At Alamo Law Group, our humanitarian parole lawyer understands the stress and pressure you face in these time-sensitive situations. We help families and individuals prepare the strongest humanitarian parole application possible for their case, demonstrating the need for immediate relief. Call us at 210-796-0479 to set up a free consultation now.
In our humanitarian parole program guide, we’ll explain:
- Who qualifies and how to apply
- What supporting documentation and evidence you’ll need
- The timeline for a humanitarian parole case
Table of Contents
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What is Humanitarian Parole and Who Qualifies?
Humanitarian parole gives applicants outside the country temporary permission to enter the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons. The humanitarian parole program does not lead to permanent status; however, it is one of the quickest ways for someone to enter the country legally in a crisis situation.
People facing urgent crises or medical emergencies may qualify for humanitarian parole. This often includes those who are seeking life-saving medical treatment in the U.S., are at risk of targeted harm, need to settle the affairs of a deceased relative in the United States, or must provide care for a terminally ill relative.
The Humanitarian Parole Application
To apply for humanitarian parole, you must complete Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records. This must be submitted with the filing fee or Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. The filing fee is currently $630 for those applying via paper application and $580 for those applying online.
You must also submit Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, to show how the beneficiary will receive financial support in the United States.
When submitting your application, you must also provide a detailed explanation for the reason you are requesting humanitarian parole. This explanation must be supported with documentation. The type of supporting documentation you need depends on why you are requesting parole. Your humanitarian parole lawyer can provide guidance on accepted forms of documentation.
For example, someone seeking to enter the country to receive medical care should supply documents on official hospital letterhead with their doctor’s signature. This documentation should outline their diagnosis and prognosis, the required treatment, and the reason they need to enter the United States for treatment. An applicant wanting to enter the country to attend a funeral should provide proof of the family member’s death, funeral arrangements, and their relationship with the deceased.
If your case is particularly time-sensitive, you should note that when applying. When applying online, fill out the expediting processing written statement. If applying by mail, write EXPEDITE in black ink in the top right corner of the application and include a detailed explanation for your request.
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Building a Strong Humanitarian Parole Application
A successful parole request begins with a compelling reason for entry and extensive documentation supporting that reason. Your humanitarian parole lawyer may recommend:
- Detailed personal statement outlining the situation and why parole is necessary
- Medical records and legal documents supporting your statement
- Detailed plan to address the reason for entry and allow the applicant to return home in a timely manner
- Letters of support from family members who will provide financial support in the United States
This is a discretionary program and whether your humanitarian parole application is approved is largely up to USCIS. Your attorney will look at the unique facts of your case to determine how to best support your application.
How Long Does Humanitarian Parole Application Approval Take?
Since Fall 2021, USCIS has reported extremely high numbers of parole requests. As a result, they don’t provide a specific timeline for a response. Because of this, it’s recommended that you include all supporting documentation that may be useful to your case the first time you apply. If USCIS has to request further documentation via a request for evidence, you risk further delays.
Should your application be approved, you can enter the United States one time on your parole document. Note that there is a new immigration parole fee as of October 16, 2025 of $1,000 to be paid once your parole is approved.
If your parole request is denied, you can request reconsideration or reapply with additional evidence.
Schedule a Consultation With a Humanitarian Parole Lawyer
When you’re facing urgent, time-sensitive issues, you need to make your application as strong as possible. With our extensive experience with humanitarian parole cases, we know the evidence that USCIS is looking for and how to present it. Call us at 210-796-0479 or schedule a consultation online to talk more about your case.
