U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released an updated version of Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative on Feb. 28, 2017. The new version, dated 2/27/17, goes into effect April 28, 2017. Until then, petitioners may use either the new version or the one dated 12/23/16. The revision includes significant changes in the form’s length; the amount and type of data collected; the introduction of a new Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary; and a potential change in the filing process.

Beneficiaries of approved I-130 petitions who are from Iraq or Syria are now able to qualify to apply for refugee resettlement. The new program is called Priority-2 (P-2) Direct Access Program for Iraqi and Syrian beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative. The benefit is that these family members would gain access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, but the applicant would still need to meet the definition of a “refugee” and be interviewed and screened.