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WASHINGTON — The Obama administration eased the way Wednesday for illegal immigrants who are immediate relatives of American citizens to apply for permanent residency, a change that could affect as many as 1 million of the estimated 11 million immigrants unlawfully in the U.S. A new rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security aims to reduce the time illegal immigrants are separated from their American families while seeking legal status, immigration officials said. Beginning March 4, when the changes go into effect, illegal immigrants who can demonstrate that time apart from an American spouse, child or parent would create “extreme hardship,” can start the application process for a legal visa without leaving the U.S. Once approved, applicants would be required to leave the U.S. briefly in order to return to their native country and pick up their visa. The change is the latest move by the administration to use its executive powers to revise immigration procedures without Congress passing a law. In August, the Obama administration launched a program to halt the deportation of young people brought to the U.S. unlawfully as children. The new procedures could reduce a family's time apart to one week in some cases, officials said. In recent years a few relatives of U.S. citizens have been killed in foreign countries while waiting for their applications to be resolved. “The law is designed to avoid extreme hardship to U.S. citizens, which is precisely what this rule achieves,” said Alejandro Mayorkas, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, in a statement. “The change will have a significant impact on American families by greatly reducing the time family members are separated from those they rely upon,” he said. Until now, many immigrants who might seek legal status do not pursue it out of fear they will not receive a "hardship waiver" of strict U.S. immigration laws: An illegal immigrant who has overstayed a visa for more than six months is barred from reentering the U.S. for three years; those who overstay more than a year are barred for 10 years. The new rule allows those relatives to apply for the waiver without first leaving the U.S. Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-pn-obama-illegal-immigration-residency-20130102,0,2322646.story

Solutions that make people return to their place of birth is extremely dangerous. For one, there's no guaranteed time that you will be returning right away. It can take months! Even a year and that's something they don't tell you. Second, a lot of people think because you live in the US you are rich which can lead to be robbed and/or killed. While this is a great opportunity, it is also risky and I don't think it is worth it.

I got approved today as well...

ok guys just got APPROVED today!!!! yay!!! good luck to everyone hopefully ya'll get something soon!!! erica22- i live in tx hope you get yours soon!! jerzaim - good luck!! i'm sure you'll hear something soon!

I've noticed that we all come from different parts of the country, yet one thing ties us all together... our status. Reading all the stories on here makes me feel like "damn... someone feels my pain" I've been in the US since I was three. Growing up my parents told me we weren't "legal" , but I was a kid. I didn't really understand the seriousness of the topic. I guess it didn't start to affect me until my high school years, where I realized "OH.. this is serious problem" lol. All of my friends were getting their permits then licences. Of course I was asked when are you getting yours? I would always have to come up with some stupid lie. (not to mention, I absolutely hate liars.. but I guess in my case sometimes it's necessary) I've distanced myself from a lot of people. Everyone started getting cars, jobs, going clubbing every weekend..etc. I hate to constantly turn down friends. I've been in a relationship for four years and he still doesn't know about my status. I just can't bring myself to tell him, I don't want pity or worse.. rejection. Looked down upon because of something that I had absolutely no control over. I'm nearly positive he won't mind but then I don't know how he'll take the fact that I've been basically lying to him. He's been bugging me to get my license for the longest. And, of course I've been wanting too. I hate depending on people, and for rides it's always the same.. Only one person knows, a friend that I've had since middle school. The only reason she knows is because she started asking questions and my mom was the one that told her. She was shocked, but definitely supportive. (She was born here, but here parents recently were able to finally fix their situation and become residents). Everyone that knows me automatically assumes I was born here. My two youngest brothers were (lucky them) lol.. sure saved them from a lot of problems!! -- Don't know if you guys will read because it's long, I don't blame you lol. Just wanted to do some venting, because I never really have to anyone before. Only God. May this year bring many new opportunities !! God bless

Sooo my brother got approved around November... I lost hope about getting anything (until 2013) around late December. We got our biometrics done around Sep & I had to get mine re-done -__- I went on October 2. On Dec 31 I got a text saying that I was approved & they had mailed my card!! Honestly took me by surprise. I waited longer than my brother and the wait was killllling me... So I tried to keep myself as busy as possible and literally tried not to think about it. For those still waiting, think positive. We're one step closer !!!! Next step is getting my SS and then drivers license... FINALLY!

idk but you should deffenetly give them a call! Best of luck!

