The United States is making it easier for eligible individuals from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Cuba and Haiti to be reunited with family in the United States, the latest example of the U.S. effort to expand lawful pathways and offer alternatives to dangerous and irregular migration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created new family reunification parole (FRP) processes for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Colombia, and is updating family reunification parole processes for Cuba and Haiti. These processes will allow vetted individuals with approved family-based petitions to be paroled into the United States, on a case-by-case basis. The FRP processes are part of the comprehensive measures announced in April by DHS and the Department of State to manage regional migration safely, orderly, and humanely.
Promoting Family Unity
- The new processes are for certain nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, who are the beneficiaries of an approved family-based petition (Form I-130) whose visas are not yet available on the Visa Bulletin. These new processes complement existing processes for Cuban and Haitian nationals that will soon be updated.
- Certain nationals of these countries who are beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative may be eligible to be considered for parole under the new processes. Qualifying beneficiaries must be outside the United States, meet all requirements, including screening, vetting and medical requirements, and must not have already received an immigrant visa.
- Nationals of these countries may be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis for a period of up to three years while they apply to become a lawful permanent resident pursuant to their approved I-130 petition.
- The U.S. Government will deliver timely and efficient authorization for those approved and vetted to travel. Individuals paroled into the U.S. under these processes are eligible to apply for work authorization.
- Individuals with approved Form I-130 petitions often need to wait several years for an immigrant visa to become available. To support family unity and to discourage irregular migration, DHS will authorize parole on a case-by-case basis to expeditiously reunify families with approved petitions.
Facilitating Orderly Entry
- The processes begin with the Department of State issuing an invitation to the petitioning U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member whose Form I-130 filed on behalf of a Colombian, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, or Honduran beneficiary has been approved.
- Only an invited petitioner can initiate the process by filing a request on behalf of the beneficiary and their eligible family members to be considered for advance travel authorization and parole.
- When an immigrant visa becomes available, the beneficiary may apply to become a lawful permanent resident through adjustment of status in the U.S.
- This is one of the lawful pathways that families can access rather than placing themselves at the mercy of smugglers to make the dangerous journey or waiting many years to be reunited with qualified family members. Non-citizens who do not use this process or other lawful, safe, and orderly pathways and attempt to enter the United States unlawfully will face tougher consequences, including removal, a minimum five year bar on admission, and potential criminal prosecution for unlawful reentry.