​Afghan Nationals Can Now Apply for Fee-Exempt Re-Parole and Employment Authorization Documents Through a New Streamlined Process Online or By Mail Effective June 9, 2023.

Beginning June 8, 2023, Afghan nationals paroled into the United States on or after July 31, 2021, with an “OAR” or “PAR” class of admission can now apply for an additional two-year period of parole, or re-parole, and for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) (or EAD renewal) without paying a fee. The new streamlined and fee-exempted application process is available only to self-filers through the USCIS online account or by filing a paper application.
What You Need to Know
What form should I use to file for re-parole under this streamlined fee-exempt process?
File Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, either online or on paper and indicate that you are filing on behalf of yourself (Part 2, Item 1.e. on the paper form). If you are filing on paper, use Form I-131 with an edition date of 06/06/23 or 10/31/22. (Note that after 08/08/2023, you may only file the 06/06/23 edition of Form I-131.)
For detailed instructions on how to file, visit the Re-Parole Process for Certain Afghans webpage. We have also developed an informational video on how to file for re-parole through the USCIS online account.

How much is the filing fee for re-parole under this process?
There is no filing fee under this process available to self-filing Afghan nationals paroled from June 9, 2023, through July 31, 2024.

Can I request an EAD at the same time I apply for re-parole?
Yes, if you are self-filing (Item 1.e. in Part 2).

Do I need to file a separate Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request an EAD?
No. If you are self-filing, you can request an EAD on Form I-131 without a filing fee.

Do I need to file any other forms to apply for re-parole?
No. If you are self-filing, you only need to file Form I-131 to apply for re-parole. We have revised Form I-131 so you do not need to file a separate Form I-765.

What if I already submitted (or someone submitted on my behalf) a Form I-131 to request re-parole?
You may submit a new request using the streamlined process announced in this message to receive the fee exemption and concurrent EAD processing. If you submit a new request under this streamlined process, you may withdraw your pending request by emailing HumanitarianParole@uscis.dhs.gov. Please include your receipt number that begins with “IOE” and put “Afghan Re-Parole” in the subject line of your message.
If you choose not to withdraw your previous request, your pre-June filing for re-parole may take longer to process, and you will need to submit a separate Form I-765 to request a new EAD only after we first approve your Form I-131.

What if I have submitted an asylum application or an application to adjust my status to that of a lawful permanent resident?
Afghan parolees who apply for asylum or for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status (such as adjustment of status as a special immigrant) before the expiration of their initial parole period do not need to apply for re-parole under this streamlined process. DHS will consider, on a case-by-case basis, providing an extension of your original parole period based on your pending asylum or adjustment of status application. If approved, we will also extend your original employment authorization and send a Form I-797C, Notice of Additional Action, to your last address of record with USCIS. If you want an actual updated EAD card, you may file Form I-765, using category c(11), which will be fee-exempted and processed as part of this streamlined re-parole application process. 

What Documents Do I Need to Apply?
You must submit at least one government-issued identity document that shows your photo, name, and date of birth. Examples of acceptable documents include:

• A copy of both sides of a Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, from USCIS or a driver’s license from the state government where you are living.
• A copy of your passport, including the biographical page and visas issued from any country.
• A copy of both sides of your Tazkira.

If you do not have any government-issued identity document, either because you lost your document or never received one, list your father’s and mother’s first names and explain why you cannot provide a Tazkira.
If you submit any document containing a foreign language to USCIS, you must also submit a full English language translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate, with certification from the translator that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.

Consider Applying Online
By applying for re-parole through a USCIS online account, you can prevent common mistakes such as a missing signature, missing pages, or an incomplete application. These issues may be why we reject some applications filed on paper. Through a USCIS online account, you can check the status of your case, access notices sent by USCIS, communicate with USCIS, update your address, and respond to Requests for Evidence.
We have resources in Dari and Pashto to guide you through the steps to set up your free online account.

• How to Create an Online Account video, flyer, webpage in Dari.
• How to Create an Online Account video, flyer, webpage in Pashto.
• We have also posted helpful materials from our national engagements on re-parole in the Electronic Reading Room on our website.

If you need technical support with your new account or an existing account, please visit my.uscis.gov/account/v1/needhelp.
Top 3 Questions
Q1: How can I check if I have an OAR or PAR class of admission to apply for re-parole through the new fee-exempt application process?
A1: If you received Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, when you were paroled into the United States, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form I-94 website to view and print a copy of your Form I-94, which will show your class of admission. CBP has instructions on how to look up your current I-94 in Dari and Pashto.
If you are an Afghan national paroled into the United States on or after July 31, 2021, and you did not receive an “OAR” or “PAR” class of admission on your Form I-94, please email CBP at oawi94adjustments@cbp.dhs.gov to update your class of admission, if appropriate, before submitting your re-parole request.
Q2: I have a pending application for asylum. Can I still apply for re-parole?
A2:  Afghan parolees who apply for asylum or for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status (such as adjustment of status as a special immigrant) before their initial parole period expires do not need to apply for re-parole under this streamlined process. In recognition of the continued urgent humanitarian reasons and significant public benefit underlying your original parole grant and the time necessary for you to accomplish the purpose of your parole and regularize your immigration status, DHS plans to consider you on a case-by-case basis for an extension of your original parole period. If approved, we will extend your original employment authorization and send a Form I-797C, Notice of Additional Action, to your last address of record with USCIS. If you want an updated EAD card, although your I-797C will already serve as employment authorization, you may file Form I-765 using category c(11), which will be fee-exempted and processed as part of this streamlined re-parole application process.
Q3: I filed Form I-765 before the new streamlined application process was ready. Do I still need to apply for re-parole?
A3: Yes. Form I-765 only assesses your eligibility for an EAD and does not grant you re-parole. You must file Form I-131 under this streamlined application process to request re-parole. Please note that after your initial parole expires, you no longer have authorization to be present in the United States unless you have been granted re-parole or another status such as asylum or Temporary Protected Status. Individuals with pending asylum applications or applications to adjust their status to lawful permanent residence may remain in the United States until their case is adjudicated and they receive their decision.


​Effective June 9, 2023, through July 31, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will consider, on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, a two-year extension of the original parole period for Afghan parolees who have already applied for asylum or for adjustment to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (such as adjustment of status as a special immigrant). This is in recognition of the continued urgent humanitarian reasons and significant public benefit underlying the original parole grant and the time necessary for Afghan parolees to accomplish the purpose of their parole and regularize their immigration status. These Afghan parolees who have already applied for asylum or LPR status do not need to apply for re-parole.  If approved, USCIS will extend their original employment authorization and send a Form I-797C, Notice of Additional Action, to their last address of record with USCIS.   
If these Afghan parolees require an updated Employment Authorization Document (EAD) in addition to the Form I-797C, they may file a fee-exempt Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS under category c(11).  
We understand the need for re-parole to provide continuity in lawful presence and the ability to work and support one’s family while pursuing a more permanent immigration status. For this reason, certain Afghan parolees in the United States who have not yet filed for any immigration benefit, or who have applied for a temporary benefit such as Temporary Protected Status, may now apply for re-parole and employment authorization through a new streamlined and fee-exempted application process that is available online and on paper.  USCIS will exempt application fees for these applicants for re-parole by using Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. These applicants who self-file for re-parole will also be able to request an EAD using the same Form I-131.  
USCIS will accept and consider, on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, re-parole requests under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act from certain noncitizen Afghans paroled into the United States. Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States from July 31, 2021, through June 8, 2023, and have an “OAR” or “PAR” class of admission on their Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, are eligible for the fee exemption from June 8, 2023, through July 31, 2024. This reflects the DHS’s commitment to providing Afghan nationals with a streamlined process to request re-parole and an EAD. 
The process to request fee-exempt re-parole for certain Afghan nationals will be available both online and via paper filing. A new Re-Parole Process for Certain Afghans webpage will provide information on the process and step-by-step instructions on how to apply for re-parole. 

