This is a presentation I authored for my Health & Social Inequalities class at the University of New Mexico. It involved researching US immigration regulations to learn more about what is called a "humanitarian parole" visa.

1. HOW TO BECOME
A [DOCUMENTED]
U.S. IMMIGRANT
A Q U I C K R E F E R E N C E O N T H E “ S I M P L E ” P R O C E S S
O F U S I M M I G R AT I O N

2. VISA TYPES
• Immigrant
– Includes visas sponsored by naturalized immediate
family members, religious workers, refugees, and
recipients of visas through the “diversity lottery.”
– ~ 21 different visa applications
• Non-immigrant
– Includes visas for such things as diplomatic travel,
professional athletes or other performers, and
temporary migrant work
– ~36 different visa applications

3. WHAT DOES IT COST?
• Fees are assessed by the United States Customs and Immigration
Services (USCIS) for every form submitted to the department without
any inherent or noninherent promise of affirmative action on your case.
• A few examples:
– I-131/I-131A Application for Travel Document Fee: $575
– I–290B Notice of Appeal or Motion Fee $675
– I–485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
Fee $1,140
• The above three examples are some the most commonly submitted
forms to USCIS. The above fees do not include associated costs
such as attorney retainer or overland/airline travel.

4. HUMANITARIAN PAROLE
• Terminology: “Parole” in the context of immigration
– Parole allows an individual, who may be
inadmissible or otherwise ineligible for admission
into the United States, to be paroled into the
United States for a temporary period. The
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) allows the
secretary of Homeland Security to use their
discretion to parole any alien applying for
admission into the United States temporarily for
urgent humanitarian reasons or significant
public benefit. (See INA section 212(d)(5))
• Key Points:
– Parole is temporary
– Humanitarian parolee is a non-immigrant visa
– Must accompany a specified purpose to be
completed before the expiration of the parole
period which is set at the discretion of USCIS and is
sometimes attached to conditions (such as
reporting requirements) which, if not met, may
result in a revocation of parolee status at any time
and without notice
– Sponsorship by a fiscally-independent US citizen
is required for parole applications.

5. REQUIREMENTS FOR
SPONSORS
• A prospective applicant for a visa requiring
sponsorship is referred to as a “beneficiary.”
• Sponsors must separately file an affidavit of support
and required evidentiary documentation with USCIS
(and pay the associated fees) to demonstrate that they
are financially capable of fully supporting the
beneficiary.
– “Some examples of evidence that [are] helpful in
demonstrating financial resources include pay stubs, last
filed tax return or a letter from a sponsor’s employer
(USCIS).”
• Income threshold: must show that your household
income is equal to or higher than 125% of the U.S.
poverty level for your household size. (Your
household size includes you, your dependents, any
relatives living with you, and the immigrants you are
sponsoring.)

6. US POVERTY
THRESHOLDS BY
HOUSEHOLD SIZE
• Household includes
oneself, any
dependents of the
sponsor, the beneficiary
of the sponsorship, and
any relatives living with
the sponsor or
individuals for whom
the sponsor is
providing material
support.

7. APPLYING FOR HUMANITARIAN
PAROLE
Apply • Read instructions for and submit forms I-131 and Form I-134
Pay • Pay fees associated with all forms
Wait • Upon submission of all forms and evidence, USCIS has
a certain number of days to process your application*
*The waiting period for an application accompanied by a Request for Urgency is
two days upon USCIS’s secured receipt of a petition. These cases are generally
triaged faster than other immigrant and non-immigrant applications.

8. APPROVAL – CONGRATULATIONS! (?)
• Issuance of Travel Documents and Parole into the United States (Approvals Only)
– If a request is authorized, the approval notice will inform the beneficiary that he or she must
complete a Form DS-160, Application for a Nonimmigrant Visa, and appear for an
appointment with the Department of State consular section to verify their identity and
collect biometrics ($85) for additional security vetting. All beneficiaries 14 years and older
must provide biometrics. If no derogatory information or new identity information is
identified during vetting, the U. S. Consulate issues a document referred to as a boarding foil
that allows the beneficiary to travel to the United States within 30 days of it being issued
(USCIS).
• BUT WAIT! – You’re still not guaranteed entry!
– Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Paroles into the United States (Approvals Only)
– A CBP officer inspects the beneficiary at the port of entry. If CBP paroles the beneficiary, CBP
will issue the parolee an I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, documenting the length of their
parole period. The parole period begins when CBP paroles the beneficiary at the port of
entry. After arriving in the United States, the parolee may request employment Form I-765,
Application for Employment Authorization.