Humanitarian and significant public benefit parole
Parole is temporary permission to be physically in the United States without being admitted. It is used for urgent humanitarian reasons - a dying relative, a medical emergency, an organ donation - and for significant public benefit. It grants no status, and it is entirely discretionary.
Who it is for. People outside the United States who need to come temporarily for an urgent reason, and people inside who need parole in place or re-parole.
The forms, in order
- 1
File Form I-131 selecting the correct parole category in Part 1
- 2
Provide evidence of the urgency and of financial support
The I-134 is a declaration of support, not the enforceable I-864.
- 3
If USCIS recommends approval, pay the Public Law 119-21 Immigration Parole Fee
This fee cannot be waived, and it applies each time parole is sought at a port of entry.
- 4
Travel and be paroled in by CBP
CBP has final say at the port of entry even with an approved parole document.
- 5
Apply for a work permit if you need one
Ms. L. class members are exempt from the parole and parolee EAD fees as of February 5, 2026.
Where it goes wrong
- Parole is not status; time on parole does not count toward residence or naturalisation.
- Statutory exceptions to the Public Law 119-21 parole fee are narrow - medical emergency, organ donation, imminent death or funeral of a close family member, adopted children with urgent medical conditions, returning adjustment applicants, and a few others.
- Several country-specific parole processes were terminated in 2025, and existing parole grants were shortened.
- CBP can refuse parole at the port of entry despite an approved document.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- Public Law 119-21 created a non-waivable Immigration Parole Fee collected by CBP at the port of entry or by USCIS on conditional approval.
- As of February 5, 2026, that fee and the parolee EAD fees do not apply to Ms. L. v. ICE settlement class members and their qualifying additional family members.
- The CHNV parole processes for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela were terminated in 2025, and terminations of existing parole have been litigated throughout.