The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program

Note: The below applies only to CFRP applications that were filed on Form I-131 before Aug. 11, 2023, and add-on derivative beneficiaries. For more information about the updated process, please see our Family Reunification Parole Processes page.

We use the following terms with CFRP:

Who Is Eligible

You (the petitioner) may request parole for your qualifying relatives in Cuba if you meet the following requirements:

• You are either a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (have a Green Card);
• You filed Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for a Cuban family member and USCIS approved it;
• An immigrant visa is not yet available for your relative; and
• You received an invitation from the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) to participate in the CFRP Program.

If you do not meet all of the above requirements, when we adjudicate your Form I-131 for CFRP benefits, we will deny your application and will not refund your fees.

A qualified petitioner will only be able to apply on behalf of a family member (beneficiary) who is:

• A Cuban national (only applies to the principal beneficiary); and
• The beneficiary of a Form I-130 that we approved (including any accompanying or “following to join” spouse or child). For more information, see section 203(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

In addition, we will generally authorize parole only to beneficiaries who meet the following criteria:

• Meet all eligibility requirements for an immigrant visa (except for the requirement that the immigrant visa number be available);
• Pass background checks;
• Pass a medical examination;
• Are admissible to the United States; and
• Warrant a favorable exercise of discretion.

Please Note:
If an immigrant visa becomes available while someone is being processed for parole under CFRP, that person may choose to continue with the parole process. Alternatively, the person may choose to be processed by the Department of State for an immigrant visa, in which case, they will be required to pay any fees associated with that process. We will not refund the CFRP Form I-131 application fee.

Who is Not Eligible

The following people are not eligible to participate in CFRP:

• Individuals who qualify as immediate relatives, as defined at INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i), at the time of the application for parole under CFRP. Parole will not be available to these individuals because they may immediately seek immigrant visas for travel to the United States once USCIS approves their Form I-130. They do not have to wait for an immigrant visa to become available. (If a Green Card petitioner becomes a U.S. citizen after filing the parole application, any beneficiaries who become immediate relatives as a result are not necessarily disqualified from obtaining parole. See the Circumstances That Could Affect Eligibility section below.) Immediate relatives are:
  • Spouses of U.S. citizens;
  • Unmarried children under 21 years of age of U.S. citizens; and
  • Parents of U.S. citizens over 21 years of age.
• Individuals who are not able to attend an in-person interview in Cuba; and
• Beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130 whose petitioning relatives in the United States have not received an invitation from the NVC indicating that they are eligible to apply for CFRP.
• Beneficiaries who have committed serious crimes or who fail to pass background checks will not be authorized parole.

If you are the beneficiary of an approved Form I-130 living in Cuba, you cannot apply for CFRP for yourself or your family members. Your U.S. petitioner must have filed the Form I-131 on your behalf.

Spouses and Unmarried Children under Age 21 of the Principal Beneficiary (Derivative Beneficiaries)

If the principal beneficiary’s spouse and unmarried children under age 21 (known as derivative beneficiaries) are named on the approved Form I-130, they may be eligible for parole under CFRP. You must file any parole request on their behalf at the same time you file a parole request for the principal beneficiary. They will only be eligible for parole if we approve the principal beneficiary for parole.

If you did not file a Form I-131 CFRP application for the principal beneficiary, or if we determine that the principal beneficiary is not eligible for the CFRP Program, their spouse and children will not be eligible for parole under CFRP.

Requesting to Add a Spouse or Child to an Approved Form I-130 (Add-on Derivative Beneficiaries)

If a principal beneficiary married or had a child after we approved the underlying Form I-130, you may file a Form I-131 CFRP application on behalf of that principal beneficiary’s spouse or child under 21 (often referred to as “add-on” derivatives). When filling Form I-131 for an add-on derivative beneficiary, type or write “CFRP ADD-ON” at the top of the Form I-131.

Add-on derivatives will not be listed on the NVC’s invitation letter. As a qualified petitioner, you may still file a Form I-131 CFRP application on their behalf if you provide the necessary evidence to establish the qualifying relationship of the add-on derivative relative.

Age Limit for Beneficiaries

There is no age limit for principal beneficiaries of Forms I-130. However, any derivative children must be under the age of 21 on the date that we receive your properly filed application for parole under the CFRP Program using Form I-131. The invitation letter instructed you not to file Forms I-131 CFRP Program applications for derivative children who will be 21 years of age or older when you file your application.

