On January 2, the Obama administration announced a rule change to allow undocumented immigrant spouses and children of U.S. citizens who entered the country without inspection to stay in the country while they ask the government to waive three- or ten-year bans on returning to the United States. Immigrants who get the waiver will still need to leave the country to complete visa paperwork, but will be able to leave without fear of being barred from returning for three or ten years. The rule, first proposed last year, goes into effect in March.
