Q: I came to the United States on Humanitarian Parole from Ukraine (or Venezuela, Haiti, etc). I didn't apply for a work permit yet, and I do not have an employment authorization yet. I need a SSN to apply for certain benefits. Can I apply for a SSN even though I don't have a work permit yet?

A: Yes, you can. 
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Parolees from several countries  who have been granted humanitarian parole may be eligible to apply for a U.S. social security number. There are two potential methods.

(1) You can either apply directly to the Social Security Administration, or (2) you may apply for one when you file Form I-765 Application for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
A humanitarian parolee with only a Form I-94 or a parole stamp in their passport may only apply for a non-work Social Security number (SSN). If you are applying for benefits, your local welfare or social service agency should provide you with a referral letter to the Social Security Administration explaining that the agency needs your SSN in order to process your application for benefits. With this letter, the Social Security Administration will accept your application for an SSN.
To apply for a non-work SSN directly through the Social Security Administration, fill out the application for a Social Security Card and print the application. Bring it to your nearest Social Security Administration office, along with your passport, I-94, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and the referral letter from the welfare or social services agency. You may need to make an appointment in advance at the Social Security Administration. Prepare translations of any required documents in advance.
The link for the social security card application can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf
You can look up the closest Social Security Administration office at https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp#officeResults
You may also apply for a social security number when you apply for your work permit, which can be provided to employers. When filling out your Form I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization Document (EAD), check boxes 14 and 15 to receive a Social Security Card. You may do this even if you previously received a non-work SSN. The information you provide on this form will then be sent to the Social Security Administration to issue you a social security card.

Once you receive your Social Security Card, please remember to sign it, and keep it in a safe place (it is not advisable to carry it on your person).

Here is a guidance from the SSA office: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211600

Here is an application for a work permit, which can be filed online at USCIS website: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765

USCIS Expands myProgress to Forms I-485 and I-821
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On November 21, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is expanding myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. myProgress will initially only be available for family-based or Afghan special immigrant I-485 applicants.
USCIS explained that myProgress “provides applicants with access, in their online account, to personalized estimates of their wait time for major milestones and actions on their case, including their final case decision. While estimates are based on case type and historical patterns, they are not a guarantee of timing, and cannot take into consideration all possible unique application processing factors.” Milestones include confirmation that the application was received, movement of the application through pre-processing and adjudicative steps, and the case decision.
In addition to Form I-485 and Form I-821, myProgress is available for applicants with a USCIS online account who file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; Form I-131, Application for Travel Document; Form N-400, Application for Naturalization; Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card; or Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
Applicants still need to visit the public Check Case Processing Times webpage to determine whether they are eligible to file an Outside of Normal Processing Times service request, USCIS noted.

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As of August 21, 2023, the USCIS Potomac Service Center (PSC) has begun to move to a new facility in Camp Springs, MD, and can no longer receive paper responses to correspondence such as Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID), Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIR), Intents to Deny (ITD), Requests for Evidence (RFE) or supporting documentation for filings currently pending at the PSC.
PSC will no longer accept mailed correspondence beginning on Nov. 13, 2023. All mailed correspondence intended for cases processed by the PSC must be mailed to the Texas Service Center (TSC), unless otherwise noted.
To avoid any processing delays, applicants and their representatives should instead upload their responses to their USCIS online account (for receipt notices that start with IOE-) or mail them to the Texas Service Center at:
USCIS Texas Service Center
Attn: Digital RFE
6046 N Belt Line Rd. STE 114
Irving, TX 75038
USCIS strongly encourages people to use the USCIS online account self-service tools to upload your responses for all online cases.

A change in calculating the availability of immigrant numbers means some foreign national ministers who are in the United States on temporary R-1 religious worker visas and waiting for green cards will have to wait even longer. Some R-1 may even have to leave the country.
Ministers entering the United States solely to work in the ministry for a bona fide non-profit religious organization fall into a specific green card category: employment-based fourth preference. 
For those who are already in the United States in temporary non-immigrant R status, applying for a green card is a two-step process:

• Filing a Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); and
• Filing a Form I-485 Adjustment of Status application when the individual’s priority date (established by filing the Form I-360) is “current.”

Until March 2023, the priority date in this category was February 1, 2022. In April 2023, DHS discovered it had been miscalculating the fourth preference category. In March 2023, the priority date for individuals in the fourth preference category was February 1, 2022. After the shift, that priority date retrogressed four years to September 1, 2018. As of November 1, 2023, the priority date will be January 1, 2019.

Individuals in temporary R status cannot stay in the United States for more than five years. As a result of retrogression, individuals who were close to becoming permanent residents may not be able to stay in the United States long enough to adjust status. One possible strategy for individuals in this situation is to leave the country, stay out for at least a year, and then try to return in R status. The problem with this option is that R status does not allow for dual intent. Therefore, individuals who have taken the first step in the green card process, filing a Form I-360, may not be able to obtain an R visa at a consulate abroad because they have evidenced their desire to become permanent residents.

