Eligible Ukrainians Can Now Apply for Re-Parole
Beginning Feb. 27, 2024, certain Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members displaced by the Russian invasion and paroled into the United States on or after Feb. 11, 2022, will be able to apply for a new period of parole (also known as re-parole) for up to two years. We will consider these applications on a discretionary, case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. To apply for re-parole, we encourage eligible applicants to submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, with the appropriate filing fee through a USCIS online account to save time and reduce errors commonly found on paper-filed forms that can lead to delays. Once approved for re-parole, Ukrainians can then apply for an initial or renewal Employment Authorization Document with USCIS.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the secretary of homeland security exercised his discretionary authority to allow certain Ukrainians to seek temporary parole in the United States, as well as apply for work authorization. The extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine that supported the prior exercise of discretionary parole authority continue to exist. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has continued and has resulted in tremendous civilian casualties. USCIS will take these current extraordinary circumstances into account on a case-by-case basis in evaluating requests for re- parole. For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations alike have used parole authority on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
To be eligible for re-parole under this process, you must demonstrate the following:
- That you are a Ukrainian citizen or their immediate family member who was paroled into the United States on or after Feb. 11, 2022;
- That there are continued urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit for issuance of a new period of parole, including the urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit factors identified above, as well as any additional factors;
- That you warrant a favorable exercise of discretion;
- That you are physically present in the United States;
- That you have complied with the conditions of the initial parole; and
- That you clear biographic and biometric background checks.
You can find your initial date of parole on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
It is important that you file your application for re-parole before the end of your initial parole period. If circumstances allow, USCIS recommends filing your application for re-parole no later than 60 days before the last day of your initial parole period.
Required Documents
You must use Form I-131 to request re-parole. You can submit Form I-131 online or on paper by mail. You do not need to file Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, or Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, as a supporter is not required for re-parole. Regardless of whether you apply for re-parole online or on paper by mail, you must provide documentation to confirm your initial period of parole and identity, including your photo, name, and date of birth. Examples include:
- Form I-94;
- A copy of both sides of your USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if you applied for and received one;
- A copy of both sides of your U.S. government-issued driver’s license or U.S. government- issued ID, if you applied for and received one; or
- A copy of the identity (biographical) page of your passport and copies of all admission and parole stamps in your passport for entries into the United States. Please note that children may be included in a parent’s Ukrainian passport; in such cases, the children’s information will not be on the identity page.
If you submit any document containing information in a foreign language to USCIS, you must include a full English language translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate and include the translator’s certification that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
Employment Authorization
If we approve your application for re-parole, you can then apply separately for a new EAD, for the duration of your new period of parole, by submitting Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to USCIS after we approve your re-parole. If you file Form I-765 before we grant re-parole, we may deny your Form I-765, and we will not refund any associated fees. We encourage you to apply for an EAD through a USCIS online account.
While their new EAD application is pending, parolees who have received re-parole may be able to show their new Form I-94 (issued following the grant of re-parole) as acceptable evidence of identity and employment authorization for a period of up to 90 days from the date they are hired (or for reverification of employment eligibility when the initial EAD expires). To use the I-94 for this purpose, a parolee must have been:
- Granted re-parole as a certain Ukrainian citizen or an immediate family member;
- Have a most recent date of entry on or before Sept. 30, 2023; and
- Have a new I-94 with “UHP” listed as the class of admission.
Within 90 days, the employee must present an unexpired EAD or unrestricted Social Security card and a List B identity document such as a state-issued driver’s license or identification card to meet the Form I-9 requirements. Have You Moved? As a condition of your parole, you must update your address with USCIS each time you move and within 10 days of moving. We strongly encourage you to change your address through your USCIS online account. This will help ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits from us in a timely manner and avoid possible delays.
