USCIS Issues Policy Alert on Employment Authorization for Parolees

USCIS posted a policy alert after it issued guidance in its Policy Manual addressing USCIS's discretion to grant employment authorization to foreign nationals paroled in the United States, including those who are otherwise inadmissible. The guidance, contained in Volume 10 of the Policy Manual, replaces the guidance found in Chapter 55 of the Adjudicator's Field Manual (AFM). The guidance is effective 8/19/19 and comments are due by 8/30/19.

Policy Highlights

• Emphasizes the use of discretion when determining whether to grant employment authorization for foreign nationals paroled into the United States in keeping with existing policies.
• Provides a list of positive and negative factors that an officer may consider when balancing the totality of the circumstances and determining whether an applicant warrants a favorable exercise of discretion.

Related Resources

• USCIS Press Release: USCIS Issues Guidance on Discretionary Employment Authorization for Parolees - August 19, 2019
• Tracking USCIS Policy Manual Changes