Friday, January 4, 2013

New Immigration Rule for Immediate Relatives of US Citizens


On January 3, 2013, The United States Customs and Immigration Services ("CIS") issued a new rule allowing immediate relatives of United States Citizens who are without documentation or have unlawful presence to apply for a waiver of the unlawful presence in the United States before having to return to their home country.  This will allow those immigrants to seek a green card with a waiver while remaining in the United States and if the waiver is granted, they will only have to return to their home country for a short stay to get their green cards.   The applicant will still need to prove hardship to the U.S. citizen to qualify for the waiver.  This new rule is to take effect this March 2013.