Re-Parole

Ukrainians and their family members who were paroled in the United States after February 11, 2022 (including under Uniting for Ukraine) and whose parole is expiring soon, can apply for a new parole term (re-parole) for up to 2 additional years.

Who Is Eligible for Re-parole

Only Ukrainian citizens and their non-Ukrainian family members who were paroled in the United States after February 11, 2022 and remain in the United States are eligible to apply for re-parole. If you are a Ukrainian citizen or a non-Ukrainian citizen who arrived with a Ukrainian family member, and your initial form I-94 (the one you received when you first entered the United States after February 11, 2022) shows class of admission “DT” or “UHP”, you are eligible. You remain eligible for re-parole even if you traveled outside the United States on advance parole (form I-512 or I-512L) and returned with a “DA” class of admission.

Ukrainians who arrived on a visitor visa, work visa, student visa, etc. are not eligible for re-parole. Ukrainians who have traveled outside the United States and, upon return, have been admitted based on a TPS Travel Document (form I-512T) are ineligible for re-parole.

Who Should Apply for Re-parole

Anyone who is eligible for re-parole can apply for it. However, an application for re-parole is very costly, so you need to make a decision whether applying for re-parole is financially justified.

Who should strongly consider applying for re-parole:

• Persons who are ineligible for Temporary Protected Status. These include Ukrainians who arrived after August 16, 2023, persons without a Ukrainian citizenship and persons who may be ineligible for TPS due to disqualifying immigration or criminal history.
  
• Low-income persons and families. Low-income persons and families who were paroled before September 30, 2024 may be eligible for Medicaid and cash assistance, including TANF and SSI programs. To receive that assistance, they must maintain a valid humanitarian parole, which means their I-94 showing “DT” or “UHP” class of admission must be current.
  
• Persons whose parole-based EAD is expiring soon and who are still awaiting TPS-based EAD. If you have applied for TPS and TPS-based EAD, but your TPS-based EAD application is still pending, you can apply for re-parole and an EAD based on re-parole.
  
• Persons who intend to adjust status to that of a permanent resident and who are at risk of falling out of status. Even if you have filed an application for a green card (form I-485), you must maintain lawful status (such as parole or TPS) until your application is approved. If you fail to maintain lawful status, you may be detained at your green card interview.
  
• Persons and families who intend to pursue college education. Depending on your state laws, you may need to maintain a valid humanitarian parole to be considered a resident for tuition purposes and pay less for a community college or public university. You also have different financial aid options depending on your immigration status. See Higher Education page to learn more about your options and each state’s requirements.

When and How to Apply for Re-Parole

You should apply for re-parole no earlier than 180 days before your parole expires. If you apply earlier than that, your application will be denied. USCIS prioritizes the applications by the date of application and the date of initial parole expiration.

To apply for re-parole, you need to fill out Form I-131. This form can be submitted online via a USCIS online account. Each person who is applying online, even minor children, must have their own USCIS online account. An online application costs $580 per person. If USCIS decides that your application merits approval, it will require you to pay an additional $1,020 fee before you can receive an approval of your re-parole application.

If you want to apply with a request for partial fee waiver based on low income or financial hardship, you must apply by mail. If you are applying with a fee waiver request, apply at least 90 days before parole expiration as it takes USCIS additional 3-4 weeks to adjudicate your fee waiver request.

If you are applying online, you will have to fill out the following form pre-amble:

1. To the question, “Are you applying on behalf of someone else?” Answer “No.” DO NOT ANSWER “YES” EVEN IF YOU ARE APPLYING ON BEHALF OF YOUR CHILD OR OTHER RELATIVE. YOU ARE APPLYING FROM THAT PERSON’S ACCOUNT, AND “YOU” MEANS THE APPLICANT.
2. To the question, “Where is the applicant currently located?” select “Inside the United States.”
3. In the list “What application type are you filing for?” select “New Period of Parole: Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members.”
4. In the filing options, select “Fill Out Form Fields Online.” DO NOT SELECT “UPLOAD A FILLED OUT PDF FORM”! THIS OPTION DOES NOT WORK RELIABLY. IF YOU ARE APPLYING WITH A PARTIAL FEE WAIVER, APPLY BY MAIL.

Once you submit the preamble, you will be redirected to the from I-131. Fill out the form as follows:

