Ukrainians and others who apply for re-parole must submit sufficient evidence explaining why they should be granted another period of parole (i.e., re-parole). USCIS requires applicants for re-parole to demonstrate that 1) there are continued urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit for them to be issued a new period of humanitarian parole, and 2) that they personally warrant a favorable exercise of discretion of parole that would allow them to remain in the United States. Thus, Ukrainians must be able to show both why they cannot return to Ukraine and why they personally should be granted another period of parole in order to remain in the United States. .

Ideally, applicants for re-parole will submit this evidence when they file Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records. However, some applicants receive a “Request for Evidence” from USCIS after they have filed their re-parole application. A USCIS Request for Evidence (RFE) is a formal notice (Form I-797E) indicating that a pending immigration application lacks necessary documentation or information. It is not a denial, but a request for more proof, such as additional records, letters, or other documentation. You must respond to an RFE by the specified deadline to avoid application denial.

Many Ukrainians ask what types of evidence they should submit when applying for re-parole. USCIS has not defined which situations are sufficient to warrant a grant of re-parole. However, USCIS has published some potential reasons for requesting humanitarian parole and suggested some accompanying evidence to submit in support of those reasons:

Guidance on Evidence for Certain Types of Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole Requests,

For many Ukrainians who came on Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) or were paroled outside of the program at the U.S. border, there could be some common, compelling reasons as to why they cannot return to Ukraine and must remain in the United States. However, it is not sufficient to simply explain that you cannot return because there is an ongoing war or to speak in general terms about the danger and destruction in Ukraine. You will need to tell USCIS your personal story that underscores how the war affected you personally, why you left, and why you need to remain in the U.S. longer.

Below are some potential reasons for seeking re-parole and types of evidence to consider submitting. You can find additional reasons in our our article here:

https://ukrainetaskforce.org/applying-for-re-parole-updates-and-recommendations-for-ukrainian-parolees/

Please note that each person’s circumstances will vary. Thus, it is recommended that you consult a qualified attorney to discuss the best type of evidence for your situation.

A Personal Affidavit

It is recommended that each applicant for re-parole submits their own affidavit. The affidavit should explain:

  1. Where in Ukraine you are from
  2. How you personally experienced the war in Ukraine
  3. How and why you left Ukraine
  4. how and why you came to the United States
  5. what is presently happening in your city/town in Ukraine
  6. why you cannot return to Ukraine or to a third country where you stayed temporarily
  7. why you need to remain in the U.S. longer

A 2-3 page affidavit is likely adequate, depending on how much information is relevant to include. The affidavit should contain enough details to illustrate what happened to you, under what conditions you lived, and under what conditions you left Ukraine.

If you lived and traveled to the U.S. with your family and experienced many of the same circumstances as a result of the war, you could consider writing one affidavit that tells the family’s story and altering only a few aspects from their perspective for their own affidavit.

On the other hand, if each family member faced their own unique circumstances or experienced different challenges because of the war, it may be more practical to submit more individualized affidavits that describe their unique harm in Ukraine and their personal reasons for needing to remain in the U.S.

The affidavit should be signed and sworn. It should include a statement at the end that you declare under penalty of perjury that the information you’ve provided is true and correct. 

You can either sign the affidavit electronically using a unique signature, or print it out, sign it, and scan it with your handwritten signature. Generic digital signatures are not recommended for affidavits.

The affidavit may contain the following elements, as applicable to the parolee’s situation:

