Having a family member who is a United States citizen creates a variety of opportunities for citizens of other countries. There are visa and green card programs that are only available to the immediate family members of current citizens. However, the process of obtaining a green card can sometimes be so stressful that those who want to remain in the United States do not see the value of applying.
Traditionally, immediate family members of citizens requesting green cards or permanent resident status must do so in the country where they are citizens. They must attend an interview at the consulate or Embassy in that country before they receive permission to return to the United States and stay there indefinitely.
The separation from family members and uncertainty about the success of the process may deter people from pursuing citizenship. Thankfully, a recent executive order could help encourage the spouses and children of citizens to seek green cards.
What the Executive Order changed
On June 18th, 2024, President Joe Biden issued a relatively lengthy Executive Order discussing immigration issues. That order paved the way for important changes to existing immigration policies. Specifically, it removed the need to apply for a green card while residing in one’s country of origin.
The spouses and children of United States citizens no longer have to exit the country to obtain permission to stay in the country indefinitely. They can remain in the United States and stay with their families while requesting adjustment of their status to become permanent residents. This Executive Order could potentially affect up to half a million spouses of citizens currently living in the United States and as many as 50,000 children who could theoretically qualify for a green card.
Permanent resident status offers many benefits for spouses and children of citizens. They can work without seeking prior authorization. They also have better protection from removal than those who only have visas. Instead of needing to review and renew their documents every few years, permanent residents only have to submit new paperwork to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) every 10 years once they remove any conditional status.
Those pursuing family-based immigration may benefit from learning about recent changes to immigration policies. The new rules for the immediate family members of citizens could be beneficial to hundreds of thousands of people.
