At Goodfellow Air Force Base, many service members carry a quiet worry through training: a spouse or parent who came to the U.S. without inspection years ago. Military parole in place was created for exactly those families. It can let a relative stay in the U.S. lawfully and, in many cases, apply for a green card without leaving the country.
This guide explains who qualifies in 2026, how the process works and why many people searching for parole in place are finding outdated information. It was written by Lozano Law Firm, whose managing attorney, Alfredo Lozano, is a Marine Corps veteran and is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
First, Clear Up the Confusion
In June 2024, the federal government announced a civilian parole in place program for certain spouses of U.S. citizens, often called Keeping Families Together. On November 7, 2024, a federal court in Texas vacated it, and USCIS stopped accepting applications. That program is not available.
Military parole in place is different. It has existed for years, it was not part of that court case, and as of 2026 it remains available to qualifying military families. If you read online that parole in place is gone, check whether the article is talking about the civilian program. And if anyone offers to file you under the civilian program, walk away.
What Military Parole in Place Does
Parole in place treats a relative who entered without inspection as paroled into the U.S. That matters because a green card from inside the country generally requires a lawful admission or parole. With parole, a spouse of a U.S. citizen, or a parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older, can often apply to adjust status without traveling to Ciudad Juárez and without triggering the bars on returning that a departure can cause. Parole also protects the relative from removal while it lasts, usually one year at a time.
Who Qualifies
- The service member or veteran: active-duty members, members of the Selected Reserve and veterans who were not dishonorably discharged.
- The relative: a spouse, widow or widower, parent, or son or daughter of that service member or veteran.
- The entry: usually a relative who entered without inspection and is now in the U.S.
- Discretion: USCIS decides each request case by case, weighing the family’s circumstances and the relative’s history.
Learn more on our military parole in place page.
Who Counts as a Service Member or Veteran
Eligibility runs through the service member’s record. Active-duty members of any branch qualify, and so do members of the Selected Reserve, which includes drilling National Guard and reserve units. Veterans qualify if they served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve and were not dishonorably discharged. Military retirees are veterans, so their families can apply too.
How to Apply
- Prove the service. A military ID and orders or a letter from your command for current members; a DD-214 for veterans.
- Prove the relationship. Marriage or birth certificates that connect the relative to the service member.
- Prove identity and presence. The relative’s passport or other ID and evidence they are in the U.S.
- Complete Form I-131 using the current edition, marked as a military parole in place request, with passport photos.
- File with the USCIS field office that covers where the relative lives. For Goodfellow families in Tom Green County, that is generally the San Antonio Field Office.
- Wait for the decision, then move to the green card application if the relative qualifies.
There is no USCIS filing fee for the parole in place request itself. A separate federal parole fee, introduced in 2026 and adjusted each year, may apply when parole is granted, so confirm current fees before filing.
Evidence That Helps USCIS Say Yes
Because parole in place is discretionary, the file should give USCIS reasons to approve. Strong requests include proof of the family relationship and the service, plus evidence of the relative’s ties to the community, years in the U.S., role in the family and any hardship a separation would cause. A letter from the service member’s command and family photos over time can help. Any arrest needs certified court records and an explanation.
What Happens After You File
USCIS may schedule a fingerprint appointment or an interview at the field office, and decisions are usually mailed. If parole is approved, the relative receives a parole document, which becomes the key record for the green card application. Processing times vary by office, so plan for some waiting.
What Comes After Parole
Once parole is granted, many relatives can apply for a green card from inside the U.S. Spouses of U.S. citizens and parents of U.S. citizens age 21 or older are immediate relatives with no wait for a visa number. Spouses and children of permanent resident service members can benefit too, but they may have to wait for a visa number in their category. Read our guide to moving from parole in place to a green card.
What Parole in Place Cannot Fix
- The permanent bar. A relative who lived in the U.S. unlawfully for more than a year, or was deported, and then reentered without inspection generally cannot get a green card here even with parole.
- Certain criminal records that make a person inadmissible or weigh against discretion.
- Past fraud or misrepresentation findings, which may need separate waivers.
- Travel. Leaving the U.S. generally ends parole, so relatives should not travel without advice.
Deferred Action When Parole Does Not Fit
Parole in place is designed for relatives who entered without inspection. Relatives who entered with a visa and overstayed are in a different position, and USCIS can grant deferred action to certain military family members case by case. Deferred action does not lead to a green card on its own, but it can protect a relative from removal while the family pursues other options.
Why Goodfellow Families Should Start Early
Goodfellow is a training base. About half of the roughly 5,500 people there are students, and many move on within months. Because USCIS assigns cases by where the relative lives, a move can shift a case to a new office. Students should also plan around graduation dates, when moves happen quickly. Starting while you are stationed in San Angelo, with a plan for your next assignment, keeps the case from stalling. Our page for Goodfellow military families covers the other options, from citizenship for service members to spouse naturalization, and our guide to Texas military bases covers families stationed elsewhere.
Mistakes Military Families Make With Parole in Place
- Relying on articles about the civilian program. Its rules and its fate are different.
- Assuming veterans’ families do not qualify. Relatives of qualifying veterans can apply.
- Skipping the history review. A prior removal or permanent bar changes the plan.
- Filing with an old form edition. USCIS rejects outdated versions of Form I-131.
- Paying a notario to file. Only licensed attorneys and accredited representatives can give legal advice.
- Letting parole expire. Relatives still waiting for a visa number may need to request re-parole before it ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is parole in place still available in 2026?
Military parole in place is still available. The separate civilian program for spouses of U.S. citizens, called Keeping Families Together, was struck down by a federal court in November 2024 and is not accepting applications.
Can parents of service members get parole in place?
Yes. Parents are among the family members who may qualify, along with spouses, widows and widowers, and sons and daughters of active-duty members, Selected Reserve members and qualifying veterans.
Does parole in place give my relative a green card?
Not by itself. It grants parole, usually for one year, which can make a qualifying relative eligible to apply for a green card from inside the U.S. That application is a separate step.
How long does parole in place take?
It varies by USCIS office and by case. Complete requests with clear proof of service and the relationship avoid the most common delays.
Can my relative work while on parole?
Only with a work permit. Paroled relatives can apply for one, and a green card application can include a request for one as well.
What if I am deploying or moving soon?
Start before you go. We can prepare the request now and work with your spouse or relative while you are away.
Get Help From a Firm Led by a Marine Veteran
Parole in place can change a military family’s future, but only when it is filed for the right person, at the right time, with the whole history in view.
Alfredo Lozano is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a Marine Corps veteran and a member of the State Bar of Texas, the San Antonio Bar Association and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Our team serves Goodfellow families from our San Angelo office and military families across Texas.
Request a free case evaluation and tell us about your service and your family. We will explain your options, in English or Spanish.