• To apply for fee-exempt re-parole and an EAD on the 06/06/23 edition of Form I-131, the applicant must: 
  • Select “I am outside of the United States, and I am applying for Advance Parole Document” on the paper application in Part 2, Item 1.e.; 
  • Mark “Y” for the question, “Are you applying for re-parole?”; and 
  • Mark “Y” in Part 8 for the question, “I am requesting an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) upon approval of my new Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) period of parole” to request a fee-exempt EAD. 
• Do not submit a separate Form I-765 with your Form I-131. If you submit Form I-765 with your request for re-parole, we may reject your application or take longer to process it. 
• Applicants filing by paper and using the 10/31/22 edition of Form I-131 before Aug. 8, 2023, should write “OAW EAD” on the top of the form, regardless of whether they have a PAR or OAR class of admission.   

If your initial EAD is expiring, you must indicate you would like to renew your EAD when filing Form I-131 through this new streamlined process.  
If you are an Afghan national and applied for re-parole through Form I-131 before June 8, 2023, when this new streamlined application process was not yet available, you may submit a new request using the process announced in this message to receive the fee exemption and concurrent EAD processing. Please see the Afghan Nationals Re-Parole FAQs webpage for more information on the options available to you. 

Congress has recently passed laws relating to certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees that have included language providing that parolees covered by the legislation “…shall be eligible for resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits available to refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157)....”

Under DHS regulations, refugees are authorized employment incident to status, and under current USCIS policy and practice, refugees are not charged a fee by USCIS for their initial Form I-765, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Parolees, however, are not employment authorized incident to status, and must pay a fee (currently $410) for their EAD, unless the fee is waived or exempted.
To implement the statutory language “other benefits available to refugees” in the context of section 2502(b), P.L. No. 117-43 (Afghan parolees) and section 401 of Public Law 117-128 (Ukrainian parolees), USCIS is providing the benefits of employment authorization incident to status normally accorded to refugees and a no-fee initial (and replacement of an initial) EAD to Afghan and Ukrainian parolees so that they receive the same treatment as refugees.
Effective Nov. 21, 2022, Ukrainian and Afghan parolees, and their qualifying family members, with certain classes of admission are considered employment authorized incident to parole, which means that they do not need to wait for USCIS to approve their Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, before they can work in the United States.

This updated policy guidance applies to the following individuals, if their parole has not been terminated:

• Afghan parolees whose unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, contains a class of admission of “OAR.” If you are an Afghan parolee covered under section 2502(b), P.L. No. 117-43 who did not receive an “OAR” class of admission on your Form I-94, please email U.S. Customs and Border Protection at oawi94adjustments@cbp.dhs.gov to update your class of admission, if appropriate;
• Ukrainian parolees whose unexpired Form I-94 contains a class of admission of “UHP”; and
• Ukrainian parolees whose unexpired Form I-94 contains a class of admission of “DT” issued between Feb. 24, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023, and indicates Ukraine as the country of citizenship on the document.

For these parolees, their unexpired Form I-94 is an acceptable receipt they may present to their employer to show their identity and employment authorization for for the purposes of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The receipt satisfies the Form I-9 requirement for 90 days from the date of hire (or in the case of reverification, the date employment authorization expires). Individuals who received a Form I-94 when they entered the United States should visit U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Form I-94 page to view and print a copy of their Form I-94. If you do not have a passport, you can use your A-Number to retrieve your Form I-94 online at the site above by choosing “Get Most Recent I-94.” Enter your A-Number in the Document Number field and enter your country of citizenship or “USA” in the Country of Citizenship field.
​
After the 90-day period, parolees must present an EAD or unrestricted Social Security card and acceptable List B identity document from the Form I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents (such as a state-issued driver’s license or identification card). Ukrainian and Afghan parolees must still file a Form I-765 to receive a physical EAD. USCIS will provide additional guidance for employers about completion of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

Effective Nov. 21, 2022, USCIS is also exempting the fee to file Form I-765 for Ukrainian parolees filing for the first form I-765, application for an EAD by mail. Afghan parolees under OAW are already exempt from the fee for an initial paper-filed Form I-765 (and a replacement EAD) through Sept. 30, 2023.

