TN 61 (07-24)

RM 10211.195 Evidence of Parolee Status When an Alien Submits Form I-94 or Unexpired Foreign Passport

 

A. Introduction

An appropriately stamped Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or unexpired foreign passport is evidence of the parolee’s legal immigration status. However, there may be situations in which you encounter Form I-94 without an admission stamp (e.g., Form I-94s printed from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website). In most situations, Form I-94 does not establish employment authorization. Therefore, a parolee with only a Form I-94 or a parole stamp in the foreign passport who is not work authorized incident to their status can only apply for a non-work Social Security Number (SSN), if eligible. For information on eligibility for a non-work SSN, see RM 10211.600.

B. Evidence of parole status

Form I-94 with a parole stamp in the upper right corner is evidence of parolee immigration status. If the parolee does not have a Form I-94, then a parole stamp in the unexpired foreign passport is sufficient evidence of parole status.

Generally, the stamp shows a:

  • “Parole Unit” designation or the stamp header “PAROLED;”

  • purpose of parole (e.g., “Public Interest”) or a class of admission (COA) indicating parolee status (e.g., CP or OP); and

  • port of entry, action date, and inspector stamp number.

Form I-94 or an unexpired foreign passport with a parole stamp may show a handwritten departure number when CBP electronically assigns the alien an I-94 number in their system.

If the parolee shows a Form I-94, the handwritten departure number supersedes the preprinted number. The preprinted number may or may not be crossed out.

NOTE: SSA will accept a Form I-94 printout from the CBP website as evidence of non-immigrant status, as long as it verifies through USCIS' Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. The printouts will not display an admission stamp.

See References

  • Administrative Confidential Memorandum (ACM), for an exhibit of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) parole stamp and recent examples

  • RM 10211.137 C for an exhibit of a Form I-94 issued to a parolee

  • RM 10211.140 for instructions on entering nonimmigrant evidence in the Enumeration System

C. Verifying parolee status through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) when Form I-94 or an unexpired foreign passport is submitted

1. SAVE verification of parolee status

SAVE verification of parolee status means the alien is present in the United States (U.S.) with Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) knowledge.

Parolee status (with the exception of certain Ukrainians and Afghans) by itself does not mean that the alien is authorized to work in the United States.

If the parolee has an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), see RM 10211.200.

2. SAVE initial verification (IV) response

The SAVE IV response verifies the applicant is a parolee when:

  • the SAVE COA code field shows a code of “CC,” “CH,” “CM,” “CP,” “DA,” “DT”, “OP”, “PR”, “HF”, "CHP", "HHP", "NHP", "VHP", or "WHP" and

  • the DHS response shows, “Non-Immigrant.”

3. SAVE additional verification (AV) response

The SAVE AV response verifies the applicant is a parolee when the DHS response shows either:

  • “Not Authorized Employment” and “Parolee,”

  • “Parolee,” or

  • The DHS response shows “Non-Immigrant” and the SAVE COA field shows a code of “CC”, “CH”, ”CM,” “CP”, “DA”, “DT”, “OP”, “PR”, “HF”, "CHP", "HHP", "NHP", "VHP", or "WHP."

D. Verifying parolee class of admission with employment authorization incident to status: Parolees from Ukraine and Afghanistan

  1. 1. 

    Ukrainian Parolees with a COA of UHP

    Effective May 9, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new COA, Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole (UHP), for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members admitted as parolees under Uniting for Ukraine.

    On November 21, 2022, USCIS announced that Ukrainian parolees and their qualifying family members with certain COAs are employment authorized incident to their status. These individuals can work in the U.S. prior to approval of their Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization).

    Ukrainian parolees with a COA of UHP may possess one of the following documents:

    • Unexpired Paper Form I-94 with a COA of UHP;

    • Unexpired Form I-94 printed from CBP's website with a COA of UHP (this printout will not have an admission stamp); or,

    • An unexpired foreign passport with a parole stamp that returns a COA of UHP in SAVE

      Enumeration applications for individuals with the appropriate documentation and a COA of UHP should be processed through the Social Security Number Application Process (SSNAP) following normal procedures.

      NOTE: Individuals may have a U4U annotation on their parolee stamp, which is shorthand for Uniting for Ukraine. The SAVE response should return a COA of UHP.

  2. 2. 

    Ukrainian Parolees with a COA of DT

    Ukrainian parolees with Form I-94 issued between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023, with a COA of DT and Ukraine as the country of citizenship on the document are employment authorized incident to their status.

    To process an Enumeration application for an applicant with a COA of DT on Form I-94 (with or without an admission stamp), that was issued between February 24, 2022 and September 20, 2023, and indicates Ukraine as the country of citizenship. Technicians must use the One Time Special Processing (OTSP) option in SSNAP and do the following:

    • Load Form SS-5 into SSNAP

    • Select "Lawful Alien" for "Citizenship" on the Number Holder Information screen.

    • Select the appropriate document for age and identity.

    • Once on the Proof of Legal Alien Status screen, select "One Time Special Processing (OTSP)," as the Primary DHS Document.