Those who were able to file both a Form I-360 and their Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) should be able to remain in the United States as pending adjustment applicants and should be able to continue working on the basis of the employment authorization documents they received through their I-485 applications while waiting to become permanent residents.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the 2-year foreign residence requirement for the nonimmigrant exchange visitor (J) classification.
The update adds information about how USCIS determines whether the requirement has been met, the evidence a benefit requestor may submit to show compliance with the requirement, and how it considers situations in which it is effectively impossible for the benefit requestor to satisfy the requirement.
It also corrects an omission, from existing Policy Manual content, of one of the foreign medical graduates’ grounds for waivers of the foreign residence requirement. This update includes the ground and clarifies employment requirements.
The guidance is effective immediately on publication.
The J-1 nonimmigrant classification is for exchange visitors who intend to participate in an approved program in the United States for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills, receiving training, or receiving graduate medical education or training.

For more information see here. Also the federal code is here. 

Certain J-1 exchange visitors are subject to a foreign residence requirement, which requires that they reside and be physically present in their country of nationality or last legal residence abroad for an aggregate of at least 2 years before they are eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, adjustment of status, or a nonimmigrant H, L, or K visa.

On June 8, 2023, USCIS published comprehensive guidance on the exchange visitor classification in the Policy Manual. USCIS’s latest Oct. 24б 2023 guidance further clarifies how the agency determines whether a benefit requestor has met this foreign residence requirement.
Policy Update Highlights

• USCIS uses the preponderance of the evidence standard in determining whether the exchange visitor has met the two-year foreign residence requirement.
• Travel days—where a fraction of the day is spent in the country of nationality or last residence—count toward satisfaction of the foreign residence requirement.
• USCIS will and does consult with the U.S. Department of State on a case-by-case basis when it is impossible for the benefit requestor to satisfy the two-year foreign residence requirement.
• The policy guidance defines the three exceptions to the requirement that a foreign medical graduate (FMG) obtain a contract from a health care facility in an underserved area when seeking a waiver of the two-year foreign residence requirement:
  • If the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) requests the waiver, the FMG must practice medicine with the VA for at least three years, but does not need to do so in a U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS)-designated shortage area.
  • If an interested federal agency requests the waiver, the FMG may fulfill the obligation by working for the agency for at least three years, rather than by practicing medicine in an HHS-designated shortage area.
  • If an interested federal or state agency requests the waiver for an FMG who agrees to practice specialty medicine in a facility located in an HHS-designated geographic area, the FMG may fulfill the obligation by practicing specialty medicine in such a facility for at least three years. The request must demonstrate a shortage of health care professionals able to provide the relevant specialty services.

Those with questions about the J-1 foreign residency requirement or related waivers should consult with experienced immigration counsel

Policy Manual:

F. Foreign Residence Requirement

Certain J-1 exchange visitors are subject to a 2-year foreign residence requirement.[11] After leaving the United States, J-1 exchange visitors subject to the requirement must reside and be physically present in their country of nationality or last legal residence abroad for an aggregate of at least 2 years before they are eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, adjustment of status, or a nonimmigrant H, L, or K visa.[12] Such country is the country of nationality or legal permanent residence listed on the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (Form DS-2019), and is referred to herein as the “Home Country.”
These exchange visitors are further prohibited from changing status from J nonimmigrant status to another nonimmigrant status, other than A, G, T, or U, or H-1B for physicians receiving waivers on the basis of a 3-year waiver position.[13]
Exchange visitors participating in the following programs are subject to the foreign residence requirement: [14]

• Programs facilitated by the DOS designated sponsor, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), for medical trainees. (ECFMG sponsored medical researchers are generally not subject to the requirement as medical trainees, but may be subject to the requirement on another basis);
• Programs in which the exchange visitor has received any type of government funding or support from the exchange visitor’s home country or country of last legal permanent residence, the U.S. Government, or an international organization, as indicated on the Form DS-2019. (Government-sponsored programs beginning with G in the program number on Form DS-2019 are usually government-funded where the exchange visitor received financial support from the sponsor);
• Programs in which the exchange visitor’s field of endeavor appears on the DOS Exchange Visitor Skills List (list of fields of specialized knowledge or skills in which the services of exchange visitor participants are critically needed) for the exchange visitor’s home country or country of last legal permanent residence; [15] and
• Programs whose purpose is graduate medical training, typically a residency or fellowship.

