USCIS Message to Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA) Dependent Children

USCIS has updated the following section of the website: Green Card for a Haitian Refugee, which relates to the Haitian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (HRIFA). USCIS reminds HRIFA dependent children approaching their 21st birthday to file their Application for Adjustment of Status, Form I-485, as soon as possible and to write “expedite” on the mailing envelope and application form. Please note that dependent children become ineligible for permanent residence as the “child” of a principal applicant if their case is not decided before their 21st birthday.

As noted on the website, principal applicants filing a Request for Advance Parole, Form I-131, for a dependent child outside of the United States, are also reminded to file as early as possible. The request for advance parole must be processed and the travel document issued in a sufficient amount of time to allow:

• The dependent to travel to the United States;
• The dependent to file a HRIFA adjustment application (Form I-485); and
• USCIS to completely adjudicate the application before the dependent's 21st birthday.