Parole Process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans

Understanding Haiti and the Journey of Haitian Migrants: This resource provides an overview of recent Haitian history, current country conditions, displacement challenges, and the experiences of Haitian nationals in the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. 

Cuba from the Roots: A Backgrounder for Service Providers Working with Cuban Newcomers: This backgrounder provides information about recent Cuban history, current country conditions, displacement challenges, and the experiences of Cuban nationals in the U.S. and other parts of the Americas. 

Understanding Immigration Context and Eligibility for Cuban/Haitian Entrants: This guide can assist service providers in addressing common questions and challenges related to serving Cuban/Haitian Entrants, offering clarity on ORR eligibility based on common immigration processing scenarios that Cuban and Haitian nationals may encounter upon entering the U.S. 

Four Steps for Navigating Service Gaps When Serving Cuban and Haitian Entrants: In this Switchboard blog post, explore actionable recommendations that service providers and community-based organizations have developed to better support all ORR-eligible clients, with a focus on Cuban and Haitian entrants.

Understanding the Journey of Cuban and Haitian Entrants: This recorded Switchboard webinar examines the causes of asylum-seeking, as well as the challenges faced during the journey to the U.S. and upon resettling. It also explores the unique experiences of Cuban and Haitian Entrants and shares resources and best practices for effectively serving this population.

Documentation and SAVE Verification for Modernized Family Reunification Parole Processes for Cuba and Haiti: This announcement provides updated information about documentation and the SAVE verification process for individuals who are paroled into the United States under the modernized Cuban and Haitian Family Reunification Parole Processes, which permit nationals of these countries and their immediate family members to be paroled on a case-by-case basis for up to three years. 

Some Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan refugees may be eligible for the Welcome Corps private sponsorship program. Learn more about the eligibility requirements and how to sponsor Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans through the Welcome Corp here.  

Documentation and SAVE Verification for Modernized Family Reunification Parole Processes for Cuba and Haiti: This announcement provides updated information about documentation and the SAVE verification process for individuals who are paroled into the United States under the modernized Cuban and Haitian Family Reunification Parole Processes, which permit nationals of these countries and their immediate family members to be paroled on a case-by-case basis for up to three years. 

CHNV Program Explainer: Refugees International released an explainer that both advocates and people seeking safety have used to understand and navigate this program. One of our most downloaded publications of the year, this fact sheet is available in English and Haitian Kreyòl.  

The Reasons Behind the Increased Migration from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua: This paper explores the reasons behind the increased migration from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. While irregular migration from these three countries ruled by autocratic governments is not new, the situation in these countries has worsened in recent years. Commonalities include domestic political crises, weakening economies, Covid-19, natural disasters, and strict U.S.-led economic sanctions. 

Venezuelan Immigrants in the United States provides an overview of this immigrant population, which has skyrocketed in recent years. Many have fled due to economic instability and have taken a difficult route to reach the U.S., including going through the Darien gap. 

Welcome.US launched an expanded version of this first-of-its-kind platform to support several new communities. Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans can also now register on Welcome Connect to connect with potential U.S. sponsors. Those seeking a sponsor can register here. To ensure they have the right balance of sponsors and beneficiaries on the Welcome Connect platform, they’re opening registration for families from these countries every month on the 15th for a limited period of time. Once the monthly threshold is reached, registration will pause until the 15th of the following month. Registration will open at 9 a.m. Central Time each month. Also If you are an American who is interested in sponsoring a family seeking refuge in the United States, you can register on Welcome Connect at any time.  

Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans | USCIS: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced processes through which nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and their immediate family members, may request to come to the United States.

The Reasons Behind the Increased Migration from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua: This paper explores the reasons behind the increased migration from Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua. While irregular migration from these three countries ruled by autocratic governments is not new, the situation in these countries has worsened in recent years. Commonalities include domestic political crises, weakening economies, Covid-19, natural disasters, and strict U.S.-led economic sanctions.  

Sponsorship FAQs Process for Venezuelans, Haitians, Cubans, and Nicaraguans: Under these USCIS sponsorship programs, the U.S. government allows people fleeing from violence, oppression and strife in certain countries to seek refuge in the United States on a temporary basis known as humanitarian parole, with the support of a sponsor in the United States. The sponsor will provide financial support to meet the basic needs of newcomers, particularly before a newcomer secures a job, and may also provide additional support, such as assistance enrolling in educational or training programs or securing employment.

Welcome.US | USCIS Sponsorship: Following the experience of humanitarian sponsorship programs for Afghans, Ukrainians, and Venezuelans, for which hundreds of thousands of Americans raised their hands to help, the U.S. Government has now designated  Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans eligible for humanitarian sponsorship.

ORR recently issued Policy Letter 23-13, Parole Process for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans. If you have questions about whether a client is eligible for ORR services, contact us and we will get you an answer from ORR’s Refugee Policy Unit. Remember, at this time, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans paroled before or through the new sponsorship program are NOT eligible for ORR services. 

Reminder that Venezuelan Humanitarian Parolees (VHP) are not eligible for ORR services nor for mainstream benefits. They are eligible to complete an I-765 for work authorization but we can not use ORR funding for that purpose or any other service provision. This may change down the road but currently we may not provide services. Click here for USCIS information on VHPs.  

For a deeper dive into this new VHP sponsorship program, the National Immigration Forum has an explainer on the Venezuela Parole Program and Title 42 Expansion.   

For an explainer on why more people are fleeing Venezuela, read this piece from Reuters.  

Sponsorship-related resources:

• For inquiries about how to sponsor a Venezuelan family or individual, check out the Community Sponsorship Hub. The Sponsor Circle Program offers resources for U.S.-based sponsors to welcome Venezuelan newcomers into our communities .

• The Sponsor Circle Program (SCP) application is now open for U.S.-based sponsors welcoming Venezuelans. Through SCP, Sponsor Circles receive additional resources and ongoing support throughout the initial welcome period.  

• Welcome.US has started to add content to their site to support sponsors and prospective sponsors looking to learn more about supporting Venezuelans. Check it out here.   

Public Records Requests Uncover Details About Flights of Migrants to Martha’s Vineyard: The flights of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard refocused attention on a phenomenon that had been unfolding for many months—the relocation of migrants by Republican governors to Democratic-led cities. Since then, groups have worked hard to reveal the increasingly complex roles states play in the treatment of recently arrived migrants.  

Refugees International Eyewitness: Pushbacks of Venezuelans on the Guatemalan Border: In October, a Refugees International team visited the town of Esquipulas, Guatemala, on the border with Honduras to learn about the experiences of people on the move northward through the Americas.