Some families are not able to reunite completely in the United States because of the restrictions of U.S. immigration laws. For example, a permanent resident of the United States might have a widowed mother who is all alone in her home country, and perhaps with significant difficulties in her country. This woman’s permanent resident son or daughter is not able to file a petition for permanent residence for her, until the permanent resident is able to become a U.S. citizen, often involving a wait of 3-5 years.
Other families may have a U.S. citizen in the United States who could file a petition for mom and dad to become permanent residents, but might have a sister with medical disabilities or special needs who live with mom and dad and who is either too young or have other disabilities that would prevent her from caring for herself, especially if she lives in a country with strife or political turmoil.
For families facing this type of situation, Humanitarian Parole might be a good option to try. Humanitarian parole is offered by USCIS to persons who have compelling reasons to be reunited with family members in the United States, but who are unable to obtain a visa.
Many persons who obtain Humanitarian Parole will become eligible to obtain a more stable immigration status in the future. For example, some persons might be able to obtain permanent resident status after being in the United States for a number of years. Each case is different and depends upon the particular facts of the individual persons involved.
For many persons who are granted Humanitarian Parole, the initial parole period is one year. These persons then apply to be re-paroled while they are in the United States. USCIS approves many of the re-parole requests, which allow persons to remain in the United States while they wait for a more stable solution to their immigration status, such as permanent resident status.
USCIS indicates that they grant about 25 percent of the applications they receive for Humanitarian Parole, and they deny the rest. For this reason, it is important to prepare the application with care. If you believe that you or a family member might qualify for Humanitarian Parole, then you should work with an experienced immigration attorney to have the best chance of success.
I have successfully obtained Humanitarian Parole for my clients, and I would be happy to work with you to explore the possibilities for your family.