Published May 14, 2016
In the past week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the launch of a new program – the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program – where applications to facilitate the immediate entry into the U.S. of certain overseas family members of U.S. based Filipino World War II veterans will soon be accepted. Starting June 8, 2016, overseas family members who are the beneficiaries of a U.S. based, Filipino WWII veteran’s I-130 visa petition and waiting in one of the Family Preference visa lines, will be eligible to submit an application to be “paroled” into the U.S. and wait out visa availability in the U.S.
This program will yield huge benefits to the thousands of overseas family members who would otherwise be facing 10 to 20 year waits for visa availability in the various Family preference categories. Pursuant to the new program, qualifying overseas family members will be eligible to enter the U.S. and legally reside and work here while awaiting the final stage of their green card process.
This process does not apply to relatives who are considered Immediate Relatives of U.S. citizens – defined as the under 21 year old children, spouses, and the parents of adult (over 21 year old) U.S. citizens – since there is no wait for visa availability in this immigrant category.
Additionally, in some limited circumstances, an overseas family member may be able to qualify even if their petitioning WW II veteran family member is deceased.
The process can be facilitated by filing Form I-131 along with the required supporting documentation and pursuant to the rules of this new program.
PUBLISHED May 14, 2016– “IMMIGRATION LAW FORUM” Copyright © 2016, By Law Offices of Richard Hanus, Chicago, Illinois