Retention Date: December 21, 2024
Summary of Revisions:
Section A and B: Added Ecuador to the list of countries as part of the parole process.
Section C: Added Ecuador’s list of acceptable documents and COA code.
Section D: Added RED code for Ecuador.
A. Purpose
This emergency message (EM) provides processing information for the new Family Reunification Parole Process (FRP) for Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Ecuador.
B. Background
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of new FRP processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Cuba, Haiti, and Ecuador. The new processes are for nationals from these countries whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and who have received approval to join their family in the United States. Specifically, nationals of these countries can be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis for a period of up to three years while they wait to apply to become a lawful permanent resident. Qualifying parolees must be outside the U S., meet all requirements, including screening and vetting and medical requirements, and must not have already received an immigrant visa.
Individuals who are granted parole under these processes will generally be paroled into the U. S. for a period of up to 3 years and may request employment authorization upon arrival in the U. S. FRP parolees are NOT employment authorized incident to their parole and must provide either an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or proof of a valid nonwork reason to qualify for an SSN.
C. Evidentiary Documents
Individuals granted parole under these processes may present any of the following documents to apply for an SSN:
NOTE: Individuals who submit a foreign passport or Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, must also submit proof of a valid nonwork reason.
Colombia
Colombia FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a class of admission (COA) of RCO or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RCO or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
Cuba
Cuba FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a COA of RCU or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RCU or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
Ecuador
Ecuador FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a COA of RED or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RED or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
El Salvador
El Salvador FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a COA of RSV or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RSV or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
Guatemala
Guatemala FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a COA of RGT or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RGT or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
Haiti
Haiti FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a COA of RHT or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RHT or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
Honduras
Honduras FRP parolees may possess the following document(s):
An unexpired foreign passport with parole stamp that indicates a COA of RHN or
Unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record (Paper or Electronic), with a COA of RHN or
Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), with a category of “C11”
D. Field Office Processing Instructions
SSNAP was updated to reflect the new COAs of RCU, RHT, RCO, RSV, RGT, RHN, and RED in the “Admission Class or Status” dropdown on the “Proof of Legal Alien Status” screen.
Follow normal parolee procedures through SSNAP to process these enumeration applications for noncitizens with the appropriate documentation and a COA of RCU, RHT, RCO, RSV, RGT, RHN, and RED.
Applicants must submit evidence of age, identity, and alien status. Parolees may submit only one document to prove age, identity, and immigration status for an SSN card, per RM 10211.190. A parolee may submit a properly annotated I-766 as evidence of the parolee’s status and employment authorization, RM 10211.200. However, applicants who do not submit an EAD (Form I-766) must also submit proof of a valid nonwork reason to qualify for an SSN, RM 10211.600.
Direct all program-related and technical questions to your Regional Office (RO) support staff using vHelp or Program Service Center (PSC) Operations Analysis (OA) staff. RO support staff or PSC OA staff may refer questions, concerns, or problems to their Central Office contacts.
References
RM 10211.190 Evidence of Parolee Status for an SSN Card
RM 10211.195 Evidence of Parolee Status When an Alien Submits Form I-94 or Unexpired Foreign
Passport
RM 10211.200 Evidence of Parolee Status When an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
is Submitted
RM 10211.600 Requests for an SSN from a Noncitizen Without Work Authorization
RM 10211.610 Valid Reasons to assign an SSN for Nonwork Purposes
RM 10210.420 Priority List of Acceptable Evidence of Identity Documents
RM 10210.170 Understanding the Social Security Number Application Process’s (SSNAP’s) One Time
Special Processing (OTSP) Option