A new Biden administration policy will allow some spouses of U.S. citizens without legal permission to remain in the U.S. to legalize their status without having to leave the country. The initiative, which starts Monday, Aug. 19, is modeled after the existing “Parole in Place” program, previously available to family members of U.S. military personnel and veterans.
The new policy expands the benefits of “Parole in Place” to a broader group, allowing migrant spouses to apply for a green card and eventually get on a path to citizenship. Like the original program for military families, the Biden administration’s initiative is designed to provide temporary legal status, including the possibility of applying for a work permit, without requiring beneficiaries to leave the U.S.
To be eligible for this expanded “Parole in Place” program, applicants must have been continuously in the U.S. for at least 10 years, pose no security threat and have no disqualifying criminal history. Additionally, they must have been married to a U.S. citizen before June 17, the day before the program was announced. Applicants must also pay a $580 fee and provide extensive documentation proving their length of stay in the country.
This initiative draws on the structure of the existing military “Parole in Place” program, which grants temporary legal status on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Similarly, the new policy offers a pathway to legalization for approximately 500,000 people and 50,000 of their children, allowing them to apply for a green card during a three-year period, while protecting them from deportation.
As with the earlier program, applicants will be required to submit detailed evidence supporting their claims, including proof of their continuous presence in the U.S. and their marriage to a U.S. citizen. The Biden administration hopes this expanded initiative will help stabilize families, offer work authorization, and potentially lead to permanent residency and citizenship.
