U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that certain individuals requesting parole based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit can now file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, online.
What is Immigration Parole?
A Parole, as per the US Immigration is to allow a non-citizen who is inadmissible or otherwise ineligible for admission into the United States to enter and remain temporarily in the country. Parole is granted on a case-by-case basis and is not a guarantee of permanent residency.
Who is Eligible to File Parole Online?
As per the latest update released by the USCIS, the following individuals are eligible to file Form I-131 online:
1. Humanitarian Parole
Individuals requesting parole based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit for an individual outside the United States (under application types 1.e. or 1.f. on the paper Form I-131), who are not seeking initial parole under a USCIS family reunification parole process.
2. Re-Parole
Individuals already paroled inside the United States who are requesting a new period of parole, or re-parole (under application types 1.e. or 1.f. on the paper Form I-131), to remain in the United States.
Must Read: Latest Updates on US Visa Programs, Including L1, H1-B, E2, and More
How to File Online
To file Form I-131 online, individuals must first visit my.uscis.gov to create a USCIS online account. There is no cost to create an online account, which offers a variety of features, including the ability to receive case status updates, access all notices, and upload additional evidence.
What Forms Are Not Eligible for Online Filing?
Online filing of Form I-131 is not available for individuals requesting initial parole under USCIS family reunification parole processes. However, noncitizens already paroled into the United States under USCIS family reunification parole processes may apply for a re-parole online to remain in the United States.
Online filing is also not available to individuals already inside the United States filing Form I-131 to request;
- Re-entry permit
- Refugee travel document
- TPS travel authorization document
- Advance Parole Document: This includes individuals who have already been paroled into the United States and are seeking parole back into the U.S. after a departure.
- Advance permission to travel for CNMI long-term residents
- Waiver of the filing fee for Form I-131
Individuals who are seeking parole for these reasons must continue to file the paper Form I-131 by mail.
Additional Information
Please note, however, that individuals already paroled inside the United States who want to request a new parole period, or re-parole, to remain in the United States as a parolee, may file Form I-131 online.
If you file Form I-131 online but are not eligible to file online, the USCIS will deny your application and will not refund the fee you paid.
For more information about which forms are eligible for online filing, visit our Forms Available To File Online page.
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