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 is 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
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.
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; and
- After arriving in the US, the I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is FREE, 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:
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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