Determining if the Foreign Residence Requirement Has Been Met
USCIS determines whether the exchange visitor has met the 2-year foreign residence requirement within the context of a subsequent application or petition. USCIS applies the preponderance of the evidence standard when it makes this determination.
Benefit requestors may submit any relevant evidence showing their physical presence in the Home Country. For example, benefit requestors may submit a chart of days spent in the Home Country. Benefit requestors may also submit supporting evidence such as passport stamps, travel receipts, employment records, school transcripts, leases, or affidavits.
Any day where a fraction of a day is spent in the Home Country counts toward satisfaction of the requirement. For example, a travel day, where a fraction of the day is spent in the country of last permanent residence, counts as a day towards satisfying the requirement.
In certain cases, conditions in the applicant’s Home Country, such as war or civil unrest, may make compliance with the 2-year residence requirement effectively impossible. Additionally, some countries have periodically imposed travel bans that have made traveling to the Home Country effectively impossible. In other cases, the applicant’s Home Country is now part of another country due to shifting borders or other political changes. USCIS considers these circumstances, on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the Department of State.


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On October 17, 2023, the U.S. Department of State initiated the process for resuming its stateside visa renewal program. The State Department sent a Federal Register notice, Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States for Certain Qualified Noncitizens, for review to the U.S. Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. The details of the pilot program will be disclosed only when the Federal Register is published. However, early reports indicate that the program likely will:

• Start in early 2024;
• Be available only for H-1B principals;
• Be available only for nationals of countries that are not subject to reciprocity fees;
• Have eligibility requirements similar to the interview waiver program;
• Be limited to 20,000 applicants; and
• Be voluntary.

The State Department plans to limit the program at first to test out its operability and expand it after potential issues have been addressed.

USCIS Increases Employment Authorization Document Validity Period for Certain Categories to 5 Years

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in our Policy Manual to increase the maximum available validity period to 5 years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens who are employment authorized incident to status or circumstance, including those admitted as refugees, paroled as refugees, and granted asylum, as well as recipients of withholding of removal.  
We are also increasing the maximum available validity period to 5 years for initial and renewal EADs for certain noncitizens who must apply for employment authorization, including applicants for asylum or withholding of removal, adjustment of status under INA 245, and suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal. 
The updated guidance also explains the categories of noncitizens who are automatically authorized to work (also known as being employment authorized incident to status or circumstance) and provides more information on who can present a Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, to an employer as an acceptable document showing employment authorization under List C of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Finally, this guidance clarifies that certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees are employment authorized incident to parole. 
 What You Need to Know 

• USCIS is increasing the maximum available validity period to 5 years for initial and renewal EADs for certain noncitizens who are employment authorized incident to status or circumstance, including those admitted as refugees, paroled as refugees, and granted asylum, as well as recipients of withholding of removal.  
• USCIS is increasing the maximum available validity period from 2 years to 5 years for initial and renewal EADs for noncitizens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal and noncitizens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245, and from 1 year to 5 years for EADs issued to noncitizens seeking suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal. 
• The policy further explains the categories of noncitizens who are employment authorized incident to status or circumstance and lists the categories of noncitizens who can present a Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, to an employer as an acceptable document showing employment authorization under List C of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.  
• The policy also clarifies that certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees are employment authorized incident to parole.  
• Increasing the maximum EAD validity period to 5 years is intended to significantly reduce the number of new Forms I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, we receive for renewal EADs over the next several years, contributing to our efforts to reduce associated processing times and backlogs.  
• Whether the noncitizen maintains employment authorization is dependent on their underlying status, circumstances, and EAD filing category. For example, if an individual received an EAD under the (c)(9) category based on a pending adjustment of status application for the maximum validity period of 5 years, and the adjustment application is then denied, their ancillary employment authorization may be terminated before the expiration date listed on their EAD.    

More Information 
For additional information on EADs, please visit the Employment Authorization Document webpage. 
Visit the Policy Manual Feedback page to provide feedback on this update. 
Protect yourself from immigration scams. If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure the person helping you is authorized to give legal advice. Visit the Avoid Scams page for information and resources. 

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Разрешение на работу для некоторых категорий будет действительно 5 лет, вместо 2-х лет.

Starting October 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will implement expedited processing of some Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications and begin issuing some EADs with longer validity times in an effort to help qualified immigrants gain access to work authorization more quickly.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will prioritize EAD applications filed by parolees who have scheduled an appointment through the CBP One mobile app in an effort to reduce the processing time for these applications from 90 days to 30 days.

USCIS will also reduce the EAD processing times for EADs based on CBP One parole as well as the Cuban, Haitian, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan parole programs. The stated goal is to bring down processing times from 90 to 30 days.

In an effort to improve the application process overall, USCIS is increasing the maximum validity period of initial and renewal EADs to five (5) years for certain applicants, including refugees and asylees, asylum and green card applicants. This change will reduce the need for EAD renewal applications and streamline the EAD application and production process.

