U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Tuesday that certain Ukrainians and their immediate family members can apply for re-parole to extend their stay in the United States.

Key Points:

  • Eligible Ukrainians can apply for a new period of parole (“re-parole”) for up to two years.
  • Eligibility requirements include demonstrating the Ukrainian citizen or immediate family member was paroled in the U.S. on or after Feb. 11, 2022, and clearing biographic and biometric background checks.
  • Applicants can complete and submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, online to start the re-parole process.
  • Applicants should file before the end of their initial parole period, ideally no later than 60 days before the last day of their initial parole period. The initial date of parole can be found on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.
  • Fee waiver requests are available in certain circumstances.
  • Approved applicants for re-parole can then apply separately for a new employment authorization document, Form I-765, for the duration of the new parole period.

Additional Information: Re-parole is part of the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian program that launched April 25, 2022. USCIS has stated that applications will be considered “on a discretionary, case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.” The agency recommends filing online versus physically mailing the forms to expedite the process and minimize error. If applicants do not have a current online account, they can create one here.

BAL Analysis: In announcing the re-parole program, USCIS stated that it recognizes the “extraordinary circumstances in Ukraine that supported the prior exercise of discretionary parole authority continue to exist.” BAL will continue to follow the administration’s response to the crisis in Ukraine and provide updates as information becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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