New Government Program Will Help Some Haitians Immigrate to the United States Faster

Under this program, certain eligible Haitian beneficiaries of approved family-sponsored immigrant visa petitions, who are currently in Haiti, can come to the United States as early as two years before they are eligible to receive permanent residence. In other words, they will be “paroled” into the U.S. to be with their families until the green card is available.

“The rebuilding and development of a safe and economically strong Haiti is a priority for the United States. The Haitian Family Reunification Parole program promotes a fundamental underlying goal of our immigration system – family reunification. It also supports broader U.S. goals for Haiti’s reconstruction and development by providing the opportunity for certain eligible Haitians to safely and legally immigrate sooner to the United States,” said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “The United States strongly discourages individuals in Haiti from undertaking life-threatening and illegal maritime journeys to the United States. Such individuals will not qualify for the HFRP program and if located at sea may be returned to Haiti.”

In early 2015, the Department of State National Visa Center (NVC) will begin contacting qualified U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents with approved petitions for Haitian family members, offer them the opportunity to apply to the program, and provide instructions on how to apply. Only individuals who receive a written notice of program eligibility from NVC will be eligible to apply.

The USCIS is not accepting HFRP program applications yet so if you believe you or a family member is eligible, DO NOT apply at this time. Instead, contact a qualified immigration attorney who can monitor the situation for you and help you apply at the right time.

And remember, only attorneys and accredited legal services can represent you before the government. The USCIS warns against scams so visit http://www.uscis.gov/avoid-scams for tips on filing forms, reporting scams, and finding accredited legal services. Remember, the Wrong Help Can Hurt!

To consult with one of our qualified attorneys, you are invited to call 214-393-4917 or email immigration@cowlesthompson.com.