Q1. How will USCIS decide who is invited to participate in the family reunification parole processes?
We will base our decision on multiple discretionary factors, including the number of requests we can process efficiently and how long a beneficiary may need to wait before an immigrant visa becomes available to them. Invitations will be sent to petitioners on a rolling basis.
Q2. Who is eligible for consideration for parole under the family reunification parole processes?
To be eligible for the family reunification parole process:
Invitations will identify the principal beneficiary and their immediate family members (derivative beneficiaries). This process allows U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident petitioners to initiate a process for their eligible beneficiaries to be considered for parole into the United States while they wait for their family-based immigrant visas to become available. For more information, see the Eligibility section of the Family Reunification Parole Processes webpage.
Q3. How long is the period of parole under the family reunification parole processes?
Noncitizens granted parole under these processes will generally be paroled into the United States for a period of up to 3 years, if they meet medical and vetting requirements.
Q4. What will happen to Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) cases that were filed using Form I-131 before Aug. 11, 2023, and are now pending processing and interview at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba?
USCIS has mailed a notice to petitioners who have a CFRP case pending a beneficiary’s interview in Havana, under a previously submitted Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. The notice that was mailed to petitioners explains how the CFRP case may proceed and provides important information about updating addresses with USCIS.
If you are a petitioner who previously filed Form I-131 for a beneficiary under CFRP, refer to information on the Cuban Family Reunification Parole page for more information.
Questions Relating to Supporters and Filing Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support
Q5. How are invitations being issued?
The Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) will email invitations to petitioners at their email address of record for the approved Form I-130. If there is no email address of record, the NVC will mail the invitation to the petitioner’s mailing address of record. If you are a petitioner, please make sure the NVC has your current contact information and mailing address. To update your contact information or address, contact the NVC through their Public Inquiry Form.
Invitations will be issued on a rolling basis, based on U.S. government operational capacity, the expected period of time until the principal beneficiary’s immigrant visa becomes available, and in a manner calibrated to best achieve the policy aims of this process. You can use our Invitation Search tool to check whether an invitation was sent to you.
Q6. How can attorneys fill out Form I-134A for their clients who would like to request to be a supporter and initiate the family reunification parole process on behalf of a beneficiary?
There is no option at this time for an attorney or accredited representative to use an online representative account to file a Form I-134A on behalf of a petitioner or submit travel authorization information on behalf of a beneficiary.
Q7. I am an attorney assisting a supporter with Form I-134A. If the petitioner fills out the preparer declaration on the form, can I get information about the petitioner or beneficiary?
No. The preparer declaration simply reflects that you helped an individual complete the form. If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you must submit Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, to USCIS if you wish to receive information about your client’s (the petitioner’s) Form I-134A. We do not currently allow representatives to complete Form I-134A online on behalf of a petitioner using a representative account. However, a representative who has submitted a valid Form G-28 to USCIS separately through a representative account may inquire about their client’s case by contacting the USCIS Contact Center.
Q8. Can I file Form I-134A by mail?
No. You can only file Form I-134A online using a myUSCIS online account.
Q9. Can I submit Form I-134A on behalf of my family member if I live outside the United States?
No. The family reunification parole processes are available by invitation only to petitioners of approved Form I-130 who have an address that is inside the United States. At this time, invitations will not be sent to petitioners with addresses outside the United States.
Q10. Is there a cost to file Form I-134A?
No. There is no fee to file Form I-134A. Neither the petitioner nor the beneficiary needs to pay a fee to file the Form I-134A, obtain a travel authorization, or be considered for parole. After a Form I-134A is confirmed, beneficiaries will need to pay any fees required by their panel physician to complete the required medical examination. Beware of any scams or potential exploitation by anyone who asks for money associated with participation in these family reunification parole processes.
Q11. I want to submit Form I-134A on behalf of a family of 4. Can I file 1 Form I-134A for the entire family?
No. You must file a separate Form I-134A for each beneficiary, including minor children. For example, in the case of a family of 4, you must file 4 separate Forms I-134A.
Q12. Can I use a co-supporter if I cannot establish that I can financially support the beneficiary?