We will deny any Form I-131 submitted for derivative children who are 21 years of age or older on the date we receive the properly filed application. We will not return the associated filing fees.

We will continue to process the applications for any other beneficiaries, including the principal beneficiary and their spouse and unmarried children under 21.

Circumstances That Could Affect Eligibility

The table below lists circumstances that could affect eligibility for the Form I-131 process under the CFRP Program.

Note: The below applies only to CFRP applications that were filed on Form I-131 before Aug. 11, 2023, and add-on derivative beneficiaries. For more information about the updated process, please see our Family Reunification Parole Processes page.

The key steps in the Form I-131 CFRP process after a case has been forwarded to the U.S. Embassy in Cuba include:

Step 1: Appointment Notice sent to petitioner.

• After a conditional approval of the Form(s) I-131, USCIS will mail the petitioner an appointment notice for the principal and derivative beneficiaries whose Forms I-131 were conditionally approved.
• The appointment notice will include instructions for the beneficiaries, including what documents to bring to the interview and the medical exam requirement. If the petitioner wishes to file a Form I-131 CFRP application for any add-on derivative beneficiaries, they are strongly encouraged to file the Form I-131 as soon as possible prior to the scheduled appointment date. Failure to do so may cause processing delays. When filling Form I-131 for an add-on derivative beneficiary, type or write “CFRP ADD-ON” at the top of the Form I-131.

Step 2: Beneficiary completes medical examination.

• Beneficiary follows instructions in appointment notice and completes medical exam with a panel physician.

Step 3: Beneficiary appears at USCIS appointment.

• Beneficiary must bring documents as instructed in appointment notice.
• All CFRP beneficiaries listed on the USCIS appointment notice and any other add-on derivative beneficiaries must appear at the USCIS appointment. If not, the appointment may be rescheduled for all derivatives.
• If the principal beneficiary is not present at the appointment, USCIS may reschedule the appointment or issue a notice of failure to appear.

Step 4: USCIS issues a decision notice.

• USCIS uses its discretion to authorize parole on a case-by-case basis.
• If approved, USCIS issues a Parole Approval Notice to the petitioner.
• If denied, USCIS issues a Notice of Ineligibility to Travel to the petitioner.
• USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence to the petitioner if additional information is needed to finalize a decision.

Step 5: USCIS issues Travel Document to beneficiary (for approvals only).

• The principal beneficiary will pick up an I-512L Authorization to Transport for Parole at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.
• In general, the authorization is valid for 90 days.
• Children under age 18 must travel to the United States with and in the care and custody of a parent or legal guardian and be able to provide documentation to confirm the relationship.
• Principal beneficiaries must travel to the United States with or before any derivative beneficiary, as derivative beneficiaries may not be paroled into the United States unless the principal beneficiary is paroled into the United States.
• Issuance of a Form I-512L does not guarantee parole, but it allows the beneficiary to proceed to Step 6.

Step 6: Beneficiary seeks parole at the port of entry.

• Beneficiary will present the Form I-512L Authorization to Transport for Parole to CBP.
• CBP will inspect each beneficiary arriving at a port of entry under this process and consider each individual, on a case-by-case basis, for a grant of discretionary parole.

Step 7: Beneficiary is paroled into the United States.

• A beneficiary granted parole under these processes will generally be paroled into the United States for a period of up to three years, subject to applicable health and vetting requirements.
• A beneficiary granted parole may apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, either online or via mail.

Note: The below applies only to CFRP applications that were filed on Form I-131 before Aug. 11, 2023, and add-on derivative beneficiaries. For more information about the updated process, please see our Family Reunification Parole Processes page.

CFRP Form I-131 processing times will vary depending on the issues raised and whether we require additional evidence. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our normal operations, including those of our overseas partners who assist with case processing. This means case processing may take longer than usual.

Beneficiary Appointment

Do not try to schedule an appointment directly with the U.S. Embassy in Cuba.

USCIS will send the petitioner a Notice of Interview for all beneficiaries with additional instructions. If you have not filed a Form I-131 for an add-on derivative beneficiary, you are strongly encouraged to do so before the date of the scheduled appointment (see Requesting to Add a Spouse or Child (Add-on Derivative Beneficiaries) Section). On the date of appointment, the principal beneficiary and derivative beneficiaries must appear in-person together to verify their identities and confirm their eligibility for parole under the CFRP Program.