Yo what if... That's the reason why your case is taking too long! Maybe because they sent it to the wrong service center??? Idk just a thought/theory...

this "new" rule has been around for years and years. proving the extreme hardship is the hard part in the whole thing. there are 2 ways to apply for it. while said person is in the US or while said person is outside of the US. the process is hard and that is why not a lot of people apply for it. i wish the White House would stop taking old ideas and make them sound "new" it helps no one.

My personal opinion is that Nebraska is one of the quickest centers..

Hey I'm new to the site and anxiously waiting for my case to approve.

I did my biometrics on 10/11 and I'm still not approved! We just have to wait! I'm sure January is our month dude! Don't worry!

Okay kid, first, I don't need you to teach me about differences about anything. Thank you very much you don't impress me. Second, when I said attacking I was referring to you. Just because you don't like the way he thinks or what he says even if you're against it you don't have the right to insult him. You called him a piece of shit? If you look at others topics in here, people talk about whatever they want randomly. You mad kid, how about you start making your points by being respectful in the first place. An educated person doesn't need to insult people. If someone is ignorant you simply ignore them, you can't change people. You got problems. You're in the wrong forum. I have seen many posts, many things that have been said here. Just because I don't like the way they think it doesn't mean I can go ahead and insult them.

@JayhOR24 lol i have the same problem !!!! everyone that meets me thinks i`m Asian !!! i hate it !! specially when a Latino ask me where am i from ! i`m like (Wey soy Mexicano y tu Culero ? ) lol

Florida goes to Vermont, and down my signature is my timeline, been waiting for long.

I knw hopefully we all get approved soon gosh!!!!!!

Many people are right... I have been waiting since Sep 13th, the day of my bios. I have called a couple of times, and even reached the next level of customer service. I was told that everything was in order, and that I just needed to wait. Also, I mentioned that I couldn't check my status online and they told me that I would not be able do it. Bottom line: all we can do is wait. But whenever we get it, we gon' be like:

Santi I feel the same way.... I am doing my best to stay positive.

...Whenever I check my e-mail and no notice from USCIS whatsoever...

You have to let it go to God. Focus like you were before. And within a blink of an eye....BAM!Im saying...it comes like a car crash, when you least expect it.

I told my BEST friend a few years ago and she was amazingly supportive about it and it was so great to have her as a shoulder to lean on throughout my process and someone else to celebrate with when I got approved... My boyfriend also knew a few months into us dating... As for the rest of my friends, I'm not sure if I will tell them personally... one of my friends is majorly conservative and anti-illegal immigration (her family is hardcore republican)... But soon I believe my sister and I are coming out in a few major newspapers in my state because of a certain situation we're working on in our town that we're concerned about... I spoke with some civil rights groups and they want to put the info in the paper and asked if we were willing to disclose our own stories and we said yea... A lot of ppl in my (extremely small) town know and love our family... At the same time, though, a lot of them really do believe we're all here legally... So I am a little scared about some reactions to the news but at the same time mi mama always told me to hold my head up high and that ppl have to like me for who I am so I will definitely go through with it... But as for being scared and feeling its not necessary for ppl to know... I definitely understand that too!!!

This is hard, mainly because all my friends think I'm a permanent resident. I've been in the US for 11+ years and everytime we are in the topic they always say I'm a permanent resident since they are all on working visa. I never denied or accepted, I just smiled and went on doing what I was doing. I don't think it is really needed, legal status shouldn't matter if your friends truly care about you.

I think they should just pass the DREAM Act so we dont have to be doing this every 2 years....

You guys I feel like we should compile our personal experiences on what is like to be a young immigrant brought to the US without a choice in a memoir. Some ignorant people think it is black or white when it comes to illegal immigration but we are evidence of the gray areas in this issue. Living a lie is not easy especially when people ask simple questions or even when just filling out a simple medical form. I feel like for those who choose to keep it as a secret -myself included- every single day there is something that reminds us of the uncertainty and mistery of the life as an illegal immigrant. I am so thankful for this opportunity. It has been such a long time since I felt real.