Parole for urgent humanitarian reasons: a Q&A

If you are a resident of the CNMI and have an in-home caregiver who is a foreign worker, your in-home caregiver may apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for humanitarian parole if he or she is required for extraordinary medical or special needs reasons and meets other conditions for eligibility.

USCIS will consider granting parole for urgent humanitarian reasons when:

– There is a compelling medical or special needs situation; and

– The existing foreign caregiver has worked for a disabled or special needs individual in the CNMI prior to Nov. 28, 2011.

Q. Can my employer apply for an in-home worker as a CW Transitional Worker?

A. No. The CW Transitional Worker nonimmigrant category is designed for workers of legitimate businesses that are doing business in the CNMI. An individual who employs someone in his or her home does not qualify as a business under the CW rule.

Q. Can an employer get a business license in order to apply for an in-home worker as a CW Transitional Worker?

A. A business for purposes of immigration is more than just having a business license. The CW rule specifies that to qualify to hire workers with CW status, an employer must be engaged in a legitimate business. This means he or she must produce services or goods for profit or be a governmental, charitable or other validly recognized nonprofit organization. The employer must also demonstrate that he or she has considered available U.S. workers for the position. The employer must be doing business as defined by the rule, meaning the regular, systematic and continuous provision of goods or services. A business license does not transform a normal household into a legitimate business under the CW rule.

A legitimate business that is doing business as defined in the CW rule may petition to employ an in-home worker as long as the business:

– Pays and supervises that employee;

– Offers terms and conditions that are consistent with the nature of the petitioner’s business and the nature of the occupation, activity and industry in the CNMI; and

– Otherwise meets the requirements of the CW rule.

Q. Are all in-home workers eligible to be considered for parole?

A. No, this is not a blanket option for anyone using the title “caregiver.” A foreign worker applying for parole under this situation must be providing care for a person who requires medical assistance in order to live independently or is otherwise in a situation of urgent humanitarian need. This means a significant medical or special needs situation going beyond normal house maintenance or ordinary childcare. This could include, for example, an individual who is disabled and unable to care for him or herself or a special needs child for whom no care facilities exist in the CNMI. Someone who is employed in the home simply to make life easier or to facilitate employment of the household outside the home by taking care of the children, cleaning the home, buying groceries, cooking meals and other such work, is not eligible to be considered for parole. The situation should also involve a continuing need for the special care.

Q. Can anyone work directly for a family or other non-business as an in-home worker without parole?

A. All foreign nationals must be authorized to be employed in order to work in the CNMI. CNMI “umbrella permits” or other work authorization based on status provided by the CNMI government before Nov. 28, 2009 generally expire no later than Nov. 27, 2011. If you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or Freely Associated State national, you are authorized for any employment in the CNMI and may work as an in-home worker. If you are in another immigration status, your ability to work as an in-home worker will depend upon the specifics of your immigration situation (for example, you may have work authorization that is limited to specific employment.)

You can apply for parole with USCIS for these purposes if you are:

– A CNMI permanent resident;

– An immediate relative (spouse or child) of a CNMI permanent resident (living or deceased); or

– The immediate relative of an FAS national.

See below for more information about how to get work authorization as a parolee.

Q. Is there a fee to apply for parole?

A. There is no filing fee to apply for parole. However, there is a filing fee for the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

Q. Does the caregiver or the employer apply for parole?

A. The caregiver must apply for parole, not the person being cared for or the person paying the caregiver’s salary.

Q. Does the employer need to be a U.S. citizen?

A. This use of parole is intended for those involved in significant long-term caregiver situations. This typically will mean that the person to whom the care is provided should have a status providing a continuing long-term right of residence in the CNMI, in particular, U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident or FAS national. All situations will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the fact that the employer is not in one of these statuses does not absolutely preclude favorable consideration. For example, a situation could involve an employer in one immigration status and the person to whom the care is being given in another, such as a U.S. citizen child.

