Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

QUESTION: I must get into the US and have been denied at every corner. Is there anything I can do?

Answer: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides a number of humanitarian programs and types of protection for individuals in need of shelter and/or aid from disasters, oppression, emergency medical issues and other urgent conditions. Humanitarian parole is one such program.

Humanitarian parole enables an otherwise inadmissible individual to enter the US temporarily due to a compelling emergency. USCIS may grant humanitarian parole based on urgent, compelling reasons, or to promote a significant public benefit. This parole does not confer any permanent immigration status, but does enable a recipient to apply for and receive employment authorization.

Humanitarian parole is typically granted for the duration of the emergency or compelling situation at issue. Anyone granted humanitarian parole must depart the US prior to its expiration date or risk negative immigration consequences. It is possible, however, to request while in the US, a re- parole of a previously accorded humanitarian parole period. Anyone can file an application for humanitarian parole, including the prospective parolee, a sponsoring relative, an immigration attorney, or any other interested individual or organization. Requests for humanitarian parole may only be accepted for individuals who are outside the US; unless such request pertains to a re-parole of a prior humanitarian parole granted at USCIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Answer: The legal foundation for humanitarian parole comes from the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section 212(d)(5)(A) of the INA states USCIS has discretion to parole an individual into the US temporarily under certain conditions for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit on a case-by-case basis.

Answer: You file a request for humanitarian parole using Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with the Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, to: Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, Attn: Chief, Humanitarian Affairs Branch, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Suite 3300, Washington, DC 20529-2100

Answer: Humanitarian parole applications are generally adjudicated within 90-120 business days from the time USCIS receives the application.

Answer: To check the status of your application, contact the Chief of the Humanitarian Affairs Branch at the above address. Please provide specific information about your application, such as the case number of the humanitarian parole application, the name, and date of birth of the petitioner, the date of application, and a brief explanation of the reasons for seeking parole.