Advance Copy of USCIS Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process

"On April 2, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule to amend its regulations to allow certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are physically present in the United States to request provisional unlawful presence waivers prior to departing from the United States for consular processing of their immigrant visa applications.  This final rule implements the provisional unlawful presence waiver process.  It also finalizes clarifying amendments to other provisions within our regulations.  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) anticipates that these changes will significantly reduce the length of time U.S. citizens are separated from their immediate relatives who engage in consular processing abroad.  DHS also believes that this new process will reduce the degree of interchange between the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and USCIS and create greater efficiencies for both the U.S. Government and most provisional unlawful presence waiver applicants." - FR Doc. 2012-31268 Filed 01/02/2013 at 4:18 pm; Publication Date: 01/03/2013.