Knowing the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements was essential for thousands of Latin American immigrants who, between 2023 and 2025, found in this program a safe and legal way to enter the United States temporarily.
Created by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the CHNV initiative (aimed at citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela), the process allowed the controlled entry of those who had a sponsor and met humanitarian criteria.
Although the CHNV program ended in 2025, its effects are still felt. Many beneficiaries still have their temporary permission to remain valid until the expiration date.
On the other hand, others are looking for current alternatives, such as TPS, family reunification processes, or individual humanitarian parole.
In this article you will find a complete guide that preserves the essence of that program, its requirements, process, income table, and documentation, and explains what options exist today for those who need protection or to reunite with their family in the U.S.
What were the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements and how did the CHNV process work?
Humanitarian parole was a discretionary mechanism provided in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA, section 212(d)(5)) that authorized the temporary entry of people who were inadmissible for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Some key facts include:
- Between 2023 and 2025, this tool gained relevance through the CHNV process, designed for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, with the goal of offering a safe, orderly, and lawful way to enter the country.
- Those who met the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements could receive temporary permission to remain for up to two years and apply for a work permit using Form I-765.
- On March 25, 2025, DHS announced in the Federal Register the termination of the CHNV program, finding that humanitarian conditions had changed and that parole should return to being evaluated on an individual basis.
- During its implementation, humanitarian parole for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans benefited more than half a million people sponsored by relatives or residents in the U.S.
Although new requests are no longer accepted under this framework, understanding how it worked helps explain how USCIS processes individual paroles today and which humanitarian programs remain open.
Applicant requirements for humanitarian parole
During the CHNV program, the foreign national applying for humanitarian parole for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, or Nicaraguans had to meet strict eligibility criteria.
These requirements remain a useful reference for understanding how the system worked and what USCIS required.
Main requirements for the beneficiary
- Be a citizen of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, or Venezuela.
- Be outside the U.S. at the time of the request.
- Submit to U.S. national and public security checks.
- Have an approved sponsor by USCIS after filing Form I-134A (Declaration of Financial Support).
- Have a valid passport for international travel.
- Pay for their own travel ticket once authorized.
- Comply with required vaccines and medical screenings set by the CDC.
- Show that the case warranted a favorable decision for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.
Immediate family members could travel with the main applicant, as long as they were the applicant’s spouse/partner or children under 21 years old. Minors under 18 had to travel with a legal guardian.
If you entered the U.S. through humanitarian parole and want to work, the next step is to apply for an Employment Authorization (EAD).
This allows you to work legally while your parole remains valid.
Sponsor requirements for humanitarian parole
The success of an application depended largely on the sponsor, the person or entity with legal status in the U.S. who agreed to support the beneficiary economically and logistically.
Even though new filings are no longer accepted, these criteria still serve as a model for future family reunification processes or individual paroles.
Sponsor requirements according to USCIS
- Pass a background and security review, including screenings related to human trafficking and labor exploitation.
- Show sufficient financial ability to support the beneficiary during the entire period of stay in the U.S. through Form I-134A.
- Hold one of the following legal statuses in the United States:
- U.S. citizen.
- Lawful permanent resident.
- Asylee, refugee, or someone with valid temporary permission to remain.
- A beneficiary of TPS, DACA, or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
Examples of assistance the sponsor had to provide
- Receive the beneficiary upon arrival and transport them to their residence.
- Ensure safe and adequate housing.
- Facilitate access to education, employment, and medical services.
- Assist the beneficiary with processes such as obtaining a Social Security number and employment authorization.
These financial requirements were based on the poverty guidelines published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The next section shows the income table updated for 2026, which is key to determining whether the sponsor meets the minimum required levels.
Income table for humanitarian parole 2026
During the CHNV program, sponsors had to demonstrate a minimum financial capacity in line with the federal poverty guidelines published annually by HHS.
