Documentation and SAVE Verification for Modernized Family Reunification Parole Processes for Cuba and Haiti

This announcement provides updated information about documentation and the SAVE verification process for individuals who are paroled into the United States under the modernized Cuban and Haitian Family Reunification Parole Processes, which permit nationals of these countries and their immediate family members to be paroled on a case-by-case basis for up to three years.

Documentation

Parolees under the Family Reunification Parole Processes can present a copy of their electronic Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, from the U.S Customs and Border Protection website at i94.cbp.dhs.gov, which will include one of the following classes of admission (COAs):

• RCU (Cuban Family Reunification Parole); or
• RHT (Haitian Family Reunification Parole).

They may also have one or more of the following:

• Paper Form I-94 with a COA of RCU or RHT;
• Foreign passport with parole stamp that includes a COA of RCU or RHT; or
• Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a C11 category if they have applied for employment authorization and received an EAD.

Family Reunification parolees are not employment authorized incident to their parole. They must have an EAD to be employment authorized.

Public Benefit Eligibility

Cubans and Haitians who are paroled into the United States under the FRP processes meet the definition of a Cuban/Haitian Entrant and may be eligible to receive certain public benefits. For more information, see Information for SAVE Users: Cuban-Haitian Entrants.

SAVE Verification

Based on information from a benefit applicant’s documentation, SAVE can provide an initial verification response of Parolee with a COA of RCU or RHT. The initial response may also include employment authorization information if the parolee has an EAD. An initial SAVE verification response is automated and includes one class of admission (COA) and employment authorization information, if any.

Parolees may have more than one valid immigration status or category and may also present valid immigration documents that demonstrate other pending applications or approved statuses or categories. Cuban or Haitian individuals paroled into the United States through other processes may have a general parole COA, such as DT or PAR.

If the automated SAVE response is unexpected or is not sufficient for an agency to make a benefit eligibility determination, the agency should institute Additional Verification.

SAVE Additional Verification provides a detailed verification response, including:

• Parole period,
• Additional immigration statuses and categories, if any, and
• Pending immigration applications.

Additional verification may be required in limited circumstances, such as when the applicant information submitted by the user agency does not match federal immigration records. 

Additional Information

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security webpages provide information about eligibility and how to apply for parole and employment authorization through these processes.