​A federal government shutdown will impact some, but not all, US immigration and visa programs. The principal distinction is between those programs that are fee-funded and those that rely on congressional appropriations for funding. The greatest business immigration impact will be on US Department of Labor (DOL) programs for permanent (PERM) labor certification and H-1B, E-3, H-1B1, and H-2B matters.
With the growing possibility of a federal government shutdown at the start of its new fiscal year on October 1, 2023, it may be instructive to review how immigration-related agencies operated during prior shutdowns. Any shutdown in FY2023 will also be informed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) guidance published in 2022 that describes what DHS operations will continue during a federal funding hiatus or lapse in appropriations.
GENERAL SHUTDOWN INFORMATION
If the government agencies close for budgetary reasons, all but “essential” personnel are furloughed and are not allowed to work. Operations that are funded by user fees may face limited operations, but are unlikely to halt completely. Functions that rely on congressional appropriations for their operating funds are likely to shut down all but essential functions.
US CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is funded by fees paid by stakeholders, and as such this agency typically continues operating because it is not dependent on congressional appropriations to fund its operations. Exceptions to this include the few USCIS programs that do receive appropriated funds: E-Verify, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, Conrad 30 J-1 doctors, and non-minister religious workers. These operations will likely be suspended.
E-Verify and I-9
E-Verify will likely go dark during a shutdown. While employers must continue to honor their obligations under Form I-9 rules, they will not be sanctioned for delays arising from the inability to process E-Verify cases in accordance with the “three-day rule.” When E-Verify comes back online, employers should create E-Verify cases based on Forms I-9 completed during the shutdown.
For employees who received a tentative non-confirmation (TNC), the period during which employees may resolve TNCs will be extended. The number of days E-Verify is unavailable will not count toward the days that employees have to begin the process of resolving their TNCs.
USCIS has confirmed that employers may continue to use the new alternate document review process for remote Form I-9 document verification if E-Verify is temporarily unavailable due to a government shutdown.
EB-5
Although the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program receives government funding, its current operations are funded and authorized through September 30, 2027.
STATE DEPARTMENT
Visa and passport operations are fee-funded and are not expected to be impacted by a lapse in funding; however, consular availability and processing may nonetheless be impacted depending on the post and ancillary impacts of the shutdown on consular operations. If a consulate is impacted by the shutdown, then it is likely that services will be limited to diplomatic visas and extreme emergencies.
US DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
The processing of labor condition applications for H-1B, E-3, and H-1B1 petitions will be shut down. Similarly, processing of prevailing wage, PERM labor certification, and other operations of the DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) will cease. DOL/OFLC personnel will not be available to respond to inquiries, and web-based systems for filing, status checks, and uploading documents, among other features, will be offline. Deadlines related to DOL applications and procedures are typically modified.
US CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION
DHS deems passenger and cargo inspection and law enforcement to be essential operations that will continue despite a lapse in appropriations. Ports of entry will be open, and processing of passengers arriving at land, sea, and air ports of entry will continue; however, processing of applications for work visa classification (e.g., TN, H-1B, L-1), particularly at Canadian border posts, may be impacted. Applicants are advised to contact the port of entry in advance to confirm the post’s operational status.
IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and removal operations will continue, and ICE attorneys will typically focus on the detained docket during a shutdown. The ICE Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) offices (for, e.g., F-1, J-1, M-1 visas) are unaffected since SEVP is funded by fees (AILA Doc. No. 21092710).
EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW
Immigration court cases on the detained docket will proceed during a lapse in congressional appropriations, while nondetained docket cases will be reset for a later date when funding resumes. Courts with detained dockets will receive all filings but will only process those involving detained dockets.
Courts with only nondetained dockets will not be open and will not accept filings. Courts should issue an updated notice of hearing to respondents or representatives of record for reset hearings. Members may want to check with their local chapters for court-specific instructions (AILA Doc. No. 21092710).
CIS OMBUDSMAN
The DHS Office of the CIS Ombudsman would close and would not accept any inquiries through its online case intake system (AILA Doc. No. 21092710).

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On September 13, 2023, USCIS reminded affirmative asylum applicants that, starting today, you must bring an interpreter to your asylum interview if you are not fluent in English or wish to proceed with your interview in a language other than English.
If you need an interpreter and do not bring one, or if your interpreter is not fluent in English and a language you speak, and you do not establish good cause, we may consider this a failure to appear for your interview and we may dismiss your asylum application or refer your asylum application to an immigration judge. We will determine good cause on a case-by-case-basis.
The interpreter must be fluent in English and a language you speak fluently and must be at least 18 years old. The interpreter must not be:

• Your attorney or accredited representative;
• A witness testifying on your behalf;
• A representative or employee of the government of your country of nationality (or, if you are stateless, your country of last habitual residence); or
• An individual with a pending asylum application who has not yet been interviewed.