Yes. If you cannot establish that you can financially support the beneficiary, you may use co-supporters, who do not need to be a family member. If you are filing Form I-134A with a co-supporter, any co-supporter is subject to the same financial evidentiary requirements as the primary Form I-134A filer. You should submit their financial evidence, such as bank statements, a letter from an employer, and income tax returns. A co-supporter will not file their own Form I-134A, but they do have to demonstrate their ability to support the beneficiary for the duration of the parole period through the evidence that you upload on their behalf. In this case, the petitioner will file a Form I-134A and include supplementary evidence demonstrating the identity of, and resources to be provided by, the co-supporter. You should also attach a statement explaining the intent to share responsibility to support the beneficiary.
If you have 1 or more co-supporters you (and not the co-supporter) must:
Q13. Can I agree to support more than 1 beneficiary?
Yes. If you received an invitation, you may submit a Form I-134A for the principal beneficiary and a separate Form I-134A for each derivative beneficiary. There is no limit on how many beneficiaries you may agree to support by filing Form I-134A, but we will determine whether you have the financial ability to support all beneficiaries you have agreed to support for the duration of their parole period, which is up to 3 years. Each Form I-134A must be submitted using the petitioner’s same myUSCIS online account. You may also have co-supporters join you to support some or all the beneficiaries.
Q14. What if a derivative beneficiary was not included on the approved Form I-130? Can I submit a Form I-134A on their behalf as a derivative beneficiary?
If a principal beneficiary married or had a child after we approved the Form I-130 filed on their behalf, you may also file Form I-134A to request to be a supporter and initiate the family reunification parole process for the principal beneficiary’s spouse or child under age 21 (often referred to as add-on derivatives). Certain circumstances may affect eligibility. Please see the “Eligibility” section of the Family Reunification Parole Processes webpage for more information.
The invitation you receive instructing that you may file Form I-134A will not list the add-on derivatives because they were not listed on the Form I-130 that you filed on behalf of the principal beneficiary and we approved. However, you may still file Form I-134A requesting to be a supporter and initiate the family reunification parole process for the add-on derivatives of the principal beneficiary. As with a derivative beneficiary who was listed on the Form I-130, you must submit evidence, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate, as part of the Form I-134A to verify the family relationship between the principal beneficiary and the add-on derivative beneficiary you are requesting to support. Without evidence of the family relationship between the principal beneficiary and their derivative beneficiaries, the derivative beneficiaries will not be able to proceed through this process. The Form I-134A explains how to upload this evidence. The evidence for both derivative and add-on derivative beneficiaries is uploaded the same way. You must include a full English translation and translator’s certification with any evidence submitted in a language other than English.
Q15. Is there a specific income requirement for Form I-134A under the family reunification parole processes?
No. Each potential supporter’s circumstances are unique, and we review financial information provided on Form I-134A about all assets and resources. We use the Federal Poverty Guidelines, as outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services, as a general guide in determining the ability of the petitioner (and co-supporters, if applicable) to support the beneficiary for the duration of the beneficiary’s anticipated period of parole. When we use the Federal Poverty Guidelines, we consider a petitioner’s and co-supporter’s household size to include the beneficiary listed on the Form I-134A, even if the beneficiary does not intend to live with the petitioner or co-supporter.
Q16. What type of financial proof must I provide? Do I need to provide my tax filings, proof of employment, and bank statement, or can I submit only 1 of these documents?
Petitioners should determine what financial information they have about their assets that will help us determine their financial suitability. Some examples of financial evidence may include your federal income tax filing; bank statements; Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, from your employer; pay stubs or pay statements from the past few months; and any proof of income coming into your household.
Q17. Will the named beneficiary on my Form I-134A be able to see my financial information, including the evidence that I provide?
No. Beneficiaries do not have access to the financial information you submitted to USCIS as proof of your income and assets or any co-supporter’s income and assets.
Q18. Does USCIS consider the beneficiary’s income and financial resources in determining whether their Form I-134A is sufficient?
