Embassy of the United States

DHS-USCIS

Parole

Advance Parole Documents

If you have lost or are not in possession of the unexpired Advance Parole Document that was issued to your prior to your departure from the United States, and need a replacement document, please contact the USCIS office in the U.S. at which the document was issued.  The USCIS Tegucigalpa office cannot issue you a replacement.

Humanitarian Parole

Humanitarian parole is used sparingly to bring someone who is otherwise inadmissible into the United States for a temporary period of time due to a compelling emergency.

USCIS may grant parole temporarily:

- To anyone applying for admission into the United States based on urgent humanitarian reasons or if there is a significant public benefit.
- For a period of time that corresponds with the length of the emergency or humanitarian situation.

Parolees must depart the United States before the expiration of their parole.  You may request an extension of parole, which must be approved by USCIS.  Parole does not grant any immigration benefits.

Requirements for Parole

- Anyone can file an application for humanitarian parole.
- You may file an application for parole if you cannot obtain the necessary admission documents from Department of State.
- You cannot use parole to avoid normal visa-issuing procedures or to bypass immigration procedures.  As noted above, there must be an urgent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit for the parole to be granted.
- To see if you can obtain the necessary admission documents from the Department of State, see the “U.S. Department of State Visa Information.”

Filing for Parole

For each Prospective parolee

1. Complete name, date and place of birth.
2. Occupation and current address abroad.
3. Relationship to sponsor.
4. Form I-131 (PDF - 196Kb) for each prospective parolee.
5. A fee of US$ 305 (in the form of a cashier’s check or money order).
6. Length of time for which parole is sough (parole is limited to a maximum time of 1 year).
7. Documents (copies only) which establish items numbered 1 through 5.

For the Sponsor

1. Complete name, date and place of birth.
2. United States immigration status.
3. Current address.
4. Occupation.
5. Statement of how, and by whom, medical care, housing, transportation, and other subsistence needs will be met for each prospective parolee.
6. An affidavit of Support (Form I-134) for each parolee.
7. Statement of why a U.S. visa cannot be obtained, including when and where attempts were made to obtain visas.
8. Statement of why a waiver of excludability cannot be obtained, including when and where a waiver was sought.
9. Copies of any approved visa petitions (Form I-171).
10. Statement of the emergent reason why a parole should be authorized.
11. Documents (copies only) which establish items 1 through 10.

Your application(s) cannot be processed until we have received all the above information.

Parole is not used to circumvent normal visa-issuing procedures, nor as an instrument to bypass preference immigrant visa availability.  Parole is an extraordinary measure, sparingly utilized to bring an otherwise inadmissible alien into the United States for a temporary period, due to a compelling emergency.

If you are represented by an attorney, he or she must file a Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative.

All requests for parole must be submitted to:

Department of Homeland Security/USCIS
Attn: Chief, Humanitarian Affairs Branch
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20529-2100

You will receive a written notice once we have received your application and again when your case has been decided.  If you do not receive a response within 120 business days, then you may contact the Parole Branch in writing at the address above.

If you are currently in removal proceedings or have been previously removed from the United States, you will need to submit your request to:

Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Office of International Affairs
Attn: Section Chief, Law Enforcement Parole Branch
800 N. Capitol St.
Washington, DC 20536

Parole Extension Request

We recommend that you file for an extension of parole at least 30 days before the expiration date on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.

To apply for an extension of parole with USCIS you must:

- Have received your humanitarian parole from USCIS.
- File a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, and on the first page write, “EXTENSION REQUEST” in big, bold letters.
- Include the filing fee.
- File a Form I-134, Affidavit of Support.
- Include current supporting documentation.
- Including a copy of your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, that you were issued upon parole into the United States.

You must submit requests for extensions of parole to the Parole Branch at:

Department of Homeland Security/USCIS
Attn: Chief, Parole Branch
20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 3300
Washington, DC 20529-2100

Denied Parole Requests

There is no appeal from denial of parole.  However, if there are significant new facts that are relevant to your application, you may submit new documents with updated supporting evidence following the “Filing for Parole” procedure outlined above.

Last updated: 10/08/09