Spouses of U.S. citizens may find it easier to stay in the country thanks to a Biden program called “Keeping Families Together.” If you are married to a U.S. spouse and want to stay in the country without going through needless bureaucratic steps, this program could prove incredibly useful. However, taking advantage of this program is not always easy – and families may need help from experienced Texas immigration lawyers to obtain green cards via Keeping Families Together. An immigration lawyer can guide you through this process from start to finish – ensuring you get the most out of Biden’s new policy before it is too late.
What is Keeping Families Together?
Keeping Families Together is an immigration program unveiled by the Biden administration in August of 2024. Under this program, spouses of U.S. citizens may find it easier to gain a green card. Under the previous system, these spouses were often forced to leave the country in order to participate in something called “Consular Processing.” Effectively, this required spouses to cross the border and go through a pointless bureaucratic process simply to satisfy the demands of a convoluted and needlessly complex system.
All kinds of horror stories emerged from this debacle. There were accounts of mothers being separated from their loved ones after crossing the border. These individuals followed the instructions closely – but they were rewarded with banishment from the United States. Families were torn apart, and spouses who had lived in the United States for years were prevented from returning. Note that this problematic system also affected stepchildren.
Thanks to Keeping Families Together, spouses and stepchildren are able to request something called “parole in place.” As the name suggests, this allowed them to pursue green cards without first leaving the country. The Biden administration predicts that 500,000 will become eligible for green cards under this system. Perhaps most crucially, this allowed family members to seek parole in place even if they never had permission to enter the country. Those on parole also received the same rights, minimizing the potential for legal issues and even deportation.
Requirements for Keeping Families Together
If you want to take advantage of this program, you must meet various requirements. If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen, you must have lived in the United States continuously since 2014. In addition, your marriage must have been legally valid since 2014. If you married someone who was not yet a U.S. citizen by June 17th, 2024, you may not be eligible for this program.
If you are a stepchild of a U.S. citizen, you must have been under the age of 21 on June 17th, 2024. In addition, you are ineligible if you were married before this date. Finally, you must have been continuously present in the United States since June 17th, 2024. Finally, you must show that you have a noncitizen parent who legally married a U.S. citizen before June 17th, 2024 – and before your 18th birthday.
Normal requirements for immigration programs apply. For example, you must show that you have a clean criminal record – although only some crimes may be “disqualifying.” You might need to submit to various vetting processes – including background checks and biometric analysis.
How Do I Apply for Keeping Families Together?
Your immigration lawyer in Texas can help you apply for this program. The first step is to file Form 1-131F – Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens. Note that you navigate this process online without printing out any forms. Simply create a “myUSCIS” account and pay the filing fee – which is $580. Fee waiver requests are not possible for Form I-131F.
After you gain approval under Keeping Families Together, you can immediately seek permission to work legally in the United States. You can do this by filing Form I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization. Note that you cannot apply for a work permit and Keeping Families Together at the same time. If you file Form I-765 online, you face a filing fee of $470. If you file on paper, the fee is $520.
Keeping Families Together Is Proving to Be a Controversial Issue in Texas
Keeping Families Together has encountered significant challenges in Texas. In September of 2024, the Eastern District Court of Texas extended a temporary halt of the program until later that month. However, applicants in Texas can still file applications under Keeping Families Together. With the “administrative stay” in place, the only challenge is that none of these applications will be approved.
The hope is that this challenge will only be temporary. However, there is no guarantee of what will happen in the future, and the District Court Judge apparently wants more time to review the legality of the program.
Texas is not the only state that has raised legal challenges against Keeping Families Together. 15 other States have filed similar lawsuits – claiming that the program “incentivizes illegal immigration” and causes various states to suffer significant financial losses. In addition, these states argue that the entire program is inherently unconstitutional.
This issue might take some time to clear up – but those seeking green cards through Keeping Families Together should receive clarification after the United States presidential election – if not before. Applicants may wish to speak with a lawyer for updates and guidance on this complex, developing issue. Again, it is still possible to submit applications.
Can a Dallas Immigration Lawyer Help Me Get a Green Card?
If you need a green card, Keeping Families Together may provide you with an important pathway to achieve this goal. However, it is important to note that this program represents only one potential route to permanent residence in Texas. There may be many other opportunities to discuss, and you can learn more about your options during a consultation with an experienced immigration lawyer in Dallas. Choose The Presti Law Firm today, book a consultation, and get started with an action plan.