Effective June 9, 2023, through July 31, 2024, Afghan nationals paroled into the United States on or after July 31, 2021, through June 8, 2023, with an Operation Allies Refuge (“OAR”) or Parolee (“PAR”) Class of Admission (“COA”) can now apply for an additional two-year period of parole, or re-parole, and for an Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”) (or EAD renewal) without paying a fee. The new streamlined and fee-exempted application process is available only to self-filers, and may be completed by filing a Form I-131 either through a USCIS online account or on paper. Applicants do not need to file a separate Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, but rather, can request an EAD on their form I-131 without a filing fee.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for re-parole using a USCIS online account. Instructions on how to create an online USCIS account are available on the USCIS website in Dari and Pashto. A new Re-Parole Process for Certain Afghans webpage will provide information on the process and step-by-step instructions on how to apply for re-parole.
To check if they have an OAR or PAR class of admission in order to apply for re-parole through the new fee-exempt application process, individuals should check their form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, available on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) Form I-94 website.
Afghan parolees who applied for asylum or for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status (such as adjustment of status as a special immigrant) before the expiration of their initial parole period do not need to apply for re-parole under this streamlined process. DHS will consider, on a case-by-case basis, providing an extension of these individuals’ original parole period based on their pending asylum or adjustment of status application. If approved, DHS will also extend their original employment authorization and send a Form I-797C, Notice of Additional Action, to their last address of record with USCIS. Individuals who want an actual updated EAD card may file Form I-765, using category c(11), which will be fee-exempted and processed as part of this streamlined re-parole application process.
The streamlined re-parole process comes in recognition of the need for re-parole to provide continuity in lawful presence and the ability to work and support one’s family while pursuing a more permanent immigration status, as well as the continued urgent humanitarian reasons and significant public benefit underlying the original parole grant.
Should you have any questions about an application for immigration benefits, please feel free to contact Stephen Antwine, Esq. of Green & Spiegel at (215) 395-8959 or at santwine@gands-us.com.
