You may qualify for a humanitarian visa to the U.S. if you have an urgent need to visit the United States and you meet other eligibility requirements (like not having certain convictions on your record). When you get this type of visa, you can legally stay in the United States for a fixed length of time unless you apply for and receive an extension. Humanitarian visas can be challenging to qualify for because of the different forms and evidence the person needs to submit to prove they have an urgent humanitarian need.
Getachew & Ansari Immigration Attorneys, P.C. can help you apply for and get a humanitarian or other type of visa so you can travel to or live in the United States. Our team has years of experience learning about and working in the immigration law space. We understand the struggles you may be going through and can help you by handling the legal matters for you.
What Is a Humanitarian Visa?
A humanitarian visa is a way for people to legally come to the United States due to urgent humanitarian concerns. For example, someone may be part of an active war zone and need to flee to safety, or they may need to visit a terminally ill relative in the United States. The technical term for this type of visa is parole.
Instead of the United States government formally and permanently admitting someone into the United States as a resident, the authorities parole someone in. The person can stay here for a specific amount of time, depending on the situation, the current laws, and the country they are emigrating from.
Who Qualifies for a Humanitarian Visa?
You need to meet several humanitarian visa requirements before you can apply for and receive this type of status. The United States government will want to learn about where you are traveling from, why you are requesting parole, and how long you intend to stay. Your reason for staying in the United States must relate to urgent humanitarian matters.
The United States government does not have a standard definition for when something is an urgent humanitarian situation. Instead, the authorities review the entire request. For example, government agents might ask questions about your history and the circumstances you believe are urgent. Additionally, the officers may consider how it would impact you or your family if you could not go to the United States on parole.
Application Process for a Humanitarian Visa
The humanitarian visa application process begins with you or someone filling out Form I-131 and paying the filing fee or requesting a waiver of these costs. You can file this document on your behalf. Or, the person who is lawfully in the United States can submit paperwork to petition the government to allow you to stay in the United States on parole. Whoever fills out this application will also need to complete and send in other forms in support. For example, they might submit a document saying who will provide financial support while the person is in the United States.
After the United States government receives all the forms and evidence they need, they will contact you to schedule an interview. During the interview, they will ask you questions about your background, your application, and your purpose for being in the country. The agents may also ask you about other things they believe would help them decide to grant or deny the application.
Evidence Needed To Support a Humanitarian Visa Application
The government may ask for many different types of evidence to support your humanitarian visa application. Examples of supporting materials they might need include a copy of your birth certificate, a government-issued identification card with your photo on it, and information about your immigrant status. Additionally, the government may want evidence proving why you are requesting a humanitarian visa. For example, if you wish to come to the United States to see a sick relative, you may need to provide your relative’s information or medical records to show that they have a severe condition.
How To Prove Humanitarian Need in Your Application
Part of requesting this type of visa is proving that you have an urgent humanitarian need and that you should have priority status. The government does not give a specific definition of what counts as a humanitarian need. Instead, they look at the overall circumstances to make this decision.
The evidence they may look at includes what type of emergency is going on that you need to attend to and what the impact might be on you if the government denied your request. They might also look at whether you could apply for a different type of visa instead and whether that would be more appropriate. Also, the government may look at the time-sensitive nature of the reason for the request. For example, visiting a relative who has a terminal illness may qualify as an urgent humanitarian need.
Contact an Experienced Visