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  • A Bureau of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security


    • HUMANITARIAN PAROLE

    What is Humanitarian Parole?
    Guidelines for preparing and submitting application packages for humanitarian parole
                  Attachment: Information about the Prospective Parolee(s)
                  Attachment: Information about the Sponsor
    Important Notes
    Frequently Asked Questions

    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
    425 I Street, NW
    ATTN: Parole and Humanitarian Assistance Branch
    Washington, DC 20536
    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:

        1. Complete name, date, and place of birth of the prospective parolee.
        2. The prospective parolee's occupation and current address abroad.
        3. The prospective parolee's relationship to his/her Sponsor.
        4. 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:

        1. Complete name, date, and place of birth of the Sponsor
        2. Indication of sponsor's United States citizenship or immigration status.
        3. Sponsor's full and complete current address.
        4. Sponsor's occupation
        5. 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.
        6. Statement of why a waiver of excludability cannot be obtained, including when and where a waiver was sought.
        7. Copies of any approved visa petitions for the sponsor (Form I-171)
        8. Evidence of relationship between the sponsor and the prospective parolee.
        9. Statement of emergent (urgent) reasons why a parole should be authorized. (i.e. documentation verifying medical condition, letter from treating physician etc.)
        10. 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