The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State (DOS) are implementing the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP). Through this program, USCIS may exercise its discretionary parole authority to permit certain eligible Cuban nationals to enter the United States in order to rejoin their family members.
Individuals eligible for a Family Reunification Parole Document are Cuban nationals residing in Cuba, who are beneficiaries of a properly filed and approved Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, to whom an immigrant visa is not yet immediately available. Beneficiaries include any accompanying or following to join spouse and children. Participation in the CFRP Program is not available to aliens who qualify as immediate relatives. USCIS will use its discretion in deciding whether to parole eligible Cuban nationals on a case-by-case basis.
U.S. based United States Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident petitioners will be informed of their beneficiaries' eligibility and the procedures for requesting parole through written notice, mailed from USCIS or the DOS National Visa Center. Participation is voluntary. If USCIS grants parole, it will issue travel documents to the beneficiary in Cuba, enabling the beneficiary's safe journey to the United States.
Petitioners with questions about a CFRP letter may direct inquiries to the National Visa Center by phone at (603) 334-0700, or by email at NVCinquiry@state.gov. General information concerning the CFRP Program is available on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov, or by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283.
Information contained in this article was obtained from the American Immigration Lawyers Association website,www.aila.com, AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08012965 (posted Jan. 29, 2008); and from the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov. For more detailed information please see the USCIS Questions and Answers Sheet on this topic found at: http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/CFRP_QA_21nov02.pdf.
