Parole in Place for Spouses, Parents, and Children

Parole in Place (PIP) is an immigration solution for immediate family members of U.S. military personnel or veterans to help them stay in the U.S. PIP clears the path to permanent residency as well. Recently, the Biden administration expanded access to PIP through the “Keeping Families Together” program. This has broadened eligibility for spouses and stepchildren.

However, getting approved for PIP is not easy. Every case is different, and whether your application will get approved depends on whether you meet specific criteria. For example, U.S. citizens’ spouses must be physically present in the country without formal entry and have continuously resided in the U.S. since June 17, 2014.

With so many laws to be careful about, you cannot risk it by trying to handle the situation all alone. If you are looking to reunite your family and secure your future in the U.S., reaching out to an immigration attorney from Vanderwall Immigration could be your best move. Meanwhile, read this article to learn more about PIP.

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Understanding the definition and purpose of PIP

Parole in Place (PIP) helps undocumented immediate family members of active-duty service members, veterans, or members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve. This was established to honor the sacrifices of military families and to allow them to live in the US without the fear of deportation.

There are three main purposes of PIP:

It allows families to stay together and removes the issues of immigration challenges.
Individuals who receive PIP gain temporary legal status, which protects them from deportation and even grants them a work permit.
PIP allows individuals a clear path to gaining permanent residency without having to leave the US.

What are the eligibility requirements for PIP?

Family relationship requirement

To be able to apply for PIP, one must have a qualifying relationship with a U.S. service member or veteran. The eligible relationships may include the following:

Spouses: The applicant must be legally married to a US military service member or veteran at the time of the application.

Parents: The applicant’s biological or stepparents must be a member of the US military or veteran, but this also depends on specific conditions.

Children: Unmarried children under 21 who are biological or adopted children of the service member or veteran qualify. Stepchildren may also qualify.

Military service requirement

Whether one would be eligible for PIP also depends on the military status of the family member. Here are the qualifications you need to prove:

Active duty: They should be currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces in any branch.

Selected Reserve: They should be Members of the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve.

Veterans: They should have served in the US military in the past without being dishonorably discharged.

What documents do you need to prove your military affiliation?

Applicants are required to provide certain documents to verify their relationship with the US military service member or veteran. You may provide the following:

A copy of the service member’s military ID (DD Form 1173).
Discharge papers (DD Form 214) or deployment orders.
Marriage certificates for spouses or birth certificates.
A birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or U.S. passport is required to prove the citizenship of the US military service member.

One of the most important aspects of a successful Parole in Place (PIP) application is providing the right documentation. When it comes to legal work, especially immigration, missing or incomplete information can set you back weeks or even months. Therefore, you require thorough preparation to ensure your application is not denied.

Keep your family together with PIP!

Gathering documentation, as well as making sure that you do not make errors and meet deadlines, can seem hectic. Being eligible for PIP does not always mean that your application process will be smooth. Hire an immigration attorney today!