No. When we are determining whether a Form I-134A is sufficient, we do not consider information about the beneficiary’s income or financial resources.
Q19. If I am already in the United States, can I be a beneficiary under these processes?
No. To be eligible under a family reunification parole process, a beneficiary must be outside the United States.
Q20. Can I be a beneficiary under these processes if I am residing outside my country of citizenship (Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, or Honduras)?
Yes. A beneficiary is not eligible for this process if they are in the United States, but they do not have to be residing in their country of citizenship to be considered for parole under family reunification parole. Immediate family members (derivative beneficiaries and add-on derivative beneficiaries) of the principal beneficiary may be considered for parole under these processes even if they are not a national of Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, or Honduras, as long as the principal beneficiary is a national of 1 of those countries.
Q21. Can I be a beneficiary under these processes if I am dual national of a country that DHS does not have a family reunification parole process for?
Yes. A principal beneficiary who is a dual national (of countries other than the United States) may be considered for parole under these processes if 1 country they are a national of is Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, or Honduras.
Q22. Does each family member need their own individual myUSCIS online account, including children under the age of 18?
No. A separate myUSCIS online account is not necessary for a beneficiary to receive authorization to travel to the United States under the parole processes. Principal beneficiaries can add travel group members to their myUSCIS online account, including their spouses and children under the age of 18, as long as each beneficiary has a confirmed Form I-134A.
For example, after we confirm a Form I-134A for a child and a separate Form I-134A for that child’s parent, the parent, as the principal beneficiary, can add the child to their own travel group through their myUSCIS online account. The principal beneficiary will review and confirm biographic information and complete attestations for travel group members, including the principal beneficiary’s spouse and children. However, once the principal beneficiary completes and submits the attestations for all travel group members including themselves, the principal beneficiary cannot add any other travel group members unless the travel group members are under the age of 18 years old.
Q23. My passport is expired. Do I need to request an extension, or will my expired passport be accepted?
All beneficiaries intending to travel to the United States under a family reunification parole process must have a valid, unexpired passport, or a certified extension of the passport validity. If the beneficiary’s government has extended the validity of their passport, the passport expiration date should be the expiration date of the extension. CBP will not authorize travel if a passport or certified extension has expired.
Q24. Can children travel under the passport of their parents?
No. Minor children traveling with their parent must have their own passport and may not be included on a parent’s passport.
Q25. Can children under the age of 18 years be paroled into the United States without their parent or legal guardian under these processes?
No. Children who are under the age of 18 will only be considered for parole under this process if they are traveling to the United States with and in the care and custody of their parent or legal guardian.
Parents or legal guardians traveling with a child under the age of 18 should be prepared to provide documentation of their relationship to the child to CBP when they arrive in the United States. Evidence of a parental relationship may include a birth certificate for the child that lists the parent’s name and identity documents for the parent or legal guardian. If this documentation is not available, for the protection and welfare of the child, U.S. law may require that the child be placed in the custody of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Generally, evidence of legal guardianship requires that a legal or administrative process involving the courts or other recognized government entity take place. A power of attorney, written statement, or notarized statement is not a formally recognized arrangement and will not be considered sufficient proof of legal guardianship.
Q26. If I am a beneficiary, do I have to live with my petitioner after I am paroled into the United States?
No. Beneficiaries are not required to live with the petitioner who submitted the Form I-134A. However, the petitioner is responsible for providing support beneficiaries may need in addition to financial support for the duration of their parole period, including safe and appropriate housing, health care, transportation, obtaining initial basic necessities, assistance with submitting forms such as the employment authorization application, learning English, securing employment, and enrolling children in school.
Q27. How long will it take between the time a petitioner submits Form I-134A and when a beneficiary is granted travel authorization?
Processing times will vary. USCIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are committed to reviewing and processing cases as thoroughly and expeditiously as possible.
During the process, several steps must be completed and will depend on action taken by petitioners and beneficiaries. In the initial part of the process, we will review and provide responses to the petitioner’s Form I-134A as quickly as possible. After we confirm the Form I-134A, we will email the beneficiary with instructions to create a myUSCIS online account and complete the attestation process and required medical examination by a panel physician. In the online account, beneficiaries review their biographic information and complete the necessary attestations for themselves and their children under the age of 18, including the medical attestation which must be completed after each beneficiary completes a required medical exam.