  • Where you lived in Ukraine. Your registered address, and the city and region of Ukraine you are from or resided in when the full-scale invasion started.
    • If it was an occupied area, you should mention this. If you had already been subject to occupation or danger prior to Feb. 2022, this is also useful to indicate.
    • Who lived with you, including immediate and extended family members, and your ages.
  • How you encountered the war and what you witnessed. This includes harm to yourself, your family members, or others in close proximity.
    • You should try to be specific about your exposure to danger, for example, how often shelling took place and for how long, where you tried to seek safety, and how often you heard air raids. 
    • If you or your family members directly encountered Russian occupiers or mercenaries, you should explain when and how, for example, if you were stationed there. If applicable, you can also describe actions by the occupiers that harmed your family or community, such as looting grocery stores, taking your property, harassing people, threatening to hurt you, or other acts.
    • If you witnessed brutality or lost someone close to you, those are strong elements to include. If you or your family members experienced persecution or were targeted by the Russians or mercenaries, that is also important to mention.
    • You could also describe harm to your property, business, or essential infrastructure, if applicable.  
    • If possible, you should provide approximate dates or months of major catastrophes you witnessed.
  • Your living conditions and how the war disrupted your life. You can also describe disruptions to your household members.
    • For example, lack of electricity and other utilities, lack of food and safe water, lack of medicine, loss of communication, etc. are all relevant.
    • You can also describe how your living conditions affected you, your children, or your elderly relatives.
    • If you or someone in your household was disabled, explain how that added extra challenges to your day-to-day survival.
    • Note when you or your family members lost jobs, stopped going to work, children stopped going to school, and/or when you stopped leaving the house.
    • Mention if you or your family members became ill as a result of your living conditions. If you or a family member were given a medical diagnosis for a new illness or condition, you can mention that too.
    • It may be helpful to describe how the trauma affected you and/or your children, for example as behavioral changes or difficulty sleeping. You can also mention if you or a family member were diagnosed with PTSD or another psychological disorder.
  • Why, when, and how you left Ukraine. Describe the circumstances of your departure from your town and from Ukraine.
    • If you tried to leave earlier but couldn’t, explain why, for example, if there were no safe evacuation routes or you didn’t have anywhere to go.
    • It is helpful to describe the dangers you experienced as you left, such as Russian occupation, checkpoints, shelling or drones, lack of transportation, extreme delays, or other issues.
  • Challenges you experienced in other countries before you came to the United States. If relevant, describe significant barriers to resettlement or accessing basic needs after leaving Ukraine.
    • For example, describe the hardships you or your family faced while living in a refugee camp or sharing a small apartment with other families.
    • Explain that it was difficult to find work, food, and medical care, especially if you or your family member have a special need or condition.
    • If you didn’t speak the country’s language and didn’t know anyone there, you can mention that as well. You can also discuss challenges your child had while trying to make friends and attend school.
    • Mention if you or your child felt threatened or exploited by your host or employer, especially if you experienced harm as a result.
  • When, how, and why you came to the United States.
    • Briefly provide the dates and manner or your travel from Ukraine or another country to the U.S.
    • Explain why you came to the U.S. rather than another country. Did you have family or friends here? Did you have a potential job offer? 
    • If your temporary status or protection expired in another country, that is also useful to mention. 
  • How you have benefited from living in the United States. (not as relevant)
