Beginning March 4, certain immigrant visa applicants who are spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens (immediate relatives) and can show extreme hardship to the U.S. citizen relative can apply for provisional unlawful presence waivers before they leave the U.S. to apply for an immigrant visa abroad.  Other inadmissibility factors still apply.  The new process is expected to shorten the time U.S. citizens are separated from their relatives while they are abroad to obtain immigrant visas to become lawful permanent residents. Under current law, individuals who have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence while in the United States must obtain a waiver of inadmissibility to overcome the unlawful presence bars before they can return to the United States. To read more, click here.