Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program Resumes

Family reunification remains a key component of U.S. immigration policy. Currently, the Cuban people are confronting a humanitarian crisis, and the United States has resumed the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program. CFRP was established in 2007 to provide a safe, orderly pathway to the United States for certain Cuban beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant petitions. According to the Program information letter family reunification for Cuban families is a priority:

“The CFRP Program was designed to allow certain family members to come to the United States before their family-based immigrant visas become available.”

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun sending interview notices to petitioners and began interviewing individuals who have a pending CFRP application in mid-August. Approval is decided on a case-by-case basis. New applications are currently not being accepted, but USCIS plans to accept new CFRP applications in the future. The U.S. has limited capacity to conduct interviews as the Embassy in Havana was closed in 2017 and the USCIS field office in Havana was closed in 2018, which resulted in the pause of the CFRP Program.

Who Is Eligible for the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program?

Eligibility requirements for the CFRP Program include:

• Under the CFRP Program, certain petitioners may request parole for their spouse and for their unmarried children under 21 years of age.
• The petitioner must have a completed and approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, for a Cuban family member.
• The petitioner must receive an invitation from the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC) to take part in the CFRP Program.
• The family member beneficiary must be a Cuban national, residing in Cuba.
• The beneficiary must attend an in-person interview in Cuba.
• If the CFRP application is approved the family members may come to the United States before their immigrant visa priority dates become current.
• Once they are in the United States, CFRP Program beneficiaries can apply for work authorization.
• Once their immigrant visas become available, or following one year of physical presence in the United States, they can apply for lawful permanent resident status (a green card.)

The U.S. plans to resume the Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) Program in Fall 2022.

Family Reunification Lawyers in Cook and DuPage Counties

Family reunification for Cubans and others is important because many people want to bring their families to the United States to help them achieve a better future and a higher quality of life. Our family based immigration attorneys have experience in the programs and procedures for family reunification immigration. Contact Godoy Law Office today to have a qualified attorney assist you in this process at 630-912-0322.