    • You can briefly describe how you resettled, made new friends, found employment, and improved your physical/emotional well-being. If applicable you can mention progress from trauma therapy for yourself or your child.
    • You can mention that your children have resumed attending school and made new friends.
    •  You could note that you’ve found stable, well-paying employment, pay for independent housing, and are financially self-sufficient, if applicable.
    • You can express that you are grateful to the U.S. for the stability and security it has given you and hope you will be able to stay here until it is safe for you to return home.
  • How the U.S. has benefited significantly from you living here, if applicable.
    • Explain how you started a business that created jobs, especially for American workers. Also, be sure to mention how many other employees would lose their jobs if you left.
    • Explain how you provide valuable skills or expertise to a U.S. employer that are difficult to find among American workers. Also mention if your employer is extremely interested in your continued work because their business cannot function without you.
    • If you volunteer as a medic, firefighter, therapist, or engage in charitable work that benefits your community, you could mention that. However, these factors are not as relevant.
  • Present conditions in your town or region of Ukraine. Describe the ongoing dangers or lack of basic infrastructure that make it unsafe for you to return there.
    • What is currently happening in your city/town as a result of the war? For example, you will want to note if there has been recent shelling, drone activity, or if your area is under occupation.  
    • If your town was liberated, you can mention why it continues to be unsafe due to other threats. 
    • If you have children, elderly, or disabled family members, or if you are single woman or parent, describe additional risks you face in your hometown or region, if applicable.
    • You can also discuss how the lack of electricity, food, water, heating, etc. make life extremely difficult there.  
  • Why relocation to another part of Ukraine or a third country is not feasible.
    • Describe the hazardous conditions or lack of safety in other parts of Ukraine where you could potentially relocate
    • Explain the lack of housing, jobs, resources, or assistance for newcomers.
    • If you have limited means and/or cannot work, indicate your lack of money to purchase plane tickets or resettle in a new country, especially if you have dependents.
    • If you previously considered a third country, note if entry has been restricted.
    • If applicable, explain that you do not have citizenship or residency permits in other countries you may have previously stayed in.
  • Compelling reasons why you must remain in the U.S. on humanitarian parole.
    • Explain your family ties to the U.S. and why it’s important to be united with them.
    • If you don’t have any family here, indicate if you have close friends from Ukraine that help you maintain your well-being or look after your children, especially if you have difficulty understanding English.  Or, describe any close ties you have developed with your sponsor, other supporters, or a religious community. These factors are less relevant, but they could be worth mentioning.
    • If you or a family member are receiving medical treatment in the U.S., describe why it can’t be interrupted. The treatment should be for serious illnesses or injuries that need dedicated medical attention, not simply chronic conditions such as diabetes or pain that could be managed with medicine or routine care.
    • If you or your family member were recently hospitalized for a serious illness or injury and cannot travel, explain the seriousness of the condition and the risks of being forced to travel abroad.
    • If you are caring for an ill, disabled, or elderly family member in the U.S., describe the harm they face if you were not allowed to stay here.
    • If you have applied or plan to apply for other immigration statuses such as asylum, TPS, or a green card, explain that you need re-parole while you wait for those decisions. 
    • On the other hand, if you don’t qualify for TPS or any other status, explain that humanitarian parole is your only avenue to remain in the safety of the U.S. until the war ends in Ukraine.

