Humanitarian Visa Lawyer in Newark Providing Legal Guidance to Clients Facing an Emergency Situation

The United States provides many avenues for foreign citizens to seek protection and humanitarian assistance when faced with emergency situations. One of these options is what is called a humanitarian visa or humanitarian parole. Learn how humanitarian parole works, who can apply for it, and why working with an attorney may be the right choice for those seeking this type of relief.

What Is a Humanitarian Visa?

A humanitarian visa (referred to by the USCIS as Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole) may be available to assist individuals who may be in urgent need of help due to certain emergency situations such as natural disasters, foreign government oppression, or a medical emergency.

This type of permission is technically not considered a visa but a form of parole given to noncitizens in order to allow them to be temporarily admitted into the United States. Those who have been given humanitarian parole may not be considered by the USCIS as formally admitted into the United States. Parole is given for a maximum of 1 year (with rare exceptions) and ends when the person receiving parole leaves the country or acquires an immigration status. Some parolees may be eligible to receive temporary work authorization.

What Makes Someone Eligible to Receive a Humanitarian Visa?

A humanitarian parole can be issued due to urgent humanitarian reasons or in situations where granting parole would result in significant public benefit. It is largely up to the USCIS officers to determine whether one’s situation would fit either of these categories.

Examples of urgent humanitarian reasons include but are not limited to refugees seeking protection from persecution, persons seeking critical medical treatment due to a serious illness or disease, and individuals seeking to reunite with family in the United States for humanitarian reasons (such as caring for a terminally ill relative or handling a deceased relative’s estate administration) or those suffering the effects of a natural disaster.

Examples of reasons for parole based on significant public benefit include participation in legal proceedings, participation in medical or clinical trials, or for law enforcement and national security reasons. It is ultimately up to the USCIS officers to determine whether someone is eligible for humanitarian parole, which only highlights the importance of submitting a complete case with enough supporting evidence.

What Are the Steps to Apply for a Humanitarian Visa?

After verifying your eligibility for humanitarian parole, the first step is to fill out all appropriate forms, including form I-131 Application for Travel Document. Parolees should also be prepared to show proof of financial support by submitting form I-134. Having financial support is a crucial determining factor – many applications for parole get denied due to insufficient or nonexistent financial support.

There may be a variety of supporting documents needed in addition to the standard forms to be used as evidence of identity for the beneficiary, the petitioner, and the party agreeing to serve as a financial supporter for the beneficiary. Supporting documents are also needed to demonstrate the reason (or reasons) for the parole application. All documents, along with the completed forms and necessary fees, should be submitted to the USCIS. Most parole requests are adjudicated within 90 days of receipt. Denied parole requests can be appealed, or the process can be reopened in some cases.

Do You Need to Hire a Humanitarian Visa Lawyer?

If you are seeking to be paroled into the United States for emergency humanitarian reasons, working with a seasoned humanitarian parole lawyer is essential to increase your chances of success. Submitting a complete application with enough evidence to support your request and convince the USCIS officers that you truly do need to be granted parole due to pressing circumstances can be a complex task, but at the Law Office of Elsy Segovia, P.C., you can get the help you need to submit a humanitarian parole request to the USCIS. Reach out to our office in Newark, New Jersey, by calling (973) 622-7775.