invitation issued by the Department of State to the petitioning U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member whose Form I-130 has been approved on behalf of a Colombian, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, or Honduran beneficiary. The invited petitioner can then initiate the Family Reunification Parole process by filing a request on behalf of the beneficiary and eligible family members to be considered for advance travel authorization and parole into the United States.
USCIS has made clear that parole will be granted only on a discretionary, case-by-case, and temporary basis. Petitioners must demonstrate urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit and show that the beneficiary warrants a favorable exercise of discretion.
Individuals paroled into the United States under these processes will generally be considered for parole for up to three years and will be eligible to request employment authorization while they wait for their immigrant visa to become available. When their immigrant visa becomes available, they may apply to become a lawful permanent resident.
The Family Reunification Parole (FRP) program may benefit beneficiaries awaiting an immigrant visa including certain children and siblings of U.S. citizens and certain spouses and children of permanent residents.
This article, under no circumstances, acts as legal advice; therefore, for any immigration questions, please contact your Attorney or the Ahluwalia Law Offices, P.C. (Team ALO).
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