Eligible Ukrainians Now Eligible to Apply for Re-Parole

Commencing February 27, 2024, Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members meeting the eligibility criteria and currently present in the United States can apply for re-parole, allowing them to continue their temporary stay in the country. This process is applicable to Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who were initially paroled into the United States on or after February 11, 2022. Applications for re-parole will be considered on a discretionary, case-by-case basis, taking into account urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. 

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Secretary of Homeland Security utilized discretionary authority to permit certain Ukrainians to seek temporary parole in the United States, coupled with the opportunity to apply for work authorization. The compelling circumstances in Ukraine that led to the initial exercise of discretionary parole authority persist. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant civilian casualties. USCIS will assess requests for re-parole on a case-by-case basis, considering the current extraordinary circumstances. The use of parole authority on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit has been a practice across multiple administrations. 

Effective February 27, 2024, USCIS is accepting and reviewing re-parole applications from qualifying Ukrainians and their immediate family members paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Eligible individuals may submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, along with supporting documentation and the appropriate filing fee or a fee waiver request. The submission can be done online or by mail. 

To qualify for re-parole under this process, applicants must demonstrate the following: 

1. Ukrainian citizenship or being an immediate family member paroled into the United States on or after February 11, 2022. 
2. Ongoing urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit justifying a new period of parole. 
3. A favorable exercise of discretion is warranted. 
4. Physical presence in the United States as a parolee. 
5. Compliance with the conditions of the initial parole. 
6. Successful clearance of biographic and biometric background checks. 

The initial date of parole can be found on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

Re-parole applications can be submitted online or by mail. For online applications, applicants should indicate "Yes" when asked, "Are you applying for re-parole?". If applying by mail, "Ukraine RE-PAROLE" should be written at the top of Form I-131. It is recommended to file Form I-131 through a USCIS online account, if available, to avoid common errors associated with paper filings. 

For additional details on the process and step-by-step application instructions, please refer to the new Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainians page. 

Employment Authorization: If a re-parole application is approved, applicants may then file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, in category (c)(11) to obtain a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as proof of employment authorization during the re-parole period. Form I-765 can be filed online or by mail. Applicants should refrain from filing Form I-765 until the re-parole application receives approval, as filing prematurely may result in denial without fee refund. 

During the adjudication of EAD applications, certain parolees may use their new Form I-94 as valid evidence of identity and employment authorization for up to 90 days from their hire date (or for reverification upon EAD expiration). To be eligible, a parolee must have been granted re-parole as a specific Ukrainian citizen or immediate family member, have a most recent entry date on or before September 30, 2023, and possess 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 (e.g., state-issued driver’s license) to fulfill Form I-9 requirements.