On Sept. 23, 2020, we published a temporary final rule (TFR) requiring affirmative asylum applicants to use our contracted telephonic interpreters for their asylum interviews, instead of bringing an interpreter to the interview. We published this TFR to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during asylum interviews with USCIS asylum officers while the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency were in effect. We published four subsequent TFRs extending the requirement, with the current extension effective through Sept. 12, 2023. This fourth extension provided additional time after the national and public health emergencies expired to allow USCIS to prepare to return to the prior regulatory requirement. With the expiration of the TFR, we are reverting back to the long-standing regulatory requirement for an affirmative asylum applicant to provide an interpreter under 8 CFR 208.9(g).

As we posted in February 2023, CSPA interpretation has changed. Check the Filing Dates in the Visa Bulletin instead of the Final Action Dates.
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Our previous Post.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to update when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for the purpose of calculating a noncitizen’s age in certain situations under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA).
For a child to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States based on their parent’s approved petition for a family-sponsored or employment-based visa, the child generally must be under the age of 21. If the child turns 21 and “ages out” during the immigration process, the child generally is no longer eligible to immigrate with the parent based on the parent’s petition.
Congress enacted the CSPA to protect certain noncitizen children from losing eligibility to obtain lawful permanent resident status based on an approved visa petition by providing a method to calculate the child’s age that considers when an immigrant visa number “becomes available.” The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin is used to determine when a visa number becomes available. The Visa Bulletin has two charts – the Dates for Filing chart and the Final Action Date chart. Under the previous CSPA guidance, USCIS considered a visa available for purposes of the CSPA age calculation based only on the Final Action Date chart, even if a noncitizen could apply for adjustment of status using the earlier date in the “Dates for Filing” chart.
This USCIS policy change is effective immediately and applies to pending applications. Therefore, some noncitizens with a pending application may now have a CSPA age that is under 21 based on this change. For example, between October and December of 2020, certain noncitizens were permitted to file their adjustment of status applications under the Dates for Filing chart of the Visa Bulletin. However, the Final Action Date chart never advanced sufficiently for their applications to be approved. These noncitizens filed their adjustment of status applications with the requisite fee without knowing whether the CSPA would benefit them.
Under this new guidance, USCIS will now use the Dates for Filing chart to calculate these noncitizens’ ages for CSPA purposes, which provides these noncitizens with more certainty about their eligibility to adjust status. If these noncitizens are eligible to adjust status because of the change in policy and they have filed for adjustment of status, they will also be eligible to apply for employment and travel authorization based on their pending adjustment of status application, and they generally will not lose previously issued employment or travel authorization.
Noncitizens may file a motion to reopen their previously denied adjustment of status application with USCIS by using Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion. Noncitizens must generally file motions to reopen within 30 days of the decision. For a motion filed more than 30 days after the denial, USCIS may, in its discretion, excuse the untimely filing of the motion if the noncitizen demonstrates that the delay was reasonable and was beyond the noncitizen’s control.
This Policy Manual update will not prevent all children from aging out before an immigrant visa is available to them, nor will it prevent children from losing nonimmigrant status derived from their parents upon reaching the actual age of 21. USCIS continues to explore all options available under the law to aid this population. For example, the Department of Homeland Security regulatory agenda includes an anticipated notice of proposed rulemaking on improving the regulations governing adjustment of status to lawful permanent residence and related immigration benefits.
More information is available in the Policy Alert (PDF, 345 KB) and on the Child Status Protection Act page.

​USCIS Launches Online Form to Request a Field Office Appointment.

On August 21, 2023, USCIS announced a new online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment for certain customer service-related appointment requests, such as ADIT stamp or emergency advanced parole, at their local field office without having to call the USCIS Contact Center.
Individuals can visit my.uscis.gov/appointment to submit a request for a specific date, time, and type of appointment with their local field office.

This online appointment request form is not a self-scheduling tool and does not guarantee an appointment for the preferred date or time requested. The Contact Center will review and validate each request before confirming the appointment date and time.
Individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives will still have the option to call the USCIS Contact Center to request an appointment. However, USCIS strongly encourages users to use the new online appointment request form to improve their overall customer experience. Using the online appointment request form will save time, increase efficiency, and reduce call volume to the USCIS Contact Center.
Visit my.uscis.gov/appointment for more information.