Supporting Evidence

Along with the affidavit, you will need to submit documentary evidence that confirms the key points of the affidavit. In your affidavit, reference each piece of evidence you are submitting at the appropriate juncture. You can refer to the evidence as “Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, Exhibit 3,” etc.

For each type of evidence referenced, you should briefly describe what it is and what it shows. For example, Exhibit 1 can be your passport showing your registered address in Ukraine.  Exhibit 2 can be a news article describing shelling in your city or a police report documenting harm you suffered. Exhibit 3 can be a medical record for your child. Exhibit 4 can be a property damage report documenting destruction of your home. Note that these are all examples that may or may not apply to your circumstances.

Be sure to include certified translations of all documents, records, and news you submit in other languages.

Below is a list of evidence that may be useful to include, depending on your personal situation and what you write in your affidavit:

  • Evidence that you lived in a particular city/town in Ukraine.
    • This can be a registration stamp in your passport showing where you lived (along with the main page showing your identity), a lease/mortgage on a residence, or utility bills showing your name and address in Ukraine.
  • Evidence that you personally suffered in Ukraine or experienced destruction of property.
    • For example, you could provide photos or time stamped social media posts showing you sleeping in your basement or in the subway during shelling. 
    • If applicable, you could submit photos or media articles showing your residence or business was destroyed. If you have documents from Ukraine demonstrating property loss, those can also be submitted.
  • Evidence of ongoing harm or danger in your hometown or region of Ukraine.
    • Ideally, U.S. or major international news sources describing destruction or occupation of your town/region are best.
    • If a U.S. or other major news source is not reporting on the situation in your hometown, try to obtain local new articles or police reports documenting recent incidents of harm.
    • If you are aware of specific acts of violence, destruction, or loss of infrastructure that were not reported in the news media, you could try to obtain a sworn affidavit from a relative or neighbor who lives in your hometown. This may not carry as much weight as a verified news article, but it could be a last resort.
  • If you or a family member are obtaining continuous medical treatment or were recently hospitalized for a serious illness or injury, provide medical records and evidence of hospital stays.
    • If your condition or injury precludes flying or makes it difficult to use mass transit, also consider obtaining a letter from a physician advising against international travel.
    • If your or your family member’s illness or treatment makes you homebound or requires consistent use of a medical device, for example an oxygen tank or dialysis machine, submit evidence of being homebound or an order from a physician necessitating the daily use of your devices.
  • If you were diagnosed with PTSD or another psychological disorder as a result of the harm you suffered, provide a record of the diagnosis.
  • If you care for an ill or disabled person in the U.S. and cannot leave them, provide records evidencing their condition, essential services that you provide to them, and a letter or affidavit from their legal guardian or qualifying relative explaining why it is necessary for you to stay here to continue caring for them.
    • For example, if you take care of an elderly homebound individual or a disabled child, ask them or their legal guardian to explain in the letter or affidavit how you help the person carry on their day-to-day activities, improve their well-being, reduce the burden on their families, and reduce their dependence on state/local services. They can highlight in the letter that your continued presence in the U.S. invaluable to them.
    • Note if the person you care for has limited English comprehension and prefers to communicate in Ukrainian or another language you speak with them.
  • If you have valuable work skills or fill a critical role at a company, explain your unique credentials and include a letter from your employer describing why you are essential.
  • If you own a business that employs others, submit business records showing how many jobs were created and their economic value. If applicable, you cold also document how many American employees would lose their jobs if you left and the estimated economic loss to the community.
  • If you claim that you don’t have the money to pay international travel expenses for your family to leave, you may want to include bank statements showing limited funds, as well as data showing the cost of plane and train tickets to Ukraine or a third country.
  • If, on the other hand, you claim to be financially independent, you will want to submit evidence of either your own funds/income or a letter from a sponsor/relative demonstrating their financial support for the duration of your re-parole.
  • If you are only seeking short-term protection in the U.S., you can provide evidence of your continuing ties to Ukraine indicating you plan to return.

Keep your evidence brief, organized, and easy to read. Don’t submit extraneous or overly long evidence. Remember that USCIS officers are inundated with cases to process.  The easier you make it for them to read your affidavit, identify the evidence, and understand how it supports your key points, the less time it could take to review your re-parole application or RFE response.

Each family member will need to submit their own evidence when applying for re-parole. If you are responding to an RFE, only the family member(s) who received the request need to submit additional evidence.

Family members can submit many of the same documents as evidence if they are describing the same facts in their affidavits. But if they are describing harm or facts that are unique to them, they will need to submit individualized evidence that supports their specific claims.

Depending on how much evidence you plan to submit, you can either consolidate your evidentiary record into one document or submit the pieces individually. If you have a lot of evidence, you may consider scanning or compiling the pieces into one PDF, separated by blank pages designated as “Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2,” etc. But if you have, for example, less than 5 pieces of evidence, you can upload them separately, as long as you name each one clearly so the officer can understand what it is and how it corresponds to your affidavit.

You can name your uploaded file “Evidence of Urgent Humanitarian Reasons” or something similar that’s easy for the USCIS officer to identify. If your PDF is too large, compress it to the extent possible using Adobe software or an online PDF application so you can upload it to your USCIS account.

For more information on applying for re-parole, see our article here:

https://ukrainetaskforce.org/applying-for-re-parole-updates-and-recommendations-for-ukrainian-parolees/

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This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. By reading this, you agree that this information is not a substitute for legal counsel and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Please note that we are not able to offer direct filing assistance or personalized legal advice through this forum. Please consult a qualified attorney to discuss your own situation and to obtain assistance with specific matters. If you do not have an immigration attorney, you may try contacting an attorney listed on this page: https://ukrainetaskforce.org/legal-assistance-providers/


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