The following is a translation of text available on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.
Beginning Feb. 27, 2024, certain Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members 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. Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members may apply for re-parole by submitting Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, along with supporting documentation and the proper filing fee or fee waiver request. You can submit Form I-131 online or on paper by mail.
To be eligible for re-parole under this process, you must demonstrate the following:
- That you are a Ukrainian citizen or 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 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 date of parole on your Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.
To File Online: Create a USCIS Online Account if you do not already have one. Information about how to do so is available on How to Create a USCIS Online Account webpage. (See also How to Create a USCIS Online Account in Ukrainian and How to Create a USCIS Online Account in Russian.) This will allow you to receive notifications related to the status of your filing. Even if you file by paper, you can add paper-filed cases to your account. As an applicant, click on “My Account” and then “Add a paper-filed case” in the drop-down menu. Enter your receipt number, and you can see your case status and history.
Reminder: Uniting for Ukraine parolees are required to attest to completion of all requirements including in their USCIS online account as a condition of their parole:
- 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
USCIS Frequently Asked Questions About Re-Parole
What Documents Do I Need?
Whether you are applying for re-parole online or by mail on paper, you will need to 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 your USCIS-issued Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Include copies of the front and back. It may be helpful to refer to your EAD when you are creating a USCIS online account to ensure consistency in your application;
- A copy of both sides of your government-issued driver’s license or ID; and
- A copy of the identity (biographical) page of your passport, with English translation 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 foreign language to USCIS, you also must include a full English translation that the translator has certified as complete and accurate, as well as the translator’s certification that they are competent to translate from the foreign language into English.
If I have applied for or received Temporary Protected Status, do I need to file for re-parole?
If you have been granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), but you have not obtained any other status and you remain an “applicant for admission,” you may apply for re-parole, but you are not required to apply for re-parole. You may want to consult with an immigration attorney or accredited legal representative to determine what is best for your particular situation.
Is there a date by which Ukrainian parolees and their immediate family members should file for re-parole?
Yes. If your parole has not been terminated, and we have not changed or adjusted your immigration status, you should apply for re-parole before your initial parole period expires. If your parole period expires, you are no longer in a period of authorized stay unless you have been granted an immigration status such as asylum, lawful permanent resident status, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or are otherwise in a period of authorized stay such as having a pending asylum application. If your parole period expires, you may no longer be employment authorized unless you have been granted an immigration status that allows you to work, or you qualify for work authorization based on another immigration category.
If USCIS approves a new parole period, will you automatically give me a new Employment Authorization Document?
No. When you apply for re-parole, you are applying for a new period of parole, not an extension of the initial parole period. If we approve your re-parole application, you must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to apply for a new EAD based on the new parole period. Do not file your Form I-765 before we approve your re-parole application. Eligible parolees will receive an EAD that they can present to their employers for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
If you receive a Form I-131 approval notice showing a new period of parole, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Form I-94 website to view and print a copy of your new Form I-94, which should reflect an updated “class of admission” of “UHP.”
When can I submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to renew my EAD?
Wait until after we approve your re-parole application to file Form I-765 in category (c)(11) to apply for a new EAD as evidence of employment authorization for a period consistent with your re-parole period. Do not file Form I-765 before you receive a re-parole approval notice. If you file Form I-765 before we approve your re-parole application, we may deny your Form I-765, and we will not refund the fee.
You can file Form I-765 either online or by mail on paper. You can use your USCIS Online Account to file Form I-765. If you request a fee waiver request for Form I-765, you must file Form I-765 by paper. You cannot apply for an EAD online if you are requesting a fee waiver.
How can I check the status of my re-parole application?
If you applied for re-parole by submitting Form I-131 through your USCIS online account, you can check the status of your case in your account. We have a short video on how to check your case status in your account. You can also check the status of your case using Case Status Online and entering your receipt number.
What is the estimated processing time for re-parole applications under this process?
At this time, we cannot predict what the processing times will be. Filing online can help reduce processing time in general because you will not have to mail a form to USCIS and you will be able to access notices and upload required information more quickly. Filing online may also prevent common mistakes that we see with paper filings, which cause unnecessary delays.
What if my initial parole expires while my re-parole application is pending? Will you extend my parole while you process my re-parole application?
After your initial parole expires, you are no longer in a period of stay authorized unless you have been granted an immigration status, such as asylum or TPS, or are otherwise in a period of stay authorized, 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.
If you grant my re-parole application, will I still be able to receive benefits, such as from the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) for cash and medical assistance?
Yes, certain Ukrainian citizens and nationals and their eligible family members who last habitually resided in Ukraine are eligible for ORR refugee benefits and services if they were paroled into the United States from Feb. 24, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023. Ukrainian parolees who did not arrive during this time frame are not necessarily eligible for ORR refugee benefits and services, even if they were paroled under Uniting for Ukraine.
To read more Frequently Asked Questions, visit the USCIS website.