Effective June 8, 2023, specific Afghan parolees have been granted employment authorization incident to their parole. This revised guidance is applicable to Afghan parolees possessing an unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, with a class of admission denoted as "PAR" and Afghanistan as the indicated country of citizenship, provided their parole has not been terminated. Additionally, these parolees are exempt from fees when applying for an initial Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or seeking a replacement for an initial EAD.
As part of its policy, USCIS is extending the benefit of employment authorization incident to parole to certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees, akin to the treatment afforded to refugees under typical circumstances. This approach aligns with legislative principles specifying that parolees covered by the legislation are eligible for benefits similar to those available to refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1157).
In an announcement on November 21, 2022, USCIS communicated its intention to grant employment authorization incident to parole for specific Afghan and Ukrainian parolees.
Additionally, the agency waived the fee for Ukrainian parolees submitting Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, by mail. Afghan parolees had previously been exempt from the fee for an initial paper-filed Form I-765 (and replacement EAD) until September 30, 2023.
This updated guidance explicitly identifies that parolees considered employment authorized incident to parole encompass the following: [List the specific criteria or categories.]
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