By: Jennifer Fabian-Verzosa, Esq.

The program allows a Filipino World War II veteran or his/her surviving spouse to bring certain family member “beneficiaries” to the United States on “parole.” There must already be an approved I-130 Relative Petition for the family member, and their legally recognized relationship must have existed on or before May 9, 2016.

The PURPOSE of the program is to honor the thousands of Filipinos who bravely fought for the United States during World War II, by enabling their loved ones to come to the United States and care for them or their surviving spouses. Since family members of these veterans continue to wait many years for an immigrant visa to become available to them, the FWVP program essentially allows them to reunite with their veteran family member and “wait out” this time in the United States.

If the Filipino World War II veteran and spouse are both deceased, the family member may still be eligible for a self-petition.

WHAT KIND OF LEGAL STATUS IS “PAROLE?” Being “paroled” into the U.S. means the person can enter the United States for a certain period of time. Qualifying beneficiaries can remain for 3 years, with the possibility of reapplication if an immigrant visa is still not available to the family member at the expiration of parole.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS PROGRAM include an interview abroad (with USCIS or the US Embassy- both in Manila), background check, medical exam, and clearance by Customs and Border Protection at the port of entry. Parole is granted on a discretionary case-by-case basis, which means it depends on each person’s individual situation. It might seem a little daunting at first, but if you think about it, these are the same things required for an immigrant visa. The beneficiary does not have to return to the Philippines once a visa number becomes available. S/he can remain in the U.S. and apply for a green card!

While waiting for the immigrant visa, the family member of the veteran can also apply for work authorization , and reapply as needed.

This program will not be around forever, and as the veterans age, less people will be eligible for it. You can help Filipino World War II veterans by telling them about this program. It is also a good idea to consult with an immigration attorney to determine eligibility and to help ensure that applications are complete and accurate.

If you would like the attorney to speak about this topic at your next group event, please contact us to schedule: contact@law-jf.com

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