Family Reunification – Could you or your relatives benefit?

The Family Reunification Program allows certain people living in the U.S. to sponsor relatives living in Columbia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras who wish to enter the U.S. lawfully and obtain work authorization here. The Biden administration recently announced that Ecuador will be added to the list of eligible countries as well.

Under the program, U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent residents who have filed I-130 petitions for permanent visas for their relatives in qualifying countries will receive an invitation to apply for Family Reunification Parole for the relative once the I-130 petition is approved. The U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident can also apply for Family Reunification Parole on behalf of the foreign beneficiary’s spouse and/or unmarried children under 21 years of age.

If the U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent resident decides they would like to support their relatives’ applications for Family Reunification Parole, the first step is to file an online application. Once the application is approved, the beneficiaries will be granted Parole, which allows them to enter the U.S. lawfully and apply for work authorization so they can work legally while they wait to become eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency.

The program is aimed at reducing the number of immigrants entering the U.S. illegally at the Southern Border and recognizes that many people from the qualifying countries are facing dangerous conditions there.

If you have submitted a visa petition for a relative in Columbia, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, or Ecuador, or if you’re considering filing a petition for a relative in one of those countries and are interested in learning more about the Family Reunification Parole program, we’re here to help. The attorneys at Bennett & Harker are here to support you on every step of your immigration journey.