On November 15, 2013, the Department of Homeland Security issued a Policy Memorandum binding all U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) employees to allow for a reprieve for undocumented immigrants with close relatives who are active military members.  The new policy allows undocumented spouses, children, and parents of active duty members to process their paperwork from within the United States rather than having to leave the United States to process and thereby triggering a bar to re-rentry.  This program, called “Parole in Place” is discretionary, and thus an applicant’s past criminal conviction or other adverse factors will weigh into USCIS’ decision.

Parole will be given in one-year increments.  Certain immigrants will be able to adjust their status to a permanent resident and obtain a “green card” through the Parole in Place program, depending on the person’s immigration history.