On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, President Biden announced executive actions that will allow certain noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens to obtain work authorization and lawful permanent resident (LPR) status.
A second executive action will provide eligible DACA recipients and other Dreamers with a path to receive a work visa.
The first will allow eligible noncitizen spouses and children to apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the US. Noncitizens must have resided in the U.S. for 10 or more years as of June 17, 2024, and be legally married to a U.S. citizen and satisfy all other legal requirements.
Approved applicants will have a three-year period to apply for permanent residency and will be eligible for work authorization during this time. This initiative is anticipated to protect approximately half a million spouses of U.S. citizens and around 50,000 noncitizen children under 21 whose parent is married to a U.S. citizen.
The second executive action recognizes the importance of retaining educated individuals within our workforce. The Administration is facilitating the visa process for graduates of U.S. institutions who have job offers related to their degrees. This includes DACA recipients and other Dreamers.
Individuals with degrees from accredited U.S. institutions and job offers in their field of study will more quickly receive work visas. This initiative aims to ensure that those educated in the U.S. can use their skills to benefit the country.
Further details of the programs are expected in a Federal Register notice. The timing of the notice publication is not known and could be several weeks or more.