When a door closes, a window opens! Military Immigration used to be (1) expedited, (2) had international field offices to assist foreign service members, (3) had a military service center to assist in processing military-related filings, and (4) had a more personalized immigration experience. Due to budget cuts over the last 5 years, Agency staff reduction, and Covid Closures, special Service Member processing has been nearly forgotten. Now, this post will not announce a “revival” of the old ways, but it does address one major issue, the international separation of a service member and their family, and how to bring the family together ASAP.
In 2022, a new Military Immigration Option was created called IMMVI or spelled out: Immigrant Military Members and Veterans Initiative. IMMVI is a solution to bring a spouse or unmarried minor child to the US much quicker. This option has the potention of being a better alternative than:
- a tourist visa or any other nonimmigrant visa
- Consular processing under a CR-1 Visa or IR-1 Visa
- Illegal Entry into the US
But, IMMVI isn’t for every service member or veteran. Eligibility requirements must be met.
What kind of Service Members are eligible:
- Active Duty Service Members who are serving Honorably in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Space Force.
- Select Reserve Service Members who are serving Honorably in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Space Force.
- Veterans who served Honorably in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Space Force.
The Catch to fully meet eligibility under IMMVI:
The Service Member or Veteran must provide/prove:
- Documentation that supports Honorable Military Service such as:
- the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214),
- National Guard Report of Separation and Record of Service (NGB Form 22), or
- other official service or discharge document;
- Evidence of urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit; and
- Evidence of any additional favorable discretionary factors that you want to be considered.
To reiterate!!!!! Service Members and Veterans MUST MUST MUST have either an URGENT humanitarian reason or SIGNIFICANT public benefit.
Recipients of an IMMVI-based parole document/stamp also benefit by:
- Automatically receiving expediting processing;
- Special Immigration Officers who have been specially trained to coordinate with the VA;
- The I-131 IMMVI-based parole is FREE (for the service member-recipient, but spouses and unmarried minor children would have to pay a fee of $575 per person); and
- After arriving in the US, the I-765, Application for Employment Authorization costs $575 per person and is expedited, which this document allows (1) a US Social Security Card, (2) the ability to get a Driver’s License, (3) the ability to work or go to school, and (4) is a US Government-issued ID.
To summarize the super important benefits in other words:
- You can come to the US Quicker and the process is auto-expedited
- You can apply for Employment Authorization for free immediately after entering
- Your get more specialized handling by an Immigration Officer
If you are a service member or a veteran, and you desire to have your family be with you in the US, please contact our office to set up a Consultation.
Related Blog Posts:
IMMVI: How to Prove “Urgent Humanitarian Reason” or “Significant Public Benefit”
IMMVI: I’m Confused, can my Spouse immediately become a US Citizen after receiving IMMVI?
DEERS Office and the need for Apostille / Legalized Foreign Documents
Can my Military-Dependent Spouse get a Green Card and then US Citizenship?
INA 319(b) Naturalization Option: Spouses of U.S. Citizens Employed or Stationed Abroad
319(e) Naturalization: Overseas Naturalization Option for Active-duty Military Spouses and Children
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