The Department of State has amended immigration visa regulations to add a new symbol for an immigrant visa that is issued to a foreign national who is the parent of a current U.S. citizen or parent of a former U.S. citizen who lost or renounced U.S. citizenship within the past two years because of a domestic violence situation or death. This person should additionally be a person of good moral character, eligible to be classified as an immediate relative, lives or lived with the U.S. citizen daughter or son and has an approved petition from the Department of Homeland Security.
The Department of State currently identifies applicants for this status using the “IB5” symbol, which is a symbol used for parents of U.S. citizens who are at least 21 years old. The unique IB5 classification will enable the Department of State to identify applicants for this status in their various immigration visa information databases.
This rule takes effect on June 5, 2014.
