Visa waiver clears way for Frankfort salutatorian to return in time for graduation

FRANKFORT, Ind. (WISH) - Frankfort High School’s salutatorian, who has been stranded in Mexico for six weeks due to visa regulations , is going to return in time for graduation after all.

Elizabeth Olivas, 18, had worried she would still be stuck in Mexico when her class graduated this weekend. But Thursday, just before 3 p.m., her attorney Sarah L. Moshe said she was notified by the U.S. State Department that she had been granted a waiver to return home.

Olivas was born in Mexico but has lived in the U.S. since she was 4 years old. Immigration law required that she return to Mexico within 180 days of turning 18 to update her visa. Olivas missed that deadline by one day. Moshe told 24-Hour News 8 Wednesday that they had pushed the limit because they didn’t want to interrupt Olivas’ senior year any more than they had to.

The missed deadline, though, could have gotten Olivas banned from returning to the U.S. for three years.

But at the last minute, negotiations worked out to let her return home.

A few minutes after hearing the news, Olivas texted Moshe: “JUST GOT OUT VISA IN MY HANDS. IM COMING HOME! THANK YOU SO MUCH, IM SOO HAPPY!”

The news clears the way for her to graduate with the Class of 2012 on Saturday at Frankfort High School.