      • Annotate the displayed fields as listed in RM 10210.170C, Step 3.

      • Add the following remark in the "Comments" field: "Using OTSP per RM 10211.195C.2. The SAVE Verification Number is: (insert SAVE case number obtained from SAVE response)."

      • Leave the "Non-work Reason" field blank.

    • Verify Form I-94 via SAVE located in I-MAIN. Do not verify via SSNAP.

      • SAVE should return a response of DT

      • If SAVE does not return a COA of DT, follow the additional verification procedures outlined in RM 10214.150. Place the application in "Suspect" status until the final SAVE response is received.

    • Close the SAVE case after receiving the final SAVE response by clicking "Close Case" on the SAVE response screen.

    • Add the following comment on the SSNAP summary screen: "Using OTSP per RM 10211.195C.2. The SAVE Verification Number is: (insert SAVE case number obtained from SAVE response)." Continue through to the end of the application path.

    • Retrieve the application using the "Update" mode in SSNAP.

    • Proceed to the Proof of Legal Alien Status screen and change the "Document Evaluation," from "Suspect" to "Approved" and continue to the next screen.

    • On the Assign CIT/PRA screen select “Alien Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization” for the Citizenship Code and select “No” to Permanent Resident Alien (PRA) code.

    • Continue to the Verify and Sign screen to save the changes and indicate that you want to clear the application.

    • Follow normal office procedures to notify management that an application was processed that requires review and clearance by a manager (two-PIN sign-off). For more information on the two-pin clearance process, see RM 10220.040.

  3. 3. 

    Afghan Parolees with a COA of PAR

    On June 8, 2023, USCIS announced that certain Afghan parolees whose unexpired Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) contains a COA of "PAR" and indicates Afghanistan as the country of citizenship are now employment authorized incident to their status.

    NOTE: These individuals may present an unexpired Form I-94 with no admission stamp that was printed from CBP's website. We can accept this document if SAVE confirms the status listed on Form I-94.

    To process an SSN card for an applicant with a COA of PAR, verify Form I-94 is unexpired and indicates Afghanistan as the country of citizenship. Technicians must use the OTSP option in SSNAP and do the following:

    • Load Form SS-5 into SSNAP

    • Select "Lawful Alien" for citizenship on the Number Holder Information screen.

    • Select the appropriate document for age and identity.

    • Once on the Proof of Legal Alien Status screen, select "One Time Special Processing (OTSP)," as the Primary DHS Document.

      • Annotate the displayed fields as listed in RM 10210.170C. Step 3,

      • Add the following remark in the "Comments" field: "Using OTSP per RM 10211.195C. The SAVE Verification Number is (insert SAVE case number obtained from SAVE response.)

      • Leave the "Non-Work Reason" field blank.

    • Verify Form I-94 via SAVE located in I-Main. Do not verify via SSNAP.

      • If SAVE does not return a COA of PAR, follow the additional verification procedures outlined in RM 10214.150. Place the application in "Suspect" status until the final SAVE response is received.

    • Close the SAVE case after receiving the final SAVE response by clicking "Close Case" on the SAVE response screen.

    • Add the following comment on the summary screen as follows: "Using OTSP per RM 10211.195C.2. The SAVE Verification Number is: (insert SAVE case number obtained from SAVE response)." Continue through to the end of the application path.

    • Retrieve the application using the "Update" mode in SSNAP.

    • Proceed to the Proof of Legal Alien Status screen and change the "Document Evaluation," from "Suspect" to "Approved" and continue to the next screen.

    • On the Assign CIT/PRA screen select "Alien Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization" for the Citizenship code and select "No" to Permanent Resident Alien (PRA) code.

    • Continue to the Verify and Sign screen to save the changes and indicate that you want to clear the application.

    • Follow normal office procedures to notify management that an application was processed that requires review and clearance by a manager (two-PIN sign-off). For more information on the two-pin clearance process, see RM 10220.040.

  4. 4. 

    Afghan Parolees with a COA of OAR

    Afghan parolees with a COA of Operations Allies Refugee (OAR) will have an unexpired Form I-94 with or without an admission stamp, which contains a COA of OAR. Enumeration applications with the appropriate documentation and a COA of OAR should be processed through SSNAP following normal procedures.

    NOTE: 

    If an Afghan parolee believes they should have received a COA of OAR or PAR but did not, refer the individual to CBP.

E. References

  • RM 10211.135 Evidence of Non-immigrant Status for an SSN Card

  • RM 10211.137 Description of Evidence of Nonimmigrant Status and Admission Stamps

  • RM 10211.190 Evidence of Parolee Status for an SSN Card

  • RM 10211.600 Requests for an SSN from an Alien without Work Authorization

  • RM 10214.150 Requesting Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) Additional Verification (AV) of Immigration Documents


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211195
RM 10211.195 - Evidence of Parolee Status When an Alien Submits Form I-94 or Unexpired Foreign Passport - 07/26/2024
Batch run: 07/26/2024
Rev:07/26/2024