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 entry 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. Absent urgent circumstances, unless all other legal immigration avenues (such as applying for a non-immigrant visa) have first been exhausted by an alien, parole will not be approved. 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 following address:
Department of Homeland Security
USCIS
Attn; Chief, International Operations Division
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW 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 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 required to assure that the applicant will not become a public charge. (If the Petitioner is not eligible to file an I-134, a different Sponsor may be submitted with the required information below.)
A parole request should include information which is specific, verifiable and complete. Evidence of the claimed circumstances must also be enclosed.
Guidelines for Preparing and Submitting Application Packages for Humanitarian Parole
AN APPLICATION PACKAGE SHOULD CONTAIN ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:
A. Information on Each Prospective Parolee
Provide information on EACH prospective parolee; this should include:
1. Original Form I-131 Application for Travel Document completed and signed
A fee in the form of a cashier’s check for each prospective parolee. (Personal checks are not accepted.)
2. Complete name, date, and place of birth along with evidence of each prospective parolee’s identity in the form of copies of a Birth Certificate, Passport, or other “official” document issued by his/her home country. If the Beneficiary has experienced a name change, evidence of that name change must be provided in the form of copies of an “official” document issued by his/her home country (Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Adoption Decree, Court documents, etc.).
3. Occupation and current address abroad for each prospective parolee.
4. Evidence of the relationship between the Petitioner and I-134 Sponsor (if different) and each prospective parolee. This may be in the form of copies of a Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Adoption Decree, etc.
5. A detailed explanation of the emergent reasons that Humanitarian Parole is being sought by/for each prospective parolee and the length of time for which Parole is being requested (parole is limited to a maximum time of one (1) year).
6. If Humanitarian Parole is being sought for medical reasons, a detailed explanation from each prospective parolee’s medical doctor stating the diagnosis, prognosis, and the reasons why treatment cannot be obtained in the prospective parolee’s home country or neighboring countries. Additionally, a letter from the U.S. physician who has agreed to treat the Beneficiary along with a detailed explanation addressing the cost of and payment for the medical procedure/treatment in the US.
7. A detailed explanation of why a U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa cannot be obtained by each prospective parolee from the U.S. Department of State, including when and where attempts were made to obtain visas. If a U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa has been denied to a prospective parolee, a copy of the denial letter should be submitted. If no attempts to obtain a Non-Immigrant Visa were made, an explanation for this (i.e. – urgent, imminent medical need, etc.) should be included.
8. If applicable, a detailed explanation of why a Waiver of Ground of Inadmissibility cannot be obtained by each prospective parolee, including when and where a waiver was sought. If a waiver has been denied to a prospective parolee, a copy of the denial letter should be submitted.
9. Copies of any approved Immigrant Petitions (I-130, I-140, I-360) on behalf of each prospective parolee.
10. Evidentiary documents (copies only) establishing all statements in 1-9 above.
B. Information on the Sponsor
Provide information about the sponsor of the prospective parolee(s); this should include:
1. Original Form I-134 Affidavit of Support completed, signed, and notarized along with a copy of the Sponsor’s tax returns and W-2 statements (or 1099 if self-employed) for the preceding tax year for each prospective parolee.
2. Complete name, date, and place of birth along with evidence of the Petitioner’s and I-134 Sponsor’s (if different) identity in the form of copies of a Birth Certificate, Passport, or other “official” document issued by his/her home country. If the Petitioner and/or I-134 Sponsor (if different) has experienced a name change, evidence of that name change must be provided in the form of copies of an “official” document issued by his/her home country (Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Adoption Decree, Court documents, etc.).
3. Evidence of the Petitioner’s and I-134 Sponsor’s (if different) current immigration status in the United States. If the Petitioner and/or I-134 Sponsor (if different) is a native-born U.S. citizen, a copy of his/her U.S. Birth Certificate or U.S. Passport should be submitted. If the Petitioner and/or I-134 Sponsor (if different) is a non-citizen, evidence of lawful immigration status (i.e. - copy of Lawful Permanent Resident card, copy of U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa along with valid I-94, copy of pending/approved U.S. immigration benefits, etc.) should be submitted.
4. Current address and occupation for the Petitioner and I-134 Sponsor (if different).
5. Detailed explanation of how, and by whom, medical care, housing, transportation, and other subsistence needs will be met for each prospective 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, NW 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). See 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, NW Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20529
How long does it take to adjudicate an application?
Parole applications are generally adjudicated within 90-120 business days.
How can I find out the status of my application?
To check the status of your application, please contact the Humanitarian Assistance Branch, Washington, D.C. directly in writing. Please provide them with specific information about your application, such as the Case number of the Humanitarian Parole application, name and date of birth of the Beneficiary, the date of application, and a brief explanation of the emergent reasons for seeking Humanitarian Parole.
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)
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. However, if there are significant new facts that are relevant to your application for Humanitarian Parole, you may submit a new I-131 application for Humanitarian Parole to the above address with a new fee and supporting documentation.
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 accessed online, requested to be received by mail online, 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.