In other words, this table shows the minimum income levels by household size applicable to the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.
| Number of family members to sponsor | 100% Poverty guideline (military only) | 125% Poverty guideline (other sponsors) |
| 2 | $21,720 | $27,150 |
| 3 | $27,300 | $34,125 |
| 4 | $32,880 | $41,100 |
| 5 | $38,460 | $48,075 |
| 6 | $44,040 | $55,050 |
| 7 | $49,620 | $62,025 |
| 8 | $55,200 | $69,000 |
| For each additional person | +$5,580 | +$6,975 |
These figures were updated based on the HHS 2025 guidelines, published on January 17, 2025.
This table applies only to the 48 contiguous states of the United States and the District of Columbia.
If you want to review the figures for Alaska and Hawaii, you can find them in our article on U.S. family-based immigration petitions.
Important considerations about the income table
During its effective period, the CHNV program established clear rules regarding financial sponsorship and the responsibilities of those supporting beneficiaries. Today, these guidelines serve only as a historical and educational reference.
- There was no maximum number of people a sponsor could support, as long as they demonstrated sufficient solvency to cover each beneficiary’s basic needs.
- If the sponsor did not meet the minimum financial level, another relative or friend could help by signing a joint declaration of financial support.
- If the sponsor failed to meet their financial commitment, the beneficiary could seek judicial enforcement for benefits or expenses covered by public agencies during the parole period.
- The HHS guidelines were updated annually, so any future program or similar measure would reference the figures in effect for the corresponding year.
Steps to apply for humanitarian parole
Although the CHNV program is currently closed, knowing how to apply for humanitarian parole is essential to understand how USCIS now manages individual parole processes and what options could be reactivated in the future.
During its validity, the steps to apply for humanitarian parole for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans were as follows:
1. File the financial sponsorship online.
The sponsor had to complete Form I-134A declaring their ability to support the beneficiary. USCIS conducted financial and security background checks before approving the request.
2. Create a MyUSCIS account.
Once the sponsor was accepted, the beneficiary received an email from USCIS with instructions to create an account at MyUSCIS.
3. Submit the request through the CBP One mobile app.
The beneficiary had to complete their biographic information and upload a recent photo in the app, an essential part of identity verification.
4. Receive an advance travel authorization.
If USCIS and CBP approved the request, the beneficiary received permission to travel to the U.S.
This advance authorization was not the same as final admission nor the humanitarian parole itself.
5. Appear at a port of entry.
Upon arrival in the U.S., CBP evaluated the case and decided whether to grant the temporary permission to remain. If the individual did not meet the criteria, they could be placed in removal proceedings.
6. Remain lawfully for two years.
Once admitted, the foreign national could apply for a work permit using Form I-765 and reside lawfully for a maximum period of two years, without automatic access to lawful permanent residence.
Required documents to meet the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements
The sponsor had to submit to USCIS complete documentation showing both the family relationship and the financial solvency required. These were the documents needed for humanitarian parole:
- Form I-134A.
- Copy of the beneficiary’s valid passport.
- Birth or marriage certificates showing the relationship, if applicable.
- Financial evidence: tax returns, proof of income, pay stubs, or recent bank statements.
- Medical and vaccination records updated per CDC guidelines.
- Proof of residence outside the U.S., such as a lease agreement or utility bills in the beneficiary’s name.
Submitting these documents completely and consistently was essential to avoid delays or Requests for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS.
In some cases, the agency could request additional information if there were doubts about the sponsor’s financial capacity or the beneficiary’s humanitarian eligibility.
Important note about current applications
Even though you can no longer request humanitarian parole for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans under the CHNV program, there are still active alternatives that serve similar purposes and may provide temporary humanitarian relief.
These include humanitarian programs created by DHS and USCIS, which continue to offer protection to those facing medical emergencies, risk of persecution, or a need for family reunification.
These measures maintain the basic principles of the original program:
- A temporary authorization to remain in the U.S., and
- The ability to work lawfully while the permission remains valid.
Who did not qualify under the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements?
During the CHNV program, many cases were denied for failing to meet the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements. These criteria remain a reference for understanding current immigration policy by USCIS and DHS.
Those who did not qualify for humanitarian parole included people who:
- Had dual nationality or lawful permanent residence in a third country.
- Had refugee status or asylum in another country.
