I-131 Humanitarian Parole
Are you a foreign national facing a life-threatening situation in your country? You may be eligible for humanitarian parole. Form I-131 allows you to enter the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons.
A humanitarian parole request is a discretionary and temporary authorization. It does not make you a lawful permanent resident. USCIS will only grant temporary parole for the length of stay required by the specific humanitarian reason or emergency.
Consider Form I-131 as a way to bypass the regular visa requirements. The parole period expires after one year. That means you need to ensure you obtain lawful immigration status.
Requesting parole is a complex process. A consultation with a skilled immigration attorney may be beneficial.
Eligibility Criteria for Humanitarian Parole
To be eligible for the form I-131 application, you need to be outside the United States at the time of applying. You also need to have an urgent and compelling humanitarian need. Alternatively, you should have significant public benefit reasons. The reasons often vary based on individual circumstances. They include:
- Medical emergencies
- Family reunification: You need to join family members in the United States. They could be terminally ill or facing imminent death.
- Protection from persecution
- Assistance to the US government: You should provide important information to US authorities.
You shouldn’t have any visa options available. You need to prove that you’ve exhausted all options. These include all possible ways to obtain a visa or enter the United States legally. They are:
- Applying for refugee status
- Asylum
- Special immigrant visa (SIV)
- Diversity visa
You should intend to stay in the United States for a temporary period. You also need to show that you’ll return to your country once your parole expires.
You shouldn’t pose a risk to the public interest. You need to prove that you are not inadmissible to the United States on grounds like:
- Health
- Criminal history
- Security
- Fraud
- Previous immigration violations
- The law also requires you to provide supporting evidence. Furthermore, you’ll need to:
- Pay the filing fee
- Have sufficient financial support
Application Process for Humanitarian Parole Request
Here’s how to apply for a new humanitarian parole request:
Fill out Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
This is the main form required for humanitarian parole. You can fill it out yourself, or someone else can do it for you. Applicants can make online and offline applications. You can also get instructions on the USCIS official government website.
Fill out Form I-134, Affidavit of Support
This form shows that you have someone in the United States. They will support you financially during your stay if you don’t have sufficient funds. This person is called a sponsor. They should be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident. A sponsor can be a family member. They may fill out the form and provide proof of income and assets. The form and instructions can be found on the USCIS website.
Gather Supporting Evidence
This is the most important part of your humanitarian parole application. You need to provide a detailed explanation and evidence. These help you prove an urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reason to enter the United States.
You also need to provide evidence showing you meet the other eligibility criteria.
Some examples of evidence are:
- Medical records, letters from doctors, or hospital bills from a credible medical institution
- Birth certificate, marriage certificate, or death certificate of deceased family member
- Clear and legible copy of a police report, court documents, or letters from lawyers
- Newspaper articles, reports from human rights organizations, or letters from a U.S. government agency
- Passport, visa, or travel itinerary and other evidence
Pay the Filing Fee
Immigration law requires anyone applying for humanitarian parole to pay a fee of $575. You can pay online or by mail with a check or money order. You can find more information on how to pay on the USCIS website.
Submit Your Application
You need to send your application to the USCIS lockbox facility in Dallas, Texas. Address to USCIS Dallas Lockbox, USCIS, Attn: HP. at P.O. Box 660865 in Dallas, TX 75266-0865.
Remember to send one original and two copies of your application and evidence. You also need to send two passport-style photos of yourself and each person who applies with you.
How USCIS Evaluates a Parole Request
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can grant or deny humanitarian parole requests. The USCIS evaluates parole requests based on the following:
- Urgency and severity of your situation
- The available alternative relief or solutions
- How your entry will affect US interests and policies
- The credibility and relevance of your evidence
- Your consistency throughout your application
USCIS does not guarantee parole request approvals. It may decline your request even if you are eligible. That is because it has limited resources to grant parole requests. So they may have to operate on a case-by-case basis. That means that you need to prepare a strong and interesting application. It should demonstrate why USCIS should consider you.
Best Practices for Preparing a Strong and Complete Application
Here are some tips and best practices for preparing a strong and complete application:
Follow the Instructions Carefully
You need to read and follow the instructions. Fill out all the required fields. Remember to sign and date all the forms. Also, pay the correct fee, and send all the necessary documents. You should also ensure you use the correct address and format for your application.
Provide Credible and Relevant Evidence
You should only provide evidence that supports your claim. It should come from reliable sources. Avoid providing evidence that is irrelevant, outdated, or contradictory. Also, remember to provide translations if you present evidence that’s not in English.
Write a Declaration Letter
This letter explains your situation and why you need humanitarian parole in your own words. It should be clear, concise, and honest. The declaration letter includes the following information:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Country of origin
- Current location
- Reason for applying
- Purpose and duration of your visit
- Plan to return
It should also include any information not covered by the forms or evidence.
How an Immigration Lawyer Can Help
An immigration lawyer in Los Angeles can help you with humanitarian parole applications. Here’s how:
- They evaluate your eligibility and options
- They help gather and organize your documents and evidence
- They write persuasive arguments and letters to help your case
- They communicate with USCIS and other agencies on your behalf
- They can assist you with complex or urgent cases
If you need help with humanitarian parole, you should contact a USCIS Los Angeles lawyer. Are you looking for a Russian immigration lawyer? Contact us at Law Offices of Christopher Chaney. We tailor our services in Russian or Spanish to offer legal help.
