DHS exempts fees for re-parole, work authorization renewals for certain Afghan nationals

The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will exempt fees for re-parole and work authorization renewals for certain Afghan nationals.

Key Points:

• Afghan parolees who have not yet filed for any immigration benefit or who have applied for a temporary benefit can now apply for re-parole and employment authorization through a new streamlined and fee-exempted application.
• Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States from July 31, 2021, through June 8, 2023, and have an “OAR” or “PAR” class of admission on their Form I-94 are eligible for the fee exemption from June 8, 2023, through July 31, 2024.
• Eligible Afghan nationals who applied for re-parole through Form I-131 before June 8, 2023, can submit a new request to receive the fee exemption.
• More information regarding the re-parole process and step-by-step application instructions is available on this website.

Additional Information: Afghan parolees who have already applied for asylum or lawful permanent resident status do not need to apply for re-parole. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will extend their original employment authorization and send a Form I-797C, Notice of Additional Action, to their last address of record with USCIS.

BAL Analysis: DHS has exempted the fees for re-parole and work authorization renewals to allow qualifying Afghan nationals to continue to live and work in the United States while pursuing a more permanent immigration status. BAL will continue to follow developments specifically affecting Afghan nationals and will provide updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

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