Leaf Group Updated November 29, 2017
You may apply for humanitarian parole if you have a compelling emergency and there is an emergent humanitarian reason or significant public benefit to allowing you to temporarily enter the United States. Anyone can file an application for humanitarian parole. Humanitarian Visa (Parole) – A Way for Immigrants to Stay in the United States. A humanitarian visa is a special document that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants to applicants or beneficiaries due to urgent humanitarian reasons. The official term for this visa in the U.S. Is humanitarian parole. And if you seek shelter due to unfavorable circumstances in your country, then you may request a humanitarian visa (read: parole) from USCIS.
Find out if a humanitarian visa is the best fit for someone you know.(Photo: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images )
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Humanitarian visas also are known as humanitarian parole and are granted for urgent humanitarian reasons. People who receive humanitarian parole are those who otherwise are unable to enter the U.S. but must do so on a temporary basis and for a compelling emergency. Humanitarian parole does not equate to a permanent immigration status and is seldom granted for longer than one year.
Requirements for the Visa
Anyone is eligible to file an application; this includes the potential parolee, a sponsoring relative, an attorney, or other interested individuals or organizations. Humanitarian parole is not a way to avoid regular visa issuing or immigration procedures. All cases must involve urgent humanitarian reasons, or there must be a significant public benefit involved.
The Visa Process
An application package for humanitarian parole must contain the original form I-131 for Application for Travel Document; the original form I-134 for Affidavit of Support; the filing fee; detailed explanations as to the reason for the application for parole; how long the parole is needed; and why a visa cannot be obtained in another way. Additionally, it is important to make sure to include copies of previously approved immigrant petitions and other supporting documents, such as tax returns and doctors' letters. Please note that, the application will not be processed until all supporting documents are received. Don't forget to check with the USCIS website for the latest filing fees. If the parolee is unable to afford the filing fee, make sure to complete a request for a fee waiver.
Medical Parole
If humanitarian parole is being used for medical reasons, an explanation from a doctor must be submitted. This explanation must include the diagnosis, prognosis, reasons why treatment is not possible in the home or neighboring country, and how long the treatment will last. Information about how the parolee intends to pay for the treatment, the cost of treatment, and how the parolee will pay to return to their home country must be included.
Visa Results
Decisions on humanitarian parole applications are made within 90 to 120 days, but especially urgent cases can be decided in a matter of days. If the request is approved, a notification will be sent in writing, but if the request is denied, there is no opportunity to appeal. If there is new information in the case relevant to the application, a new application must be refiled, following the regular parole application procedure.
References
About the Author
Shannon Bradford began publishing work in 2000. She has published humor pieces in the offbeat newspaper 'The Amusement,' and inspirational travel articles in the travelzine, Vagabondish. She graduated from Miami University with a B.A. in Spanish and Latin American studies.
Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
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Bradford, Shannon. 'What Is a Humanitarian Visa?' , https://traveltips.usatoday.com/humanitarian-visa-108465.html. 29 November 2017.
Bradford, Shannon. (2017, November 29). What Is a Humanitarian Visa? . Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/humanitarian-visa-108465.html
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