Preparing for the Interview

On the date of their interview, beneficiaries should bring the following documents to present to the officer:

• A government-issued form of identification;
• Their valid unexpired passport;
• Original civil documents supporting their eligibility for the program, in addition to certified English translations of these documents, including but not limited to;
  • Birth certificate.
  • Current marriage certificate (if applicable).
  • Divorce certificates from any previous marriage (if applicable).
  • If widowed, death certificate from previous spouse.
  • Documents that establish the relationship between the CFRP beneficiary and the petitioner. In the case of a brother or sister, the beneficiary will need to provide his or her birth certificate and that of the petitioner.
  • Police certificates/court records (for applicants sixteen years of age or older) issued within six months of the visa interview date.
• Medical examination results. Applicants must follow instructions on the interview appointment notice to have their medical examination; and
• A copy of their interview schedule appointment notice.

The INA gives us the authority to use our discretion to authorize parole for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.

After the Appointment

Beneficiaries should not take any permanent actions such as selling or buying property, terminating employment, or withdrawing from school until they have their CFRP parole travel document in their hands.

If travel is approved:

• USCIS will issue the Form I-512L to the beneficiary in Cuba. These travel documents will enable the beneficiary to travel to the United States and request parole from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a port of entry;
• Beneficiaries traveling to the United States under the CFRP Program must arrange and pay for their own travel; and
• Once in the United States, we expect beneficiaries to apply for a Green Card after being present in the United States for one year under the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act or as soon as their immigrant visa becomes available. See the After the Beneficiary is Paroled into the United States section for more information.

If travel is not approved:

We will send the petitioner a written notification listing the beneficiaries who are not approved for travel to the United States.

If we deny parole:

• Our decision to deny parole is final, and there is no right of appeal.
• If we deny parole for the beneficiary, they may still be eligible for immigrant visa processing based on the approved Form I-130 filed on their behalf. If the beneficiary is still eligible to apply for an immigrant visa, they may do so when their immigrant visa becomes available; and
• In certain circumstances, the reason we denied parole may also cause us to revoke the approval of the beneficiary’s underlying Form I-130. If we revoke Form I-130 approval, the beneficiary will no longer be eligible for an immigrant visa. We will make these determinations on a case-by-case basis, and we will provide a written notice.

Parole is not an immigrant visa, and it is not the same as having lawful permanent resident status (a Green Card). Parole is temporary and allows you (the beneficiary) to be lawfully present in the United States during your parole period.

Applying for Work Authorization

After you (the beneficiary) are paroled into the United States under the CFRP Program, you are eligible to apply for discretionary employment authorization from USCIS.

To apply for discretionary employment authorization, you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the required fee, or request a fee waiver by filing Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver.

If you ever worked without authorization in the United States, you may be barred from applying for a Green Card in the United States. In this case, you will need to apply and be processed overseas for an immigrant visa instead of applying for a Green Card in the United States.

Obtaining a Social Security Number and Card

We encourage you (the beneficiary) to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) using Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and following the form instructions. If you request an SSN in Part 2 (Items 13.a-17.b) of your Form I-765, and we approve your Form I-765, we will send that data to the Social Security Administration (SSA), and SSA will assign you an SSN and issue you a Social Security card. SSA will mail your Social Security card directly to the address you provide on Form I-765. SSNs generally are assigned to people who are authorized to work in the United States. SSNs are used to report your wages to the government and to determine your eligibility for Social Security benefits.

If you do not request an SSN on your Form I-765, you can apply for an SSN after you receive your EAD from USCIS using the instructions on SSA’s Social Security Number and Card webpage.

Eligibility for Certain Benefits

After you (the beneficiary) are paroled into the United States under the CFRP, you meet the definition of a Cuban entrant and may be eligible to receive public benefits. For more information, see section 501(e)(1) of the Refugee Education and Assistance Act (REAA) of 1980.

You will be eligible to apply for benefits and services from the date you first enter into Cuban status. This is the date you enter the United States with parole.

Address Updates

If you (the beneficiary) are residing in the United States longer than 30 days, you must report your physical address in the United States as a condition of your parole. If your address changes after you enter the United States, you must notify us within 10 days of the change, by either:

• Using our online change of address form; or
• Through your existing USCIS online account (if you have an account). For more information on how to create an online account, visit the How to Create a USCIS Online Account.

