President Biden Takes Steps to Bolster Family Unity and Boost the Economy
On Tuesday, July 18, 2024,
President Biden announced several actions to more efficiently apply for permanent lawful residence and certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas. The action came on the 12th anniversary of President Obama’s announcement of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provided legal status for roughly 800,000 young people.
Providing Stability to American Families
President Biden’s announced action will streamline how noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens can apply for permanent legal residence and eliminate the need for them to leave the country and wait to be processed abroad. Ultimately, this provides a straightforward path to lawful permanent residence for noncitizens who marry Americans while limiting family disruption and unnecessary stress.
Requests to be processed through the new action will be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, to be considered an individual must:
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Be present in the United States without admission or parole
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Have been continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024
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Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024
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Not pose a threat to public safety or security
Noncitizen children can also be considered for lawful permanent residence through this action. To qualify, they must:
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Be physically present in the United States without admission
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Have a qualifying stepchild relationship to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024
The average individual who qualifies for the process has lived in the U.S. for 23 years, and according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), roughly 500,000 noncitizen spouses in the U.S. could be eligible for the program, plus another approximately 50,000 children of these spouses.
Easing Employment Visa Process
President Biden also took steps to make it easier for certain individuals—including DACA recipients and undocumented noncitizens who have graduated from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education—to obtain certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas. According to DHS, this action will “give U.S. employers increased confidence that they can hire the talent they need, and that they will be able to quickly get to work.”
Promoting Families and Strengthening the Economy
In the end, President Biden’s recent actions will eliminate a cumbersome hurdle many face on the path to lawful permanent residence and help keep families together. It also opens the doors to employment for many talented and skilled individuals and injects valuable workers into a tight labor market.
GoffWilson Immigration
For more than three decades,
GoffWilson has been helping businesses and families navigate complex and ever-changing immigration laws. If you have a question about President Biden’s most recent immigration action and how it affects you, or any other immigration inquiries,
contact us. Immigration isn’t just what we do, it’s our passion!