The White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have announced an important new detail about the Biden Administration’s Parole in Place (PIP) program for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens.
Starting August 19 eligible applicants can apply.
Details about how to apply, including forms and fees, will be available soon and announced in the Federal Register.
Who Can Apply?
You may qualify for the PIP program if you:
- Are in the U.S. without legal permission
- Are married to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024
- Have been in the U.S. continuously for at least 10 years by June 17, 2024
- Have no serious criminal history or security concerns
- Meet other requirements set by DHS
If you qualify, you will get up to three years to adjust status and apply for a green card. During this time, you will have work authorization and be protected from deportation.
Children of Eligible Spouses
Some children of eligible spouses may also qualify for PIP if:
- They are in the U.S. without legal permission
- They are the stepchild of a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024
- They are unmarried and under 21 years old
- They were under 18 when the marriage creating the stepchild relationship occurred
Preparing Your Application
Even though you can’t apply until August 19, you can start gathering supporting documents now:
Spouses of US Citizens should gather:
- Proof of marriage to a U.S. citizen (like a marriage certificate)
- Proof of identity (like an old driver’s license, birth certificate, or passport)
- Proof of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship (like a passport or birth certificate)
- Proof that you have been in the U.S. for at least 10 years (like rent receipts, school records, or tax returns)
The following supporting documents will be helpful proving a PIP spouse’s relationship to a child:
- Proof of the child’s relationship to the noncitizen parent (like a birth certificate)
- Proof of the noncitizen parent’s marriage to the U.S. citizen
- Proof that the child has been in the U.S. as of June 17, 2024
Important Information
USCIS will not accept applications before August 19. More details about forms and fees will be available soon. Beware of scams that might attempt to take advantage of you and your family.