After attestations are complete and the medical exam results are verified, the beneficiary will then receive instructions to download the CBP One mobile app, where they will submit biographic information and a live photo to CBP. After they submit their photo, CBP will vet them to determine whether to issue them an advance travel authorization to the United States to be considered for parole. CBP may then send the advance travel authorization determination to USCIS to be posted to the beneficiary’s USCIS online account. If CBP issues advance authorization to travel, the beneficiary is responsible for arranging and funding their own travel to the United States. If issued, advance travel authorization is generally valid for 90 days, and will post to the beneficiary’s myUSCIS online account.
The status of an advance travel authorization may change at any time as a result of the vetting process. Individuals should monitor their myUSCIS online account frequently for messages and notices from USCIS, and for the most current travel authorization status.
Q28. If processing my Form I-134A is taking longer than expected, what can I do?
You can monitor the status of your Form I-134A in your myUSCIS online account or check your most recent status in Case Status Online. Please note that the USCIS Contact Center cannot provide any additional information on the status of your case.
NOTE: Petitioners cannot submit a duplicate Form I-134A for the same beneficiary. We will not accept a duplicate Form I-134A when a Form I-134A filed by the petitioner on behalf of the same beneficiary is already pending.
Biometric ScreeningQ29. Where will my biometrics be collected?
Beneficiaries must submit certain biographic and biometric information to DHS for screening and vetting purposes. If a beneficiary receives advance authorization to travel to the United States, upon arrival to a U.S. port of entry, CBP will inspect the beneficiary and ask for additional information, including fingerprints, for further biometric vetting, and then consider them for a discretionary grant of parole.
Q30. What are the medical requirements for beneficiaries under these processes?
Each beneficiary must undergo a medical exam and be medically cleared for travel by a panel physician in their country of residence. Beneficiaries must attest to completing the medical exam and having no Class A medical conditions, as determined by the panel physician, before CBP will consider whether to issue advance travel authorization. The beneficiary should not attest to completing the medical exam and having no Class A medical conditions until after they have completed the exam with a panel physician, including any necessary medical treatment, and received the required vaccinations. Please see the “Medical Exam” section on the Family Reunification Parole Processes webpage for more information and instructions about scheduling a medical exam.
Q31. How long is a travel authorization valid?
If approved, the advance travel authorization is valid for 90 days. Beneficiaries are responsible for securing their own travel via commercial air to the United States.
Q32. Do principal and derivative beneficiaries with advance travel authorization need to travel to the United States together?
No. However, principal beneficiaries must travel to the United States with or before any derivative beneficiary. Derivative beneficiaries may not be paroled into the United States unless their principal beneficiary has already been paroled into the United States.
NOTE: Children must travel with their parent or a legal guardian. A legal guardian is an individual who has full custodial rights and obligations with respect to the child, under a formal legal arrangement issued by a government authority, such as a court order. Children who are determined to be unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian at the port of entry are not eligible for parole under this process. Children who are not traveling with a parent or legal guardian but are coming to the United States to meet a parent or legal guardian who is already present in the United States may instead seek parole through the standard Form I-131 parole process.
Q33. My travel authorization will expire soon, and I have been unable to arrange travel to the United States. Can I request an extension?
If, for reasons beyond your control, you (the beneficiary) cannot travel within the 90-day advance travel authorization validity period, your petitioner may submit a one-time request for a 90-day travel authorization extension to USCIS. Only the petitioner who filed the Form I-134A may request a one-time extension of a previously approved advance travel authorization. A beneficiary may not request an extension of their advance travel authorization on their own behalf.
Petitioners must submit the extension request no more than 30 days before, and no more than 30 days after, the expiration date of the original approved advance travel authorization period. Petitioners must request a separate extension for each beneficiary by following the steps below.
