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Undocumented spouses can apply for legal status starting Aug. 19

green card sample
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
A sample of a U.S. Green Card.

A program unveiled by President Joe Biden for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens is set to open up in August.

The White House announced the process in June after months of calls from advocates.

The Department of Homeland Security estimates roughly 500,000 people could be eligible for the program — which allows undocumented spouses who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years to apply for legal status and even a pathway to citizenship.

Under the new policy, spouses can apply for a temporary status called parole-in-place. If approved, they’d be able to later apply for permanent residency and potentially, U.S. citizenship.

The Department of Homeland Security says Citizenship and Immigration Services will open up applications on Aug. 19 and begin assessing them after that. The agency says applications submitted before that date will be rejected.

More Immigration News

Alisa Reznick is a senior field correspondent covering stories across southern Arizona and the borderlands for the Tucson bureau of KJZZ's Fronteras Desk.