Q. What must be included in the parole request?

The following must be submitted as part of the caregiver’s request:

– A letter from the foreign worker’s employer explaining the compelling humanitarian need and details of your current employment, including the number of hours worked per week and other details of the arrangement;

– A letter from you, the caregiver, asking for parole that includes:
-A P.O. Box mailing address,
-A contact telephone number; and
-The location where you work (give cross streets so that our inspectors can find the home);

– A completed Form G-325, Biographic Information;

– A copy of a valid identity document such as a passport or birth certificate;

– Evidence of your residence in the CNMI at the time of application;

– Evidence of your legal presence in the CNMI at the time of application, such as a valid umbrella permit; and

– Evidence of status of the person being cared for, such as a copy of his or her valid passport or birth certificate.

You should include evidence that supports the need for you to fill this position as a caregiver, in order to justify to USCIS the use of special consideration for you. USCIS will make a decision on the parole request based upon the merits of the case that you present. It is important that you include as much relevant information as possible such as:

– Your current work situation (how long you have worked for this person, number of hours per week, etc.)

– Why your services are absolutely necessary for the welfare of the person being cared for.

– In the case of special needs children, this could include a letter from specialists and/or a verification from the school authorities about what is and is not available on-island outside of a home care setting.

– In the case of medical disabilities, this could include information from a medical doctor.

Q. Where can I apply for humanitarian parole as a caregiver in the CNMI?

A. Make an InfoPass appointment at www.uscis.gov to come into the USCIS office at TSL Plaza in Garapan. Bring all the items listed above to the interview.

Q. How long will it take for me to get parole?

A. If you come to your appointment with a complete package and are eligible for parole, the USCIS officer could issue parole immediately.

Q. Can I work once parole is granted?

A. Parole permits you to remain temporarily in the CNMI subject to any conditions but does not automatically provide for employment authorization. In order to work, you must submit a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and receive an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD.

Q. Can I work anywhere with my EAD?

A. No. Caregivers who are granted parole for humanitarian reasons (specifically because of their role as caregivers) are expected to continue to work in that position. Your parole will be revoked if you are no longer working as a caregiver as explained in your initial request.

Q. Can I provide care to more than one employer?

A. If your parole request demonstrates that you provide care justifying a grant of parole for more than one household, your parole may similarly authorize you to provide care to more than one household, once you are issued an EAD.

Q. Can I travel anywhere in the United States?

A. No. Parole for caregivers of individuals with compelling medical or special needs will be granted for the CNMI only and does not authorize travel to any other part of the United States. If you need to travel, you will have to contact USCIS.

Q. How long are the parole and EAD valid?

A. Depending upon your request, both parole and the EAD will be issued for up to one year. To lawfully remain in the CNMI thereafter, you will need to request an extension of your parole or obtain another Immigration and Nationality Act nonimmigrant or immigrant classification before your parole expires.

Q. Is there a minimum wage required for caregivers?

A. Employers must comply with federal and CNMI requirements relating to employment including, but not limited to, minimum wage requirements and Fair Labor Standards.

Q. What about my dependents? If I am granted parole, will my dependents also be allowed to remain in the CNMI with me?

A. If you are a worker eligible for parole under this guidance, you may also request parole for your spouse and dependent children (under the age of 21) who are lawfully present in the CNMI. You must submit the following information regarding any family member requesting parole along with you:

– A letter or affidavit signed by the family member requesting parole, or signed by you if the family member is a child under 18;

– Evidence of the family relationship between you and the family member requesting parole;

– A copy of a valid identity document, such as a passport biographic page (with photo, date of birth and expiration date); and

– A copy of any Form I-94 (front and back), umbrella permit and/or other document showing current lawful presence in the CNMI.

This parole will allow the family member to remain with the worker lawfully in the CNMI after Nov. 27, 2011, but does not authorize employment. Work authorization will not be granted to paroled family members. If you and your spouse are both eligible for parole and work authorization as workers under this guidance, you should file separate requests for parole and separate applications for an EAD.

For more information, visit www.uscis.gov/cnmi. (USCIS)