Changing your address online will update the address on file with USCIS for each pending application, petition, or request for which you provide a receipt number when filling out the Online Change of Address form. It is important to include the receipt number for any cases pending with USCIS in your address change request, so that we can update the address associated with those cases. We will mail secure documents to the address on file. You can find the receipt number on the receipt notice (Form I-797C, Notice of Action) that we issued after you filed your application, petition, or request. We send receipt notices to the address listed on the application, petition, or request.

Terminating Your Parole

If you (the beneficiary) have already been paroled into the United States, your parole may automatically terminate if:

• You depart the United States; or
• Your parole period expires.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may also decide to terminate your parole for other grounds, such as violating any laws of the United States.

Leaving the United States

If CBP grants you (the beneficiary) advance authorization to travel, you may present it only once for travel to the United States to seek parole at the U.S. port of entry. After you are paroled into the United States, if you want to leave the United States and then return as a parolee, you must request an Advance Parole Document by filing Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, before traveling outside the United States. If you leave the United States without getting an Advance Parole Document, you may not be able to return and seek parole back into the U.S. For information on how to apply for an Advance Parole Document while you are in the United States, please see the Form I-131 page.

Applying for Lawful Permanent Resident Status/Green Card

Parole itself does not give any legal immigration status in the United States.

We expect individuals paroled under the CFRP to apply for a Green Card after being present in the United States for one year under the 1966 Cuban Adjustment Act or as soon as their immigrant visa is available. It is your responsibility to keep track of when your immigrant visa becomes available. We do not send you a notice to alert you when your immigrant visa is available, nor do we track if any derivative beneficiaries have “aged out” of their eligibility for a Green Card and may need a new petition filed on their behalf. (See our Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) page for more information.)

Please see the information (PDF, 186.71 KB) on how to check if your immigrant visa is available in English or Spanish (PDF, 173.88 KB) (PDF, 186.71 KB).

Unlawful Presence

Unlawful presence in the United States can have serious immigration consequences:

• You may not be able to adjust your status if you have been in the United States unlawfully at any time since you arrived as a parolee. This means you would have to leave the United States to apply for an immigrant visa to return to the United States as a lawful permanent resident; and
• If you have been in the United States unlawfully for more than 180 days, you may be subject to an unlawful presence bar, depending on your age. This means you may not be allowed to return to the United States for either 3 or 10 years, depending on the length of your unlawful presence, unless you receive a waiver. For more information, visit our Unlawful Presence and Inadmissibility page.

If you are subject to an unlawful presence bar, you may apply for a waiver by filing Form I-601A, Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver, before you leave the United States to appear at a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate for an immigrant visa interview. For more information about applying for a waiver after departing the United States, go to our Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility, page.

You may also seek legal counsel or consult with an authorized immigration service provider regarding your situation.

If you have been paroled into the United States under CFRP, you can apply for re-parole if your initial parole period is nearing expiration, unless you are subject to grounds for termination under DHS regulations at 8 CFR section 212.5(e). You can see when your parole period expires on your electronic Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record.

To request a new parole period (re-parole), you must:

• File a new Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, and pay the required fee (or request a fee waiver);
• Check Box 1.f. in Part 2 of the form;
• Write “CFRP re-parole” across the top of the application; and
• Include a new Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, and any evidence to support re-parole, including an explanation and supporting documents demonstrating the need for an additional authorized parole period; and 
• Mail your request to the address listed in the “Re-Parole” section on the Humanitarian Parole webpage.

The 1994 and 1995 U.S.-Cuba migration accords commit the United States to ensuring that total legal migration to the United States from Cuba will be a minimum of 20,000 Cubans each year, not including immediate relatives of U.S. citizens. In 2007, USCIS launched the CFRP program to help the United States meet its annual obligations under the accords.

Avoid immigration scams. We do not want you to become the victim of an immigration scam. If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure the person helping you is authorized to give legal advice. Only an attorney or accredited representative working for a Department of Justice recognized organization can give you legal advice. Visit the Avoid Scams page for information and resources.

More Information

• Memorandum of Agreement between CBP, ICE and USCIS regarding Parole Authority (PDF)
• USCIS Filling Fees
• Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver
• U.S. Embassy in Cuba, Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program
• Cuban Medical Professional Parole (CMPP) Program
• DHS Announcement on Changes to Parole and Expedited Removal Policies Affecting Cuban Nationals (Jan. 12, 2017)

Forms

• I-131, Application for Travel Document
• I-912, Request for Fee Waiver
• I-134, Declaration of Financial Support
• I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support
• I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
• I-765, Application for Employment Authorization