Immigration parole definition
Immigration parole lets certain noncitizens enter the US temporarily for urgent humanitarian or public‑benefit reasons, and doesn’t provide immigration status or formal admission.
Immigration parole is a temporary permission granted by the US government to allow a noncitizen to enter the United States without being formally admitted under standard immigration procedures. Parole is used in urgent humanitarian cases or for significant public benefit.
Immigration parole is granted on a case-by-case basis by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), typically through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP).Parole does not confer immigration status and does not constitute admission into the US under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
TPS vs. immigration parole
There are different programs and policies that allow people to enter or remain in the US without granting legal admission.
One such program is temporary protected status (TPS), and it provides a helpful point of comparison. While both TPS and immigration parole allow a person to be in the US temporarily, they are different in purpose, legal effect, and eligibility.
What is the difference between TPS and parole?
How long does immigration parole last?
There is no standard duration for immigration parole. It is typically granted for a specific period required to accomplish the purpose of the parole. This could be days, months, or years, depending on the situation, but it is typically less than a year.
For example:
- Humanitarian parole might be granted for a few months to allow someone to receive medical treatment.
- Parole may be granted for a few weeks on the basis of public benefit for the applicant to participate in a civil court procedure.
- Family reunification parole programs may allow for a multi-year stay.
Once the parole period expires, the individual is expected to leave the United States unless they obtain another form of lawful immigration status or are granted an extension.
Can a person travel with immigration parole?
If a person is outside the United States and receives immigration parole, it allows them to travel into the country for a specific period and purpose.
If the person with parole wishes to travel abroad, they must apply for advance parole (Form I-131) to travel and then reenter the United States lawfully. However, this is not always guaranteed and depends on the type of parole, the purpose of travel, and the discretion of USCIS.
Leaving the US without proper authorization while on immigration parole may result in denial of reentry or other immigration complications.