1. In the question, “What type of application are you applying for?” select “Arrival/Departure Records for re-parole”
2. To the question “Are you applying on behalf of someone else?” respond “NO.”
3. Select “Initially paroled into the United States or granted parole in place under INA section 212(d)(5)(A) under a specific program or process and I am requesting a new period of parole.”
4. In the question “What is the program or process?” select “Re-parole Process for certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members” (question 10.C in Part 1 of the paper from).
5. Indicate the Admit Until date shown in your I-94 with parole (question 12 in Part 1 of the paper form).
6. To the question, “Is someone assisting you with completing this application?” respond “No” if you are filling out the form for yourself. Respond “Yes” and fill out your information if you are filling out the form for someone else (your child, other relative or friend). This question corresponds to the Part 12 – Preparer section on the paper form.
7. Complete the About You section and Biographic Information section with your information (questions 1-14 in Part 2, and questions 1-6 in Part 3 of the paper form).
8. To the question, “Do you hold status as a refugee, were you paroled as a refugee?” respond “No” (question 13 in Part 1 of the paper form).
9. Indicate if you have ever been in a deportation or removal proceeding (question 1 in Part 4 on the paper form).
10. To the question, “Have you ever been issued a Reentry Permit or Refugee Travel Document?” respond “No” (question 2 in Part 4 on the paper form).
11. Indicate if you have ever been issued an advance parole document I-512 or I-512L (questions 3.a-b in Part 4 on the paper form).
12. Explain why you qualify for a new period of parole and how long you expect to stay in the United States (questions 1 and 2 in Part 8 on the paper form). Parole is granted for personal humanitarian reasons, so try to make your explanation personal. Write how the war touched your home, your city, your family. Avoid generalities whenever possible. For the expected length of stay in months, you can indicate “24”.
13. If you would like to request a new employment authorization card (EAD) with your re-parole, select this option (Part 9 on the paper form).
14. Sign the form in the Applicant Signature section. An electronic form is signed with the first and last name of the applicant. A PAPER FORM MUST BE HAND-SIGNED REGARDLESS THE AGE OF THE APPLICANT! If the paper form is not hand-signed, USCIS will return it.
    • A parent or legal guardian may sign the form for a child under the age of 14 who cannot sign the form personally. The signature of the parent or guardian must be in the form “PARENT/GUARDIAN FULL NAME for CHILD’s FULL NAME” (for example: “Yakov Franko for Ivan Franko”). Children older than 14 must sign their applications themselves.
15. Attach:
    • A copy of the government-issued ID. This can be the bio page of your travel passport, or front and back of your employment authorization card or U.S. driver’s license.
    • Most recent form I-94 showing your prior parole. You can find your most recent form I-94 at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search or attached at the bottom of your prior re-parole approval (form I-797A).
    • Evidence of urgent humanitarian reasons warranting approval of you re-parole request. A statement in form I-131 is generally insufficient; you must also attach an affidavit explaining where you resided when the war began, how the war affected you, how and why you traveled to the United States and why you cannot safely return home. See video below for detailed instructions on submitting evidence of urgent humanitarian reasons. If you are applying online, upload this evidence in the I-94 section of the online form.
    • Any additional information and documents to explain late filing, prior immigration issues, or criminal history (if applicable).
    • If you are signing the form for your child under the age of 14, attach the child’s birth certificate or legal guardianship documents with a certified translation showing your relationship to the child.

Employment Authorization Based on Re-Parole

You may renew your EAD card based on re-parole by selecting the corresponding option in the form I-131. USCIS will send you a new EAD card after USCIS approves your re-parole application. Your new EAD will be valid for a year since the date of your re-parole.

The cost of an EAD based on re-parole is $750. If you have requested an EAD in your application for re-parole, you will have to pay this fee in addition to the $580 re-parole fee, for a total of $1330. Low-income applicants requesting reduced fee via Form I-912 (request for a fee waiver), have to pay only $280 for the EAD.

If you were paroled before September 30, 2024 and your re-parole application has been approved, you remain employment-authorized incident to your parole and may work up to 90 days based on your new form I-94 attached to the re-parole approval (form I-797A) while waiting for your new EAD card.

Requesting a Partial Fee Waiver

If you cannot afford to pay the full fee, you may apply by mail with a partial fee waiver request. Fill out one form I-912 – Request for Fee Waiver for the entire household. Each household member’s re-parole filing fee of $580 will be waived, and the EAD filing fee of $750 will be reduced to $280.

If you are requesting an EAD in form I-131 for an applicant, also fill out form G-1450 or G-1650 for this applicant authorizing USCIS to charge a credit card or bank account for the reduced fee of $280. Put Form I-912 along with forms G-1450/G-1650 and the evidence supporting the fee waiver request on top of the applications for all family members for whom you are asking the fee waiver. Evidence for Form I-912 may include:

• a benefits verification letter from the social services showing that at least one person in your household is receiving means-tested benefits such as Medicaid, CHIP, food stamps or cash assistance;
• your last year’s tax return showing income less than 150% of federal poverty level; or
• a detailed explanation of financial hardship with evidence in the form of paychecks, bank statements, proof of monthly expenses, etc.

Mail all forms and supporting evidence to the address for Ukrainians found in the “Arrival/Departure Records for Re-parole” section on page https://www.uscis.gov/i-131-addresses.

After You Have Submitted Your Application

Once your application is received and the filing fee processed, USCIS will mail you a receipt notice on form I-797C. When you apply online, your application is received and the notice is mailed instantly. If you applied by mail, allow 3-4 weeks for USCIS to receive and process your application and mail you the notice. If your paper application is incomplete or forms contain errors, USCIS will not charge the filing fee and mail the forms back to you with an explanation of the deficiency.

After the application is accepted, USCIS will schedule a biometrics appointment for the applicant. That typically happens within a month of submission. A Biometrics Appointment notice indicating the date, time, and place of the biometrics appointment will be posted in the case documents and mailed to you. If the date or place of the appointment is inconvenient for you, you may reschedule the appointment to a different date or location using the Reschedule Biometrics option in the account menu. USCIS may wave biometrics for children under 14, in which case USCIS will post a Biometrics Reuse notice in the case informing the applicant that they will not need to undergo biometrics.

After you have undergone biometrics, USCIS will begin reviewing your application.

When USCIS is ready to approve the application, its status will change to Conditionally Approved. You will have 33 days since that date to pay the $1,020 immigration fee. This fee cannot be waived and must be paid for each applicant who received a conditional approval. You can pay the fee at https://my.uscis.gov/accounts/parole-fee/start/overview (you do not have to have an online account to use this link).

After you have paid the immigration fee, USCIS will issue a final approval of the application. Final approval may take up to three months after the payment. When your re-parole application is approved, USCIS will mail you a re-parole approval notice I-797A with an attached new Form I-94 showing your new parole term.

If you requested EAD in form I-131, your new EAD card should be issued after the re-parole approval. Beware that EAD issuance may take weeks or months. After your re-parole application is approved, you can find out the receipt number for your related EAD application by contacting USCIS via the phone or Emma chat.