Appointment requests at USCIS offices are for matter relating to the following categories:

• ADIT Stamp: The Alien Documentation Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp (also known as an I- 551 stamp) provides temporary evidence of lawful permanent resident status that may be issued to Legal Permanent Resident (LPRs) in limited circumstances. It authorizes the holder to work in the United States and be re-admitted to the United States following travel outside of the country. The ADIT stamp is stamped on the individual's unexpired passport or the Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record when the applicant is unable to obtain a passport or if the passport is expired. If you are not in possession of a valid passport, please ensure you bring two passport-style photos to your appointment.
  Note: If you were issued an extension notice after filing, and you are in possession of your expired Legal Permanent Resident card, please show these two documents as your valid proof of status upon request. If you are not in possession of your expired Legal Permanent Resident card, your extension notice is no longer valid, please make an appointment to obtain proof of status.
  Check your case status online.

Emergency Advance Parole: 

Field offices sometimes receive emergency requests for issuance of an advance parole document. Whether or not to grant a request for emergency advance parole document depends on if the travel need is considered emergent. “Emergent” means “arising unexpectedly,” while “emergency” means “calling for prompt action.” If you are experiencing an extremely urgent situation, you may request an emergency advance parole appointment at your local field office. You should bring the following items to your appointment.

• A completed and signed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
• Valid Passport;
• The correct I-131 filing fee;
• Evidence to support the emergency request (e.g., death certificate, medical documentation); and
• Two passport-style photos.

Determine if you are eligible for Emergency Advance Parole: Emergency Travel

• Note: Asylum applicants, asylees, refugees, and lawful permanent residents who obtained such status based on their asylum or refugee status are also subject to special rules regarding traveling outside the United States. Additional information regarding traveling outside the United States as well as the consequences that could result if an asylum applicant, an asylee, a refugee, or a lawful permanent resident who obtained such status based on his or her asylum or refugee status returns to his or her country of claimed persecution may be found in the Fact Sheet entitled Traveling Outside the United States as an Asylum Applicant, and Asylee, or a Lawful Permanent Resident Who Obtained Such Status Based on Asylum Status.
  Note: Asylees (individuals who have been granted asylum) and Lawful permanent residents who obtained such status based on their asylum status may travel abroad with the prior approval of the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Such prior approval comes in the form of a refugee travel document. A refugee travel document is valid for one year and is issued to an asylee to allow his or her return to the United States after temporary travel abroad. Like advance parole, a refugee travel document does not guarantee admission into the United States. Rather, the asylee must still undergo inspection by an immigration inspector from CBP to review the Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
• Immigration Judge Grant: When an applicant is granted permanent residence or asylum by an Immigration Judge (IJ) during immigration court proceedings or by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), USCIS is responsible for producing the applicants Permanent Resident Card (PRC) or providing proof of status. Typically, the applicant is required to go into the local field office to initiate card production or obtain evidence of status. Please ensure you are in possession of your copy of the Final Order, as well as photo identification and passport to your appointment.
  • IJ Asylum grant applicants should also bring two passport-style photos to the appointment.
  • IJ LPR grant applicants, who do not possess a valid passport, need to bring two passport-style photos to the appointment. Applicants that do not have valid fingerprints on file may be scheduled for an Application Support Center appointment to produce the I-551 LPR Card.

Briefly in Russian:

21 августа 2023 USCIS объявил о новой онлайн функции, где можно самостоятельно получить дату для посещения местного иммиграционного офиса. По этому линку вы сможете послать запрос на время и дату, это не гарантировано когда вы получите дату для посещения офиса. Запрос можно послать самостоятельно или через адвоката. Это будет полезно, например, если вам срочно нужно получить разрешениа на выезд и въезд в США (emergency advance parole).

On July 7, 2023 the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the posting of Federal Register notices to implement family reunification parole (FRP) processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. 
Family Reunification Parole Overview
FRP processes allow certain vetted beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, to be temporarily paroled into the United States on a case-by-case basis. These processes are part of comprehensive measures announced in April by DHS and the Department of State to further reduce dangerous, irregular, migration across the Western Hemisphere, expand lawful pathways, and facilitate safe, humane, processing of migrants.
U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident petitioners with an approved Form I-130 who receive an invitation from the Department of State can file Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, to initiate the process for the principal beneficiary of the Form I-130, and their derivative family members, to be considered for advance authorization to travel and parole into the United States.
Additional information on updates to the FRP processes for Cuba and Haiti is coming soon.
What You Need to Know
Under these new processes, certain Form I-130 beneficiaries can be considered for parole on a discretionary, case-by-case, and temporary basis after demonstrating urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, as well as demonstrating that the beneficiary warrants a favorable exercise of discretion.
Beneficiaries under these processes will generally be paroled into the United States for up to three years and are eligible to apply for employment authorization for the duration of their parole period.
Certain U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident petitioners with an approved Form I-130 must receive an invitation from the Department of State’s National Visa Center to participate in these processes before filing a Form I-134A on behalf of a beneficiary. Invitations have not yet been issued.
More Information
For additional information on FRP, please visit the Family Reunification Parole Processes webpage. We will update this page as more information becomes available.
For more information on the criteria for participating in the FRP processes, see the Federal Register notices for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

On June 28, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors, and their attorneys and accredited representatives, to reschedule most biometric services appointments before the date of the appointment.
Previously, benefit requestors and accredited representatives could only request to reschedule a biometric services appointment by calling the USCIS Contact Center. With this new tool, those individuals who have or create a USCIS online account can reschedule most requests for biometric services appointments without having to call the Contact Center.

