If you are on the path towards US citizenship, you know this can be a long and drawn-out process. If you are currently seeking citizenship, you may want to be aware of a new process recently announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that grants US citizenship to certain groups of people already married to a citizen.
Under current law, if someone is married to a US citizen, they must apply for lawful permanent resident status. But in order to be granted permanent residence, many must first leave the US and then wait for their application to be processed abroad. This can result in a long and indefinite period of separation from their spouse and other family members, as well as uncertainty about the future.
To eliminate this issue, DHS introduced a process that allows for certain noncitizen spouses of US citizens to apply for permanent residence if they have lived in the country for a decade or more. In order to qualify, you must not pose a threat to public safety or natural security and must be otherwise eligible to apply for lawful permanent status. All cases are handled individually, so this new process, while beneficial, is no guarantee that spouses of US citizens will obtain US citizenship.
At Waldron Law Firm, PLLC, we are excited about what this new process means for families and their ability to remain together in the U.S. If you want to learn more about this new process and what it could mean for your family, contact us today.