On January 6, 2023, the U.S. government announced a new advance parole process for people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela who hope to come to the United States and apply for asylum.
However, as discussed in our previous blog posts, you must already be INSIDE the U.S. in order to apply for asylum. You CANNOT apply from your home country.
Here are some ways that you could come to the United States.
Visas
Do you have a valid U.S. Visa?
If you already have a visa to enter the United States, you can simply use that visa. However, most people do not have visas that will allow them to travel to the United States.
Border Entry
Problems with Title 42
In the past, people could claim asylum by crossing a border into the United States. However, the Biden administration has stopped this with Title 42, a series of Public Health and Welfare laws.
Due to COVID-19, the U.S. government will deny people entry into the United States at borders. The United States Border Patrol will simply put people back into Mexico.
The Biden administration has said that Title 42 will end in May 2023, but this does NOT necessarily mean you will be able to enter through a border at that time. The government has stated it will still turn away migrants at the border with new laws.
Warning
If you come to the U.S. border without a valid visa, or attempt to cross the border unlawfully, you will NOT be able to claim asylum. In fact, those who try to enter may get an expedited removal, or deportation. Being deported creates a host of immigration problems for a person.
New Advance Parole 2023
The United States government is hoping that rather than just showing up at the border, people will apply for something called Advanced Parole. The new advance parole process in 2023 will allow someone to enter the U.S. lawfully and apply for asylum.
However, this ONLY applies to the countries of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela as of April 11, 2023. This also will NOT apply to other immigration statuses, such as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
If you are approved for this new advance parole you can:
- Enter the United States lawfully
- Stay in the U.S. lawfully for 2 years
- Apply for a Work Permit (EAD)
- Apply for a Social Security Number (SSN)
- Apply for a driver’s license (in some states)
During the two years that someone is allowed to stay in the U.S., that person has time to figure out a way to stay permanently in the United States, including applying for asylum.
Please follow these links to learn more about the new 2023 advance parole program for Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Introduction
Click here for background information on the new U.S. advance parole process in 2023.
Preliminary Steps
Click here to learn about some of the preliminary steps you should take before considering applying for the new advance parole process.
Form I-134A
Click here to learn about filling out the Form I-134A, the first step in applying for the new advance parole process.
Last updated: 04-11-2023
Immigration law is always changing. We will do our best to keep our website as up-to-date as possible, but the latest information might be more readily available at USCIS.gov. These pages were written to help you better understand your legal options, however, none of the information published by Catholic Charities Milwaukee should be considered legal advice. If you plan to open your own immigration case, hire an immigration attorney to consult you personally.
