DHS Initiated Extensions of Parole for
Eligible Afghan Parolees
On June 8, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that certain eligible Afghan parolees would be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for an extension of their initial period of parole and employment authorization. To be considered for an extension, eligible Afghan parolees must have a pending application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for asylum or for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident (Form I-485).
We have identified Afghan parolees with a pending Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, or Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, filed on or before June 2, 2023, and have begun to consider them for a discretionary extension of their initial parole period. We also have begun to consider extensions of parole for those who filed Form I-485 or Form I-589 after June 2, 2023. If we approve an extension of an eligible Afghan parolee’s initial parole period and employment authorization, we will notify them by mailing a Form I-797C, Notice of Action, to their last address of record with USCIS.
Our goal is to consider whether to extend the initial period of parole for eligible Afghan parolees who have a pending Form I-485 or Form I-589 as quickly as possible. We continue to encourage all noncitizens to learn about any permanent immigration pathways for which they may be eligible.
Update Your Address If You Move
Remember you must report your new address to USCIS within 10 days each time you move, even if you are moving to a temporary location. If you have not reported your change of address within 10 days of your move, you must still update your address with USCIS as soon as possible.
We have video tutorials showing you how to update your address through your USCIS online account. If you filed a paper form with a receipt number that begins with IOE, you can link your paper case to your USCIS online account and update your address in your account. You also can submit Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card, through a USCIS web form at uscis.gov/ar-11. Please ensure that you list all receipt numbers for pending benefits requests with USCIS on your Form AR-11. Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) or another U.S. government agency will not change your address with USCIS. Please update your information with both USCIS and USPS.
Check on the Status of Your Parole Extension and Notice
The table below explains how to ask about your case if you are an Afghan parolee:
- Who has not received a Form I-797C notice extending your parole;
- Who has a pending Form I-589 or Form I-485; and
- Whose initial period of parole will expire in the next 14 calendar days.
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If you
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Then
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Filed either Form I-589 or Form I-765 through your USCIS online account
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You may send us a secure message from your USCIS online account to inquire about the extension of your parole. Through the account, you will also have access to all of the account features, such as the ability to view notices, respond to Requests for Evidence, and check case status.
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Submitted a paper form to USCIS and your receipt number begins with IOE
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We mailed you an Account Acceptance Notice about creating a USCIS online account. The letter has an Online Access Code that is valid for 90 days to help you create an account. If your Online Acceptance Code has expired, you may still link your paper-filed form to your USCIS online account. During this process, the system will give you the option to request a new code, which we will mail to your address of record.
Creating a USCIS online account allows you to receive automatic case alerts by email or text, check case status, see processing times, upload evidence, update your address, and send us secure messages using any device, similar to if you had filed your form through the USCIS online account.
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Have not yet created a USCIS online account
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You can call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern. When you call the USCIS Contact Center, say “Afghan” to be routed to live assistance. You may have to wait to speak to a representative by phone. The USCIS Contact Center will not provide interpreters who speak Dari or Pashto when you call.
If you want to speak to a USCIS representative and your issue cannot be resolved right away, we will send your request to a USCIS immigration services officer. We will email you to confirm your request and give an estimate when we will contact you.
Please have the following information ready when you call the USCIS Contact Center:
- Your full name (first, middle, if applicable, and last);
- Your date of birth;
- Your current U.S. residential address; and
- Your receipt number for your Form I-485 and/or Form I-589.
The USCIS Contact Center representative may also ask you to provide additional biographic or other information to verify your identity.
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Are a parent of a parolee who is under age 18
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We will not disclose information about a parolee under age 18 unless the parent or legal guardian calling the USCIS Contact Center appears on the child’s application or petition or in the corresponding USCIS system of record. Before discussing the child’s case, USCIS Contact Center representatives will verify the individual caller’s relationship to the child based on current information in our system of record. We will also ask the parent to verify the child’s:
- Full name (First, Middle, if applicable, and Last);
- Date of birth;
- Current U.S. residential address; and
- Receipt number for the Form I-485 or Form I-589 that is the basis for considering an extension of the child’s initial parole period.
The USCIS Contact Center representative may ask the parent to provide additional biographic or other information to verify the parent’s (and child’s) identity.
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For more information about the extension of parole for eligible Afghans, please visit our Re-Parole Process for Certain Afghans page and our recently updated Frequently Asked Questions page.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn. To learn about job opportunities at USCIS, visit usajobs.gov.
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