The Departments of State and Homeland Security are determining arrangements for processing applications under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP). Due to staff reductions at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has suspended operations at its field office in Havana. Inquiries about the parole program and can be made to Havanauscis@dhs.gov or by calling 1-800-375-5283 toll free from the United States. Callers outside the United States may call the USCIS Field Office in Mexico City at +52-55-5080-2000.

Parole is a special type of admission to the United States, not a visa, although today Cuban Parole recipients receive a foil in their passports which appears very similar to a visa.  Parole is a discretionary program administered by USCIS, though the consular section performs most parole processing.  All final parole decisions are made by USCIS.  Unlike immigrant visa recipients, parole recipients do not enter the United States as Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).  However, the Cuban Adjustment Act currently allows most Cuban parole recipients to apply for LPR status after a minimum of one year’s presence in the United States.  Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program

Created in 2007, the CFRP program allows certain eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for parole for their family members in Cuba.  If granted parole, these family members may come to the United States without waiting for their immigrant visa priority dates to become current.  Once in the United States, CFRP program beneficiaries may apply for work authorization while they wait to apply for lawful permanent resident status.

Visit the USCIS website for information about CFRP eligibility and application procedures.