To submit the request, a petitioner must:
We will review the petitioner’s request for an advance travel authorization extension and submit the request, along with the beneficiary’s information, to CBP to conduct additional vetting. If CBP approves the request, the petitioner will receive an email notification when the extended advance travel authorization notice has been posted to your myUSCIS online account. Please note that for privacy reasons, only you (the beneficiary) will be able to view the extended advance travel authorization notice in your myUSCIS online account. You should notify your petitioner when you receive your extended travel authorization notice.
If your original approved advance travel authorization expires more than 30 days before your petitioner is able to request an extension, your petitioner must submit a new Form I-134A for you to obtain a new advance travel authorization instead. If 30 days pass after expiration while the request is pending, or if you cannot travel to the United States during the one-time 90-day extension, your petitioner must also submit a new Form I-134A.
Q34. Can CBP tell me why they denied advance travel authorization?
Due to the secure nature of the vetting and screening process, CBP cannot offer additional information about the process or provide details about the status or result of an advance travel authorization review. If a beneficiary’s advance travel authorization request is denied, CBP cannot explain why. However, you might be denied if you attested to completing your medical requirements before you completed your medical exam with a panel physician or before you were cleared of Class A medical conditions. If your advance travel authorization is still pending, CBP asks you to remain patient while the review continues.
Q35. If I am paroled into the United States under these processes, will I be able to apply for an Advance Parole Document if I need to travel outside the United States?
Yes. If a beneficiary is paroled into the United States and wants to apply for an Advance Parole Document before they travel, they should file a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. An Advance Parole Document will allow you to seek parole into the United States at a port of entry when you return from a trip outside the United States. For more information about advance parole documents, including fees and fee waivers, visit the Form I-131 webpage.
Please note that obtaining an Advance Parole Document does not guarantee you will be paroled back into the United States. CBP will make a separate discretionary decision on your request for parole when you arrive back at a U.S. port of entry.
Employment AuthorizationQ36. If I am paroled into the United States under a family reunification parole process, will I be automatically authorized to work?
No. Parolees under family reunification parole processes do not automatically receive employment authorization. You must file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, which can be completed online.
Recognizing that some applicants cannot pay the filing fees, USCIS established a fee waiver process for certain forms and benefit types. We will approve a fee waiver only if you clearly demonstrate that you are unable to pay the filing fees. Visit the Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver page to learn more.
Q37. If I am approved to travel to the United States as a beneficiary under a family reunification parole process, when can I apply for employment authorization?
After you are paroled into the United States, you are eligible to apply for discretionary employment authorization from USCIS. To apply for an Employment Authorization Document, you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, using the (c)(11) category code with the required fee or apply for a fee waiver. You may submit Form I-765 through your myUSCIS online account with the required fee. However, to request a fee waiver, you must file your paper Form I-765 by mail, along with Form I-912, Request for a Fee Waiver. You cannot file Form I-912 online through your myUSCIS online account.
Q38. How long will it take to approve my employment authorization application?
While processing times will vary depending on the complexities of each case, we encourage online filing because it prevents delays associated with mailing, provides an immediate receipt, and allows you to track the progress of your case online. Paper-filed employment authorizations can also be added to an individual’s online account.
Q39. If I have a question about my case, how can I contact USCIS?
The best way to contact us depends on the type of question.
USCIS will only accept a case status inquiry if the Form I-134A filed has been pending more than 6 months. This includes inquiries submitted through the secure mailbox in your myUSCIS online account. Please note this is a default time frame for inquiring, and you should not necessarily expect a decision on your Form I-134A in that time frame.
Q40. How can I withdraw a pending Form I-134A if I no longer wish to pursue family reunification parole for my family member?
If the Form I-134A is still pending, the petitioner should log in to their myUSCIS online account, go to the Notices tab, and use the Unsolicited Evidence feature to upload a letter they have signed by hand (not an electronically signed letter). The letter must clearly explain that the petitioner would like to withdraw the Form I-134A. The petitioner must keep the original signed letter in case we ask for it later. We will not send a response to the letter. However, we will review the withdrawal request when we select the Form I-134A for review.