The new tool, however, cannot be used to reschedule an appointment that already has been rescheduled two or more times, is within 12 hours, or that has already passed.
The biometric services appointment rescheduling tool can be accessed via a USCIS online account regardless of whether the pending case was submitted online or by mail. Benefit requestors and accredited representatives will still have the option to call the USCIS Contact Center to reschedule an appointment, but USCIS strongly encourages users to use the new tool to save time, increase efficiency, and reduce call volume to the USCIS Contact Center.
USCIS is also issuing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to explain that the agency may consider an untimely request to reschedule a biometric services appointment and the effect of failing to appear for an appointment, and to explain how the agency considers a timely request to reschedule a biometric services appointment for “good cause.” Good cause exists when the reschedule request provides sufficient reason for the benefit requestor’s inability to appear on the scheduled date.

Sufficient reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• Illness, medical appointment, or hospitalization;
• Previously planned travel;
• Significant life events such as a wedding, funeral, or graduation ceremony;
• Inability to obtain transportation to the appointment location;
• Inability to obtain leave from employment or caregiver responsibilities; and
• Late delivered or undelivered biometric services appointment notice.

USCIS only accepts untimely rescheduling requests made to the USCIS Contact Center and does not accept untimely requests to reschedule by mail or in-person at a USCIS office or through the myUSCIS online rescheduling tool.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently published an overdue overstay report showing that more than 850,000 foreign visitors overstayed their authorized stay in FY2022, which is probably a record high. A more detailed analysis of the numbers is forthcoming, but here are the highlights:

• The total overstay rate for 2022 was 3.64 percent, which is more than double the rate of recent years.
• Approximately 98,000 visitors who entered under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which allows visa-free travel for short-term visitors from low-risk countries, overstayed in 2022. The country with both the largest number and highest rate of VWP overstayers was Spain, with 28,356 overstays and a rate of 5.6 percent, which could trigger corrective measures.  
• The largest number of short-term visitor overstays from non-VWP countries came from Venezuela. About 173,000 Venezuelans overstayed during the year -- which is about 94 percent of the visitors. This is because the Biden administration has allowed Venezuelans to enter and receive Temporary Protected Status, a designation that includes a work permit.
• The next largest number of overstays by short-term visitors are citizens of Mexico, with approximately 124,000 overstays, at a rate of 3.5 percent.
• For the first time, DHS broke down the overstay rates for the three sub-categories of student/exchange visas. Vocational school students had the highest overstay rate of the three (9.1 percent). Exchange visitors overstayed at a rate of 5.6 percent, and university and other traditional students overstayed at a rate of 4.1 percent.  
• Just over 9,000 citizens of China overstayed on student or exchange visitor visas, representing more than 16 percent of all student/exchange overstays.  
• The largest number of overstays in the category that includes temporary workers came from Mexico (131,000) and India (5,800).

Visa overstays are a significant contributor to our nation's illegal immigration problem, and improving the situation requires a multi-pronged approach. The State Department will be required to adjust visa issuance standards in certain countries and in certain visa categories, to reflect overstay risks. Sponsors and employers of students and workers that produce disproportionately high numbers of overstays might be barred from participating in visa programs. ICE can be directed to expand enforcement programs that target overstays. Congress will continue to press DHS to build the biometric entry-exit system that will help maintain the integrity of the visa programs. 

​Read more here.

On June 14, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released its policy guidance on the eligibility criteria for initial and renewal applications for employment authorization documents in compelling circumstances based on existing regulatory requirements at 8 C.F.R §204.5(p).
Specifically, for an applicant to be eligible for an initial employment authorization document (EAD) based on compelling circumstances, the applicant must meet the following requirements:

• The principal applicant is the beneficiary of an approved I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker in the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd employment-based preference category;
• The principal applicant is in valid E-3, H-1B, H-1B1, O-1, or L-1 nonimmigrant status or authorized grace period when the applicant files Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization;
• The principal applicant has not filed an adjustment of status application;
• An immigrant visa is not available to the principal applicant based on the applicant’s priority date according to the Final Action Date Chart in U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin when the Form I-765 is filed;
• The applicant and their dependents provide biometrics as required;
• The applicant and their dependents have not been convicted of a felony or two or more misdemeanors; and
• USCIS determines, as a matter of discretion, the principal applicant demonstrates compelling circumstances that justify the issuance of employment authorization.

