Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has announced on January 2, 2013, that effective immediately, non-citizens that are applying for a waiver of their unlawful entry can do so under certain requirements.

Under current law, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are not eligible to adjust status in the United States to become lawful permanent residents must leave the U.S. and obtain an immigrant visa abroad. Individuals who have accrued more than six months of unlawful presence while in the United States must obtain a waiver to overcome the unlawful presence inadmissibility bar before they can return to the United States after departing to obtain an immigrant visa. Under the existing waiver process, which remains available to those who do not qualify for the new process, immediate relatives cannot file a waiver application until after they have appeared for an immigrant visa interview abroad and the Department of State has determined that they are inadmissible.

The relief of the new process will reduce the amount of time U.S. citizens are separated from their qualifying immediate relatives. Normally, this process could take from six months to a year to complete. With these new provisions, applicants can stay in the U.S. until the government reviews each case, changing the amount of time spent away from your family to just a couple of days. Filing fee still remains $585. Take advantage of this useful information.