Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Do you have family members or close friends in Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, or Venezuela that you wish could be in the United States?

You may be able to help them come live here, for a two year time period.

On January 6, 2023, a process was announced, similar to the Uniting for Ukraine parole sponsorship program that was announced last April, for nationals of certain countries.  The Department of Homeland Security announced a new program by which a U.S. based supporter can petition to sponsor a national of Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, or Venezuela. The program was created to address the humanitarian crisis at the U.S./Mexico border and the worsening country conditions in those four nations. 

We've got the answers you are looking for in regards to it:

Do I Have to be a U.S. citizen to Sponsor Someone Through This Program?

• No, you don't have to be a U.S. citizen, but you do have to be legally residing in the United States and not have a pending immigration petition. Read more about that here as some exceptions apply.

If I Sponsor Someone, How Long Will They be Able to Stay in the U.S.?

• The beneficiary will receive a special limited parole status into the United States for two years.

If I Sponsor Someone, Will I be Financially Responsible for Them Once They Arrive in the U.S.?

• Yes. The United States will not be providing housing for nationals of Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, or Venezuela, and has not announced whether benefits will be available for assistance. However, multiple sponsors may join together to support a beneficiary.

How Much Money Do I Need to Make to Sponsor Someone?

• The U.S. has not set a specific income requirement for sponsorship of this program, however USCIS uses the Federal Poverty Guidelines as a general guide in determining a sponsor's eligibility to provide for a beneficiary.

Will a Beneficiary be Able to Legally Work Once They are in the United States?

• Beneficiaries arrived through this program will not be automatically able to work, but can apply for a work permit once in the United States. USCIS recommends that they file for a work permit online so the petition can be tracked more easily. However, if they need to file a work permit request with a Form I-912 fee waiver, that can only be filed by mail. USCIS has taken a while to process work permits lately, and you should expect that the beneficiary will likely be waiting at least six months for work authorization to be approved.

Can I Sponsor My Niece or Nephew to Come Here Without Their Parents?

• At this time unaccompanied minor children under 18 years of age are not eligible for parole under this process. ‘Unaccompanied' means any child entering the U.S. without a parent or legal guardian. You can schedule an appointment with us if you would like to discuss options for bringing your unaccompanied niece or nephew to the United States.

Can I Sponsor Someone Already in the United States to Obtain Legal Status Through this Program?

• No, this parole process is only for nationals of Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba, and Nicaragua who are currently outside of the United States.

Is There a Cost to Request to Sponsor Someone?

• No. Please be aware of any scams out there trying to take advantage of this situation. Neither the sponsor nor the beneficiary is required to pay the U.S. government a fee for the request. To apply to sponsor someone you will need to fill out a Form I-134A through your USCIS account. Please note that you cannot fill out one form for an entire family - you will need to fill out one form per individual that you are requesting to come to the United States.

For more answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the USCIS webpage on the parole process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.

If you have questions about how you can apply for parole for your loved one please reach out to us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.