The guidance from USCIS provides a non-exhaustive list of situations that could lead to a finding of compelling circumstances for principal applicants and their defendants. Some of them include: serious illness and disability, employer dispute and retaliation, other substantial harm to the applicant, or significant disruption to the employer.

This guidance also provides details on the type of evidence an applicant may submit to demonstrate one of the outlined compelling circumstances. A principal applicant who has an approved I-140, but to whom an immigrant visa is not available and who has lived in the United States for a long period of time, could provide evidence such as school or higher education enrollment records, mortgage records, or long-term lease records to support a finding of compelling circumstances. As an example, a compelling circumstance could be found where due to a job loss, the principal applicant’s family would be forced to sell their home for a loss, pull their children out of school, and relocate to their home country.

Recipients of a compelling circumstances EAD will be in a period of authorized stay in the U.S. and will not be maintaining their nonimmigrant status. Thus, recipients cannot extend their H-1B status in the U.S.

​Read more here and here.

On June 12, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the expansion of premium processing for applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. Online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, will also be available for these applicants.

The premium processing expansion for certain Form I-539 applicants will occur in phases, and nonimmigrants requesting premium processing should not file before these dates:

• Beginning June 13, 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status.
• Beginning June 26, 2023, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests, filed either via paper form or online, for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, when filed together with Form I-539.

This phase of premium processing service is only available for change of status requests. Premium processing is not available for individuals seeking an extension of stay in M-1 or M-2 status.

USCIS will reject premium processing requests for a pending Form I-539 if received before June 13. USCIS will reject premium processing requests when filed together with a Form I-539 if USCIS receives the request before June 26, 2023. 

Important reminder: You must submit Form I-907 the same way you submit Form I-539.

• If you mail a paper Form I-539 to us, you must mail a paper Form I-907.
• If you submit Form I-539 online, you must submit Form I-907 online.

I-907 Filing fee $1,750 if you are requesting premium processing for a pending Form I-539 seeking change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status.

​It is expected that the decision will be made within 30 days.

As previously announced, the expansion of premium processing is part of USCIS’ efforts to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall immigration system. USCIS is expanding premium processing in a phased approach to ensure compliance with the with the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, which prohibits the expansion of premium processing if it will increase processing times for the immigration benefit requests.

Briefly in Russian:

Начиная с 13 июня 2023 заявители на СМЕНУ статуса на СТУДЕНЧЕСКИЙ статус, а именно F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 , которые уже подали заявление на смену статуса, и оно находится на рассмотрении в USCIS (pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status), смогут подать на УСКОРЕНИЕ рассмотрения заявления на смену статуса, подав форму на ускорение I-907.

Если вы подавали I-539 по почте - подаете форму об ускорении тоже по почте.

Если вы подавали I-539 онлайн - подаете онлайн.

​Если вы еще не подали - то одновременная подача будет возможна с 26 июня.

Госпошлины указаны на сайте USCIS. Госпошлина за ускорение смены статуса на F-1 student, $1,750.

Ожидается, что решение по вашему делу по ускорению будут принято в течение 30 дней

​

​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 [email protected]. 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 [email protected] 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. 

​The U.S. government is granting advance travel authorization for up to 30,000 noncitizens each month to come to the United States to seek parole on a case-by-case basis under the processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. Due to high interest in these processes, USCIS is updating the review process effective May 17, 2023.
We are updating the review process because the number of supporters who have submitted Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, is significantly higher than the 30,000 monthly travel authorizations available. It is intended to maintain a meaningful and equitable opportunity for all beneficiaries of a Form I-134A to move forward through the process and seek advance travel authorization.
Under the new review process that went into effect on May 17, USCIS will randomly select about half of the monthly total, regardless of filing date, from the entire pending workload of Form I-134A to determine whether the case can be confirmed.
We will review the other half of the monthly total of Forms I-134A based on when the case was submitted under the first-in, first-out method, which prioritizes the oldest Forms I-134A for review.
Potential supporters should not submit a duplicate Form I-134A for the same beneficiary. We will not accept a duplicate Form I-134A if a previously submitted Form I-134A between the same potential supporter and beneficiary is pending. If we do not confirm a Form I-134A, but a supporter believes they meet the requirements to be a supporter under the process, they may file a new Form I-134A and submit additional information as evidence.
Under this updated review process, processing times will vary. Potential supporters may monitor the status of a Form I-134A they filed in their USCIS online account or check the most recent status in Case Status Online. The USCIS Contact Center cannot provide any additional information about the status of your case.