According to a final regulation, which was published on January 3, 2013, and takes effect on March 4, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting applications for provisional waivers of unlawful presence from certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. The waiver can be applied for by certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who entered the United States without inspection, or are otherwise ineligible to adjust their status in the United States due to unlawful presence, and must apply for immigrant visas (green cards) abroad in order to be admitted as lawful permanent residents.
For an in-depth look at the new regulation and its limitations, click here.