- Had crossed the border irregularly through Mexico or Panama after the dates set by DHS.
- Had a criminal record or did not pass national security checks.
- Had received a removal order within the five years prior to the request.
- Were unaccompanied minors, meaning they traveled without a parent or legal guardian. In those cases, the minor was treated under the category of an unaccompanied immigrant minor.
The new requirements for humanitarian parole now apply only to individual parole requests, which are reviewed case by case.
The current approach prioritizes people facing medical emergencies, risk of persecution, or extreme humanitarian situations.
Validity and termination of parole
Humanitarian parole is a temporary measure. Its duration depends on the period approved by USCIS and compliance with the immigration conditions established.
Below we explain when the sponsor’s obligation ends and when the permission ends for the beneficiary.
When did the sponsor’s financial obligation end under humanitarian parole?
Under CHNV, the sponsor’s financial obligation was not indefinite. It ended when the beneficiary met one of the following conditions:
- The beneficiary voluntarily left the United States.
- Violated immigration laws or the terms of admission.
- The two-year period granted by USCIS expired.
Once the permission expired, the beneficiary had to leave the country or apply for another form of immigration relief, such as TPS, political asylum, or a family petition, if eligible.
In all cases, remaining in the country after parole expires could lead to removal proceedings, loss of immigration benefits, and difficulties with future requests to USCIS.
When did humanitarian parole end for foreign nationals?
Humanitarian parole for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, or Nicaraguans ended automatically when:
- The beneficiary voluntarily left the United States.
- Violated immigration laws or the terms of admission.
- The two-year period granted by USCIS expired.
Once the permission expired, the beneficiary had to leave the country or apply for another form of relief, such as TPS, political asylum, or a family petition if eligible.
In all cases, remaining in the country after parole expires could result in removal proceedings, loss of benefits, and difficulty with future immigration filings.
Current alternatives to humanitarian parole today
After the cancellation of the CHNV program, the humanitarian options available in 2026 are more limited and subject to stricter government oversight.
While lawful pathways still exist, their use is strict and discretionary. These include:
Individual humanitarian parole
- Granted only in exceptional cases, such as medical emergencies, extreme humanitarian crises, or situations of significant public benefit.
- Reviewed case by case and requires strong evidence justifying the urgency.
- The current administration has restricted its use and suspended adjudication of various benefits for people with parole, prioritizing security and anti-fraud screening.
Family Reunification Parole (FRP) program
- Allows the temporary entry of relatives of U.S. citizens or residents who already have an approved I-130 petition.
- In 2026, the program operates under enhanced oversight following investigations related to fraud and security.
- National Visa Center invitations are required and are limited to certain authorized countries.
Family petition: another path to reunification
If your situation fits better under an I-130-based family petition, here are helpful guides to get started:
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
- TPS for Venezuelans was cancelled after the court rulings of October 2025.
- Only a small group of people registered before February 2025 keeps temporary work permits through 2026.
- TPS for Haiti and Nicaragua also face review and possible terminations.
- Each case depends on nationality and the most recent decisions by the Department of Homeland Security.
Parole in Place (PIP) for family unity
- Keeping Families Together Parole in Place was suspended by court order in November 2024, so USCIS is not accepting or adjudicating requests at this time.
- Military Parole in Place, by contrast, remains active for spouses, parents, and children of service members, reservists, or veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. It allows a temporary permission to remain and may speed up adjustment of status.
How can Curbelo Law’s immigration lawyers help you?
Understanding the Humanitarian Parole Program requirements and the options available after its suspension can be complex, especially when immigration changes are constant.
At Curbelo Law, our immigration lawyers in New Jersey can guide you every step of the way. For example:
- Evaluate your eligibility for individual parole, TPS, or a family reunification process.
- Review your background and financial support documentation.
- Properly prepare USCIS forms and submit the right evidence.
Our attorney Carolina Theresa Curbelo has extensive experience with humanitarian and family reunification processes for Venezuelans, Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans, providing support throughout all types of immigration matters.
Contact us today to schedule a personalized consultation and learn the best legal path for your situation.
