On Wednesday, May 22, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an update to the parole for family reunification, which is a legal and safe way that allows relatives of U.S. citizens and residents to immigrate to that country.
The changes apply to those who apply for this type of visa through Form I-130, which is a petition for foreign relatives.
In general, the changes are intended to provide greater clarity regarding the procedures required when there are doubts about the beneficiary's adjustment of status or when errors have been made that must be corrected.
Following approval of Form I-130, the federal agency will send the applicant a notice containing details of the beneficiary's consular processing or adjustment of status. This information must be carefully reviewed to determine whether any corrections or updates are necessary, in which case USCIS must be notified immediately.
In this regard, this body stated: "If the petitioner does not provide accurate information on the petition, it may cause delays in the processing of immigrant visas or adjustment of status processes."
According to the statement issued by USCIS, it is essential that the applicant provide the current address of the beneficiary of the family reunification process and indicate exactly whether the beneficiary wishes to adjust status or undergo consular processing.
If the petitioner does not clearly communicate the beneficiary's interest, USCIS has the discretion to refer the processed petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) or hold processing based on the beneficiary's last known location data.
The agency also notes that when an approved application is held due to inaccurate information, the applicant has the option of filing Form I-824, also known as Request for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, paying the established fee to have the petition transferred to the NVC.
In this regard, USCIS stated: "In cases where the petitioner has not reported whether the beneficiary will adjust his or her status or undergo consular processing, USCIS must determine, based on the beneficiary's location and eligibility for adjustment of status, whether the petition should be referred to the NVC, in accordance with the regulations."
According to USCIS, those who hold the status of American citizen, legal resident or United States national may resort to this immigration mechanism.
However, to benefit from this program, applicants must also demonstrate that there is a qualified relationship with the eligible family members that they intend to emigrate or remain permanently in the northern nation.
This requirement is essential for applying for a Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as a Green Card.
With these changes, USCIS hopes to improve the efficiency of the process, ensure greater understanding of the process by applicants and beneficiaries, and minimize errors and delays so that family reunions can be much faster.
