A news release from OneAmerica applauds the new Family Unity Waiver instituted by the Obama administration:
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it will begin a new process this year that will allow U.S. citizens’ spouses and children who are eligible for a green card to file their applications for family unity within the U.S. This new procedure will apply only to U.S. citizen spouses and children, who will still have to meet the burden of showing that a lengthy bar from the U.S. would cause their U.S. citizen spouse or parent “extreme hardship.” This welcome development will allow husbands, wives and children of U.S. citizens across Washington State and the nation to remain united with their family members while awaiting a decision on their waiver.
Click here for the full news release.
The Seattle Times has also published an editorial praising the Family Unity Waiver as “a better way for a nation of immigrants”:
Current law discourages illegal immigrants with an American family member from applying for legal residency because of a mandatory return to their nation of origin.
…
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the Department of Homeland Security would grant a provisional waiver before illegal immigrants return to their home countries to get their visas.
Before families were separated, the paperwork would be in process and the wait-time abroad would be dramatically reduced.
Click here for the full article.