'Keeping families together': immigration officials announce new parole guidelines

Immigration officials have announced new parole guidelines with the goal of "keeping families together."

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued the guidance on Friday, which took effect Monday, according to a USCIS press release.

The USCIS, which handles naturalization and immigration in the U.S., published a filing guide to facilitate "application for parole in place for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens."

Applicants eligible for parole must be present in the U.S.

Eligible applicants must also "have been continuously physically present" for 20 years if seeking parole as a noncitizen spouse or 10 years if seeking parole as a noncitizen stepchild, according to the guidance document.

Eligible applicants cannot "have any disqualifying criminal history" and cannot "pose a threat to national security and public safety."