What is Humanitarian Parole?

Humanitarian parole allows an individual who may otherwise be inadmissible or ineligible for admission to the United States to come to travel to the U.S. due to emergency or public interest reasons.

If granted humanitarian parole, you will be permitted to remain in the US for a specified time frame long enough to fulfill the humanitarian need or to allow you to attend to an emergency. It is also important to note that parole is not a formal admission to the US. Therefore, you cannot obtain any permanent immigration benefit with humanitarian parole.

Reasons for humanitarian parole can range widely from war in your home country to life saving medical care that can only be obtained in the United States.

Examples of People Who Might Qualify for Humanitarian Parole

  • You are attempting to escape a humanitarian crisis in your home country;
  • You have an ill family member in the U.S.;
  • You wish to attend a funeral service in the U.S.; or
  • You require medical treatment in the U.S. for a serious illness

How to Apply for Humanitarian Parole

There are two primary forms you need to file to obtain this benefit:

  1. Form I-131, Application for Travel Document; and
  2. Form I-134, Affidavit of Support

You will also need the following evidence:*

  1. Written explanation of your urgent need to travel to the U.S. including why you are unable to obtain another visa;
  2. Evidence that you are able to pay for your trip;
  3. If requesting Humanitarian Parole due to country conditions provide documentation evidencing the situation like:

Humanitarian Parole as a Last Resort

Humanitarian Parole is not meant to circumvent normal visa processing times. For example if you are eligible for a B-2 Visitor Visa and simply do not want to wait to obtain one, USCIS will likely deny your application. However, if you have an urgent reason to travel and the long wait time for a B-2 visa will prevent you from obtaining life saving medical care or escaping dangerous country conditions, then humanitarian parole may work for you. However, the urgent need must be clearly spelled out and evidenced to USCIS so it is important that you consult with an immigration attorney to assist you with the application process or determine whether another option is available.

*This is not an exhaustive list

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