USCIS to Open Path to Citizenship for Undocumented Individuals | US Immigration

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting petitions for legalization from undocumented spouses and US citizen stepchildren on August 19, 2024. This program is a component of the ‘Path to Citizenship’ effort, which aims to support 50,000 stepchildren and over 500,000 spouses.

As US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is ready to accept legalization requests from illegal wives and stepchildren of US citizens, August 2024 will signal a dramatic change in US immigration policy.

This action is a component of the “Path to Citizenship” initiative, which was created to help the 50,000 foreign stepchildren and over 500,000 foreign spouses who arrived in the country without a visa.

Citizenship Pathway Program: A New Hope

The USCIS will accept applications for legalization from illegal spouses and stepchildren of US citizens as of August 19, 2024. The goal of this program is to give these people a route to citizenship and permanent residence.

Parole for Immigrants: Short-term Relief

Certain non-citizens are allowed to live and work in the US under immigration parole without having to worry about being deported. If granted parole, these people won’t have to leave the nation to apply for lawful permanent status through a US embassy.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this procedure may be advantageous for around 500,000 spouses who are not citizens of the United States but have been in the nation for an average of 23 years.

Qualifications for Parole in Immigration

To be eligible for this program, applicants need to:

• As of June 17, 2024, demonstrate that they are either the stepchild of a US citizen or are married to one.
• Show that you have lived in the US continuously for at least ten years after entering without permission.
• They are not ineligible for consideration because of their criminal history.
• The “parole in place” status that successful applicants would receive will enable them to lawfully work in the US. Within three years, they should obtain a Green Card, which will allow them to live permanently. After that, they will be qualified to apply for US citizenship.

Required Documentation for Spouses and Stepchildren

To bolster their petition, applicants must submit several papers, including:

Documents of Identity:

• A current state or federal driver’s license
• Currently valid passport or birth certificate with a picture
• Any document issued by the government with the candidate’s name, date of birth, and picture

Evidence of Connection to US Citizen:

• Birth certificate, passport, or spouse’s Certificate of Naturalization

Evidence of Continuous Residency:

• Utility statements, rent receipts, health records, academic records, and confirmations of residency from unions or places of worship.
• Children born in the United States, their birth certificates, bank transaction dates, insurance policies, rental agreements, and tax returns or receipts.

Documentation for Children Who Are Not Citizens

Proof of eligibility for children who are not citizens consists of:

• Evidence of the child’s link to the non-citizen parent, such as a birth certificate or adoption decree
• Evidence that, as of June 17, 2024, the non-citizen parent was lawfully married to a US citizen

The Way Beyond

For individuals wishing to establish a life in the US, this new policy from the USCIS offers optimism and a clear road forward in tackling the complicated problem of undocumented immigrants in the nation.

The program, which offers stability and the potential for permanent residence in the United States, has the potential to positively influence thousands of lives as it develops.