On November 15, 2013, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services issued an important new policy memorandum related to military relatives. This decision will allow a spouse, child or parent of an Active Duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, an individual in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve or an individual who previously served in the U.S. Armed Forces or the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve special consideration to permit them to stay in the United States with authorization. This provision allows parole to be granted in one-year increments and extensions of parole as appropriate under the circumstances.
The alien must submit the request to USCIS office in the alien’s place of residence to be considered for this special program. Various factors will be considered when reviewing these applications:
- Proof that the alien’s family member is active duty or that the family member previously served.
- Evidence of favorable factors that the alien would like considered
- Past criminal and immigration background or other adverse factors
- Evidence of family relationship
Decisions as to whether to grant parole in place to aliens will be granted sparingly, however, in the absence of adverse factors, USIS hints that these cases are likely to be granted.