If the Form I-134A has already been confirmed, the petitioner cannot withdraw it.
Q41. USCIS has confirmed my Form I-134A but has not yet emailed the beneficiary. What should I do?
If a beneficiary has not received emailed notices from USCIS, the petitioner should review the Form I-134A and check whether it provided the correct email address for the beneficiary. If the email address is correct, the beneficiary should check their spam and junk mail folders. If a beneficiary still cannot find the notice, they should call the USCIS Contact Center. The number for those outside the United States is +1-212-620-3418. Alternatively, the petitioner can send USCIS a secure message through their myUSCIS online account and, after we complete the verification process, we can email the Account Notice to the beneficiary’s email that we have on file.
If the beneficiary’s email address provided on the Form I-134A is incorrect, the petitioner should log in to their myUSCIS online account, go to the Notices tab, and use the Unsolicited Evidence feature to upload a letter the petitioner has signed by hand (not an electronically signed letter). The letter should:
The letter should list both the original, incorrect email address provided on the Form I-134A and the updated, correct email address for the beneficiary. The petitioner must also keep the original signed letter in case we ask for it later.
Correcting a Submitted Form I-134AQ42. How can I correct information on a Form I-134A that was submitted but is still pending?
If the Form I-134A is still pending, you (the petitioner) should log in to your myUSCIS online account, go to the Notices tab, and use the Unsolicited Evidence feature to upload a letter you have signed by hand (not an electronically signed letter). The letter should:
You also must keep the original signed letter in case we ask for it later. We will not send a response to your letter. However, we will review the correction request and letter when we review your Form I-134A to determine whether it is sufficient and can be confirmed. The record will not reflect the correction until the case is confirmed.
Q43. How can I correct information on a Form I-134A that has been confirmed?
The beneficiary can edit certain fields when they complete their biographic attestations. Fields that are editable are:
If the beneficiary's passport information is incorrect, the petitioner should log into their myUSCIS online account to upload a copy of a valid, unexpired passport as Unsolicited Evidence in the Notices tab and send a message from the secure mailbox.
The petitioner should select “case already filed online” as the subject of the message and “correcting my biographical information” as the issue. The petitioner must also acknowledge that the evidence has already been uploaded.
The Contact Center will respond by email that the issue has been resolved.
If the beneficiary's country of nationality is incorrect, the petitioner should log in to their myUSCIS online account to upload evidence of the correct country as Unsolicited Evidence in the Notices tab and send a message from the secure mailbox.
The petitioner should select “case already filed online” as the subject of the message and “other” as the issue. The petitioner must also acknowledge that the evidence has already been uploaded.
The Contact Center will respond by email that the issue has been resolved.
The petitioner or beneficiary should log into their myUSCIS online account and use the Unsolicited Evidence feature and, if name, date of birth, or passport information is incorrect, upload a copy of the beneficiary’s passport.
The petitioner or beneficiary should then send a secure message from their myUSCIS online account. The petitioner or beneficiary should select “case already filed online” as the subject of the message and “correcting my biographical information” as the issue. The petitioner or beneficiary must also acknowledge that the evidence has already been uploaded.
Q44. What if I (the beneficiary) received an error code in the CBP One mobile app that says, “Record cannot be found: Check your date of birth, passport and A-Number in your myUSCIS account to ensure they are correct.” What do I do?
To address the error and check that your attestations have been properly submitted, you must:
If you need to correct your passport information or date of birth, or if all your information appears correct and you are still unable to proceed, you should use your myUSCIS account to:
Q45. Are parolees who came to the United States through a family reunification parole process eligible for REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or identification cards?
Beneficiaries paroled into the United States are not eligible for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card because parole is not included in the REAL ID Act as a category authorized to receive a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. However, parolees may be covered by another category eligible for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license. For example, an approved or pending application for Temporary Protected Status or asylum can potentially qualify the applicant for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card. In addition, many drivers’ license issuing authorities allow parolees to apply for a driver’s license or ID card that is not REAL ID-compliant. For more information, please see REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions and guidance from the Department of Motor Vehicles for the jurisdiction where you live.