Humanitarian Parole

What is Humanitarian Parole?

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security may, in his discretion, parole into the United States temporarily, under such conditions as he may prescribe on a case-by-case basis, for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, any alien applying for admission to the United States.

Humanitarian Parole cannot be used to circumvent normal visa-issuing procedures, nor as an instrument to bypass preference immigrant visa availability or processing for refugee status. Parole is an extraordinary measure, sparingly used to bring an otherwise inadmissible alien into the United States for a temporary period of time due to a very compelling emergency.

Note that Humanitarian Parole can only be requested for persons who are outside of the U.S. Requests for Humanitarian Parole must be submitted to the the following address:

Department of Homeland Security
USCIS
Attn; Chief, International Operations Division
20 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20529

To expedite the processing, the use of express mailing is recommended.


Aliens in Canada must submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document to the Director of the office that has jurisdiction over the area where the alien intends to enter the United States.


A request for humanitarian parole may be submitted by anyone and should be submitted on Form I-131, Application for Travel Document . There is a filing fee for filing applications for humanitarian parole. Additionally, Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, is also needed to assure that applicant will not become a public charge. A parole request should include information which is specific, verifiable and complete. Evidence of the claimed circumstances should also be enclosed.

 

Guidelines for preparing and submitting application packages for humanitarian parole

APPLICATION PACKAGE SHOULD CONTAIN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

1.  INFORMATION ON EACH PROSPECTIVE PAROLEE

  • Provide information on EACH prospective parolee; this should include:

a.  Complete name, date, and place of birth of the prospective parolee.

b.  The prospective parolee's occupation and current address abroad.

c.  The prospective parolee's relationship to his/her Sponsor.

d.  The length of time for which parole is requested. (REMINDER: Parole is limited to a maximum time of 1 year).

  • A fee (in the form of a cashier's check. NOTE: personal checks are not accepted).
  • Completed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document for each prospective parolee.

 

2.  INFORMATION ON THE SPONSOR

  • Provide information about the sponsor of the prospective parolee(s); this should include:

a.  Complete name, date, and place of birth of the Sponsor
b.  Indication of sponsor's United States citizenship or immigration status.
c.  Sponsor's full and complete current address.
d.  Sponsor's occupation
e.  Statement of why a U.S. visa cannot be obtained instead of having to apply for humanitarian parole, including when and where attempts     were made to obtain visas.
f.  Statement of why a waiver of excludability cannot be obtained, including when and where a waiver was sought.
g.  Copies of any approved visa petitions for the sponsor (Form I-171)
h.  Evidence of relationship between the sponsor and the prospective parolee.
i.  Statement of emergent (urgent) reasons why a parole should be authorized. (i.e. documentation verifying medical condition, letter from treating physician etc.)
j.  Statement of how, and by whom, medical care, housing, transportation and other subsistence needs will be met for each prospective parolee.

Completed Form I-134, Affidavit of Support for each parolee.


Important Notes

  • Applications cannot be processed until all documentation has been received.
  • All supporting documentation must be included with the application at the time it is submitted to the USCIS.
    • The applications should be mailed directly to the following address:

Department of Homeland Security
USCIS
Attn: Chief, International Operations Division
20 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20529


Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find the law?
The legal foundation for Humanitarian Parole comes from the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). INA 212(d)   (5) (A). INA 212 states that the Attorney General (this authority was transferred to the Secretary of DHS) in his discretion may parole into the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.

Where do I file a request for humanitarian parole?

Department of Homeland Security
USCIS
Attn: Chief, International Operations Division
20 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20529

How long does it take to adjudicate an application?
Parole applications are generally adjudicated within 60 - 90 business days.

How can I find out the status of my application?
To check the status of your application, please contact the Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch, Washington, D.C. directly in writing. Please provide them with specific information about your application.

Can Humanitarian Parole applications be adjudicated for individuals currently in the United States?
Request for humanitarian parole can only be accepted for individuals who are currently outside of the United States. (See our Web page on Advance Parole)

What types of Humanitarian Parole cases are adjudicated at the Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch?
The Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch adjudicates all requests for humanitarian parole.

How will I be notified if my request is approved?
If you are the petitioner, you will receive a written notice once your application has been adjudicated.

How long are Humanitarian Paroles approved for?
Humanitarian paroles are granted for a period of time to coincide with the duration of the emergency or humanitarian situation that forms the basis for the request. There is a maximum time limit of 1 year.

Who can file an application for humanitarian parole?
Anyone can file an application for humanitarian parole to include the prospective parolee, a sponsoring relative, an attorney (G-28 must be included), or any other interested individual or organization.

What can I do if my case is not approved?
The denial of a request for humanitarian parole is a discretionary determination based upon a comprehensive review of all of the circumstances in each case, as presented in the documentation. There is no statutory provision for appeal. If there are new facts that you would like considered however, a new submission may be sent to the Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch as a new case for consideration, with a new filing fee.

Where can I receive forms for filing a Humanitarian Parole?
USCIS Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document and I-134, Affidavit of Support, can be requested online or ordered by calling USCIS Forms request line at 1 (800) 870-3676 or by submitting a request through the forms by mail system. After receiving Forms I-131 and I-134, read them carefully and note the documentation that must be submitted. Detailed information is provided in the instructions for Forms I-131 and I-134.