2023-06-09 19:48:11
This week the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shared the new update of the Family Reunification Program that will benefit many Colombians who currently have relatives in the North American country, a plan that will come into effect this June.
The document states that It hopes to benefit relatives of Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Colombians who have been living in the United States for some time and have permanent residence. But, in addition, it hopes to give visas to some of the relatives of those who have already been recognized as US citizens, so that they can travel to that country, and at the same time that their immigration processes advance.
This benefit, as reported by the DHS, will only cover this sector of the population that already has the approval of Form 130 or the Petition for Relative Abroad, so those who wish to access it should start with this document, which will allow a relative who is inside the country to request someone who is outside.
For this reason, the statement indicates that those who have already had their application approved, as of this month, will receive an invitation that they must fill out and present together with form 1-134A, in which financial information is obtained on how they will cover the transfer of their relative or relatives to the United States.
After the diligence of the previous documents, and thus their approval by the US embassy, the DHS says that the next step is for the entity to carry out a “security investigation of the main beneficiary and his immediate relatives, and will consider them for advanced travel authorization on a case-by-case basis. If DHS issues advance travel authorization for the principal beneficiary and immediate family members, they may come to a United States port of entry to apply for parole for temporary stay.” explains the letter.
And when the permission is finally granted, the applicant must wait for the United States to notify him that “his immigrant visa is available and then file an application to adjust his status to that of a lawful permanent resident (obtain a permanent resident card, also known as Green Card or Green Card). The main beneficiaries and their immediate family members who received temporary permission to remain in the United States under these processes may request employment authorization. said the immigration authority.
However, and in this the DHS is emphatic, the invitations will be received by those who had already received authorizations to access a visa, but who had not yet been granted, so those who are just going to start the process with form 130, Its process may take a couple more months, since the quotas are assigned annually.
Frequent questions
Q. When will these new and updated family reunification parole processes begin?
A. We will begin sending out invitations for requests for consideration for these family reunification parole processes in June 2023.
Q. How will the Family Reunification Humanitarian Permit processes for Cubans and Haitians change?
A. We will update the Cuban Family Reunification Permits (CFRP) and Haitian Family Reunification Permits (HFRP) processes so that the process is generally completed online. For example, under these processes we will no longer require in-person interviews in Cuba and Haiti for all beneficiaries. We will continue to determine identity and eligibility on an individual, case-by-case basis and will conduct a security investigation.
Q. Will there be a fee for these new and updated processes?
A. No. There is no fee to apply for consideration under these processes.
Q. How long does the process take?
A. We will have more information on the time it takes to process once invitations are issued and processing begins.
Q. Can I file a Form I-134A on behalf of a beneficiary of my Form I-130 who is already in the United States?
A. No. These processes are intended to reunify beneficiary family members living outside of the United States with their US citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioner living in the United States. Under these processes, we will not consider for parole beneficiaries who are in the United States at the time the petitioner files Form I-134A.
Q. For which family members of the primary beneficiary of an approved Form I-130 can I file a Form I-134A under these processes?
A. Under these processes, you can only file Form I-134A for the primary beneficiary and the beneficiary’s immediate family members (your spouse and unmarried children under 21). You must file a separate Form I-134 A for each beneficiary.
Q. Will all petitioners of an approved Form I-130 who have qualifying relatives outside the United States receive invitations?
A. No. We will only send an invitation for petitions that are with the Department of State’s National Visa Center if the beneficiary has not been issued a visa, but a visa is expected to be available soon.
Q. If I have a pending Form I-130, can I receive an invitation?
A. No. Only certain petitioners whose Form I-130 is already approved will receive invitations to file Form I-134A on behalf of the primary beneficiary and immediate family members.
Q. Who can file Form I-130?
A. Only US citizens and lawful permanent residents can file Form I-130 on behalf of qualifying family members.
Q. I hope my family member is eligible to participate in these parole processes. What can we do to prepare before receiving an invitation?
A. If you are a petitioner or beneficiary of an approved Form I-130, make sure the Department of State’s National Visa Center has your current contact information, including mailing address. You can update your contact information by using the State Department’s Public Inquiry Form for the National Visa Center.
Q. How long will the parole period last?
A. Individuals paroled to the United States under these processes will generally be paroled for up to three years. However, determinations to grant temporary humanitarian parole are made on a case-by-case basis, and the duration of such parole may vary according to each person’s circumstances. After a person is paroled to the United States, they can apply for employment authorization while they wait for their immigrant visa to become available.
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