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
|---|---|
| What do I need to know to complete the Form I-131 for re-parole? | On the online form, this will be the first question under the first section, called “Basis of Eligibility.” In the same section you must also select “yes” to the question, “Are you applying for re-parole?” On the paper form, this option is located in part 2, item 1.e. You also must write “Ukraine Re-Parole” at the top of the form if you file on paper and mail your form to the designated filing location. For detailed instructions on how to apply for re-parole under this process, visit the Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainians webpage. |
| How much does it cost to apply for re-parole? | The current Form I-131 filing fee is $575. There is no cost for biometric services. If you want to request a fee waiver, you must file Form I-131 on paper. You cannot apply for re-parole online if you are submitting a fee waiver request. Note: Our fees will be changing on April 1, 2024. Before filing, you should always check for the most up-to-date filing fee by visiting the Form I-131 page. |
| Do I need to apply for a new EAD to be able to continue working | Yes. If your application for re-parole is approved, you may file Form I-765 through your USCIS online account. Do not file your Form I-765 until after we approve your re-parole application. Eligible parolees whose Form I-765 is approved will receive an EAD that they can present to their employer for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. If you are approved for re-parole, you may be able to use your updated I-94 as an acceptable identity and work authorization document for a limited time while USCIS adjudicates your Form I-765, if you were paroled on or before Sept. 30, 2023. Individuals who receive a Form I-131 approval notice showing a new period of parole should visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Form I-94 website to view and print a copy of their new Form I-94. If USCIS approves your re-parole application, the updated I-94 will show a “class of admission” of “UHP.” For parolees who are granted re-parole and whose new, unexpired Form I-94 includes a UHP class of admission and a “Most Recent Date of Entry” on or before Sept. 30, 2023, the Form I-94 is an acceptable List A receipt that shows their identity and employment authorization for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. This satisfies the Form I-9 requirement for 90 days from the date of hire (or in the case of reverification, the date employment authorization expires). After the 90-day period, parolees must present an unexpired EAD, or unrestricted Social Security card and acceptable List B identity document from the Form I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents (such as a state-issued driver’s license or identification card). We recommend filing Form I-765 as soon as we approve your re-parole application. USCIS will provide additional guidance to employers about completion of the Form I-9. |
| My first EAD is expiring soon. Will USCIS waive the filing fee for my second EAD? | No. While USCIS did not initially require a filing fee for most of the parolees who are now eligible to apply for this process, you must submit Form I-765 for your second EAD, and include the current filing fee of $410. Before you file, check for the most up-to-date filing fee by visiting the Form I-765 page. If you want to request a fee waiver, you must file Form I-765 on paper. You cannot apply for an EAD online if you are submitting a fee waiver request. |
| If I request a fee waiver, will it affect my application? | No. Requesting a waiver of the Form I-765 fee does not affect the adjudication of your employment authorization. |
| Do I need to file any other forms to apply for re-parole? | No. You only need to file Form I-131 with the required supporting documents to apply for re-parole. |
| How soon can I file for re-parole? | It is important that you file your application for re-parole before the end of your initial parole period. If circumstances allow, USCIS recommends filing your application for re-parole no later than 60 days before the last day of your initial parole period. We will be prioritizing cases based on parole expiration dates. |
| What if my initial parole expires while my re-parole application is pending? | After your initial parole expires, you no longer are in an authorized period of stay unless you have been granted an immigration status, such as asylum or TPS, or are otherwise in an authorized period of stay, such as if you have a pending asylum, TPS, or Green Card application. We encourage you to file your re-parole application as soon as possible. |
Action Items
- Create your free USCIS online account today to apply for re-parole. By applying online, you can prevent common mistakes on your forms. If you already have an account, confirm that you have access to it. Through a USCIS online account, you can check the status of your case, access your notices from USCIS, communicate with us, and respond to requests for evidence. Even if you plan to apply for re-parole and for a new EAD by paper, you are still encouraged to create a USCIS online account to check on your case status and access USCIS notices.
- Update your address through your USCIS online account or follow the information provided on our How to Change Your Address webpage if you are filing on paper. This will help to ensure you receive all correspondence and benefits in a timely manner.
- Review and ensure completion of all attestation requirements through your USCIS online account, including:
- An attestation that you have completed vaccine requirements or are eligible for an exception to vaccine requirements for measles, polio, and the first dose of an FDA-approved or -authorized COVID-19 vaccine or a WHO-Emergency use listed (EUL) COVID-19 vaccine.
- An attestation that you received a medical screening for tuberculosis, including an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) test, within 90 days.
- Gather all required documents.
- Timely apply for re-parole before your initial parole period ends.
- Learn more about the benefits of filing online today.
Important Resources
- How to Create a USCIS Online Account in Ukrainian
- How to Create a USCIS Online Account in Russian
- Request technical support with your USCIS online account.
- Learn more about re-parole for certain Ukrainian citizens and non-Ukrainian immediate family members at the Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainians webpage.
- We may have the answer to your questions on our frequently asked questions page.
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