Family Reunification Without Parents

The United States government is currently managing a complex legal and administrative landscape regarding the Family Reunification Parole (FRP) processes, which allow certain eligible beneficiaries to enter the U.S. While awaiting family-based immigrant visas.

These processes are available by invitation only to specific petitioners who have an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The program is limited to those filing on behalf of a principal beneficiary who is a national of Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, or Honduras, as well as their immediate family members.

Legal Challenges to Parole Termination

The FRP programs have recently been the subject of litigation following a December 15, 2025, Federal Register notice titled Termination of Family Reunification Parole programs for Colombians, Cubans, Ecuadorians, Guatemalans, Haitians, Hondurans, and Salvadorans.

On January 24, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a Preliminary Injunction Order in the case of Svitlana Doe v. Noem. This order stays specific parts of the termination notice, specifically those that would terminate individual parole and employment authorization previously granted to aliens who entered the U.S. Under FRP programs before their originally stated parole end dates.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stated that while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disagrees with the court’s decision, it is complying with the order pending further litigation. Parole termination notices sent to affected aliens in accordance with the December 2025 notice are currently stayed and not in effect.

Eligibility and Petition Process

The FRP process is designed to allow eligible beneficiaries to be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis. Invitations to participate are sent via mail or email to petitioners whose Form I-130 has already been approved.

Under U.S. Law, the definition of an immediate family member for reunification purposes typically includes the spouse, child, or parent of the person requesting reunification.

For U.S. Citizens petitioning for family members to receive permanent residence (Green Cards), the process begins with Form I-130. The categories of relatives for whom a U.S. Citizen may petition include:

• Spouses
• Children who are unmarried and under 21
• Sons and daughters who are married and/or 21 or older
• Parents, provided the petitioning citizen is 21 or older
• Siblings, provided the petitioning citizen is 21 or older

Visas are always available for immediate relatives of U.S. Citizens, meaning these specific family members do not have to wait in line for a visa to become available.

Alternative Visa Pathways

Beyond permanent residency, U.S. Citizens may petition for other types of entry. These include fiancé(e) visas for individuals residing outside the United States and their children under 21, using Form I-129F. K-3/K-4 visas may be sought for spouses and the unmarried children of spouses under 21.

The FRP program serves as a specific mechanism for those from the seven designated nations to enter the U.S. Temporarily while the broader immigrant visa process continues.