Eligible CFRP beneficiaries may be able to join their families in the United States before their immigrant visas (IVs) become available.  Individuals paroled into the United States under the CFRP Program will be lawfully present and will be able to apply for work authorization until they are eligible to apply for Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Status. Before applying for CFRP for your relatives, please consider:

USCIS cannot guarantee that the parole program will always provide faster reunification with family than the IV process. This depends on a number of factors including but not limited to:

• How soon your relative’s visa will be available,
• How quickly you apply for parole on their behalf,
• Whether we must request additional information from you to establish eligibility of your relatives for the program, and
• How soon after approval your relative travels to the United States.

The fees associated with participating in the CFRP Program versus waiting outside the United States for the IV differ.

• An individual paroled under the CFRP Program is expected to apply for LPR status (a Green Card) after being present in the United State for one year or when his or her visa becomes “current” (meaning available).
• An individual who waits outside the United States for an IV to become available and undergoes IV processing enters the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident and is authorized to work once admitted. Therefore no additional costs are required to apply for work authorization.

The total cost to obtain work authorization and adjust status to Lawful Permanent Resident after being paroled into the United States under the CFRP Program is roughly $1,810. In comparison, the cost for an individual to enter the United States with an IV is approximately $610 (these fees were accurate at the time of writing in August 2016 –they may be subject to change).