The Biden administration’s DHS announced measures to enhance family reunification within the immigration procedures, reflecting its dedication to keeping families together.
Under current law, noncitizens who marry Americans can apply for lawful permanent residency after their wedding. However, many must leave the country initially and endure extended separation from their loved ones due to lengthy processing delays.
The DHS has announced a new process to consider requests from noncitizen spouses of US citizens who have been residents for over ten years. The DHS will also assess whether these individuals pose any national security concerns before they can apply for adjustment of status.
These noncitizen spouses of US citizens, who have resided in the country for more than 23 years, would not need to depart from the US to apply for lawful permanent residence, as estimated by the DHS to potentially benefit around 500,000 individuals.
To qualify for the process, these non-citizens must have been continuously present in the US without interruption since at least June 17, 2014, and must have been legally married to a US citizen by June 17, 2024. They are also required to remain in the US without parole or admission.
The DHS and State Department will work together to speed up the processing of certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas for eligible individuals, including DACA recipients and undocumented noncitizens who have graduated from accredited US institutions.
This initiative aims to enhance companies’ confidence in hiring essential talent by simplifying and enhancing the current process, thereby reducing the time to begin work.
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