PAROLE PROGRAMS FOR VENEZUELANS, NICARAGUANS, HAITIANS, AND CUBANS

January 20, 2023

On January 5, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it was extending the Venezuela parole program and expanding this program to Nicaragua, Haiti, and Cuba. This expanded program has a monthly cap of 30,000 parolees from all four countries.

On January 6, 2023, USCIS provided additional details about eligibility and the application process. To qualify for this program, Beneficiaries must: (1) be outside the United States; (2) be a national of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, or Venezuela; or be an immediate family member (spouse, common-law partner, and/or unmarried child under the age of 21) who is traveling with an eligible Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, or Venezuelan; (3) have a U.S.-based supporter who filed a Form I-134A on their behalf that USCIS has vetted and confirmed; (4) possess an unexpired passport valid for international travel; (5) provide for their own commercial travel to an air U.S. POE and final U.S. destination; (6) undergo and pass required national security and public safety vetting; (7) comply with all additional requirements, including vaccination requirements and other public health guidelines; and (8) demonstrate that a grant of parole is warranted based on significant public benefit or urgent humanitarian reasons, and that a favorable exercise of discretion is otherwise merited.

Beneficiaries of this program will be authorized to travel to the United States for 90 days and be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for parole for a period of up to two years. If granted parole under this program, Beneficiaries may thereafter file Form I-765 (“Application for Employment Authorization”) and apply for a Social Security number.

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