Effective Dec. 5, 2022, USCIS will be able to process fee exemptions for online filings of Form I-765 for eligible Ukrainian and Afghan parolees. We encourage use of online filing for more efficient processing.
See Uniting for Ukraine and Information for Afghan Nationals pages for more information about submitting Form I-765. See File Online page for more information about creating an account and filing online.

Briefly in Russian:

Если вы приехали в США по программе Uniting for Ukraine из Украины, с 21 ноября 2022 вы имеете право работать в США первые 90 дней без предварительного получения разрешения на работу, если на вашей карточке I-94 Admission Record о въезде в США стоит статус UHP или DT. 

Вы можете также подавать заявление на получение карточки соцстрахования на основании этой формы I-94 и штампа пароль в паспорте.

Чтобы получить саму карточку разрешение на работу, нужно подать заявление Form I-765 или по почте или онлайн в USCIS. C 21 ноября 2022 подача первого заявления I-765 по почте стала бесплатной для укаринских беженцев по программе U4U. С 5 декабря ожидается что подача первого I-765 также станет бесплатной онлайн (пока онлайн требует оплату). Эти новый изменения произошли из-за того, что Конгресс США приравнял статус пароль из Украины и Афганистана к статусу беженца.

USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding Afghan and Iraqi nationals seeking special immigrant classification. The new guidance is effective immediately.
The updated guidance:

• Explains that noncitizens seeking an Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) on or after July 20, 2022, must file Form DS-157, Petition for Special Immigrant Classification for Afghan SIV Applicants, with the Department of State when they are applying for Chief of Mission approval. In some circumstances, noncitizens must still file a petition with USCIS to pursue an Afghan SIV;
• Updates eligibility criteria to reflect that the employment requirement for an Afghan SIV is now one year and clarifies what type of employment with the International Security Assistance Force qualifies;
• Updates eligibility criteria for surviving spouses and children of deceased principal noncitizens to expand the scope of who may apply for Afghan and Iraqi SIVs;
• In cases where a visa is not immediately available, removes the date limitation to convert an approved petition for an Afghan or Iraqi translator or interpreter to an approved petition for an Iraqi or Afghan employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government; and
• Clarifies statutory requirements that a noncitizen seeking an Afghan or Iraqi SIV must establish that they provided faithful and valuable service to the U.S. government by submitting a positive recommendation or evaluation from their supervisor.

For more information, see the Policy Alert (PDF, 347.6 KB). Visit the Policy Manual Feedback page to provide feedback on this update. USCIS welcomes feedback on this guidance and will consider any feedback received in future updates.

​USCIS Policy Manual is here.
​July 20, 2022 USCIS Policy Alert is here.

Designation of Afghanistan for TPS: for a period from May 20, 2022 to November 20, 2023. Must be present and continuously residing in the USA since March 15, 2022.

On May 19, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice (FRN) designating Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from May 20, 2022, through Nov. 20, 2023.

This designation allows Afghan nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who have continuously resided in the United States since March 15, 2022, to file initial applications for TPS. The FRN provides instructions for applying for TPS and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

TPS applicants must meet all eligibility requirements and undergo security and background checks.

Afghanistan’s 18-month TPS designation will go into effect on May 20, 2022, and individuals must also prove their continuous physical presence in the United States since the designation date. The FRN explains the procedures necessary for an individual to submit an initial registration application under the designation and to apply for an EAD.

​Read more at USCIS website.

To schedule consultation with an immigration attorney, please email us or visit our website at www.law-visa-usa.com
​

How to bring an immediate relative of a US citizen to the USA ASAP, if they are from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and you are with them abroad. Immediate relatives are: spouses of a US citizen, unmarried children under 21 and parents of a US citizen (and you are over 21). Other relatives are not falling under the "immediate relative" category.

Как привезти близкого родственика в США в порядке ускорения: если вы американский гражданин, находитесь вместе с ними за пределами США, и ваш близкий родственник (муж, жена, незамужний ребенок до 21 года, родитель и вы старше 21 года), и ваш родственник из Украины, Афганистана или Эфиопии. Если вы еще не подали на них петицию, теперь вы сможете это сделать в американском посольстве, что позволит съэкономить время.

Local Filing of Form I-130 Petitions Filed by U.S. Citizens on Behalf of Afghan, Ethiopian, and Ukrainian Immediate Relatives Fleeing Conflict

If you are a U.S. citizen who is physically present overseas with your Afghan, Ethiopian, or Ukrainian immediate family members and have not yet filed an immigrant visa petition with USCIS, you may request to locally file a Form I-130 petition at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas.  This applies only to U.S. citizens affected by the large-scale disruptive events in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and Ukraine.  Such citizens must be physically present in the country where they wish to file petitions.  They can request to locally file on behalf of their spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents who fled Afghanistan after August 2, 2021; Ethiopia after November 1, 2020; or Ukraine after February 1, 2022. 
Please email your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate’s Immigrant Visa Unit if you believe you may qualify to locally file a Form I-130 petition.  You can find those email addresses at each individual embassy or consulate website. 

​A list of U.S. embassies and consulates is available at https://www.usembassy.gov.

If you have already filed a Form I-130 petition with USCIS for your immediate relative and it has not yet been approved, you may inquire with USCIS regarding expedition: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request.
Further information about the immigrant visa process is available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate.html
For more information for nationals of Ukraine, please see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/information-for-nationals-of-Ukraine.html
Additional information for visa applicants from Ukraine is also available at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/announcement-of-processing-posts-for-visa-applicants-from-Ukraine.html.

Update from the USA embassy in Afghanistan.
"U.S. government-provided flights are departing Kabul and will continue until the evacuation operation is complete. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and their spouses and unmarried children (under age 21) should consider travelling to Hamid Karzai International Airport when you judge it is safe to do so. The U.S. government cannot ensure safe passage to the airport.
We are processing people at multiple gates. Due to large crowds and security concerns, gates may open or close without notice. Please use your best judgment and attempt to enter the airport at any gate that is open."
"U.S. Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents:
U.S. citizens seeking assistance to depart Afghanistan should utilize this link: Repatriation Assistance Request (https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx... )or in an emergency, call 1-888-407-4747 (U.S. Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (overseas). Legal permanent residents (LPRs) and spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan who are awaiting immigrant visas should also complete this form.
Non-U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents:
The United States is also taking every available measure to assist Afghans who are at risk, particularly those who worked for or with the United States or have supported international efforts, and has established mechanisms to help Afghans at risk receive protection from potential retaliation or harm.
The two key mechanisms to support Afghans who are at risk because of their affiliation with the United States are the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program and priority referrals to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).
Special Immigrant Visa Applicants:
Afghan SIV Program Update
The Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021, as enacted on July 30, 2021, authorized 8,000 additional Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) for Afghan principal applicants, for a total of 34,500 visas allocated since December 19, 2014. The Department of State’s authority to issue SIVs to Afghan nationals under section 602(b) of the Afghan Allies Protection Act of 2009, as amended, will continue until all visa numbers allocated under the Act are issued.
Additional information on the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program is available at https://travel.state.gov/.../special-immg-visa-afghans....
For additional questions related to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, please contact USRAPAfghanInquiries@state.gov.
U.S. Refugee Admissions Program:.. read more at
https://af.usembassy.gov/afghanistan-inquiries/
https://www.state.gov/afghanistan-inquiries/

Additional resources:

Here are some useful resources assembled by several groups assisting in evacuations from Afghanistan. August 2021.

1) Find help by country:
https://www.helpafghansnow.info/i-need-help/
2) Leaving Afghanistan by-country resources.
For example, for those with SIV to the USA:
https://seirmprod.servicenowservices.com/kra
NVCSIV@state.gov
1-603-334-0828
For emergencies, call +1-202-501-4444 KabulACS@state.gov
+1-888-407-4747
+1-703-693-0799
3) Exit SOS Afghanistan:
http://exitsos.com/
4) Visas information by-country: https://visasforafghans.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
5) Google Drive resources:
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1G4IZPBNMgb4ybmAtqThWyWRcu2XPRZ0-?fbclid=IwAR3cF2Pj53Nqgp7F6jQZwqzKlCBSRxU_7il7SXwlmo9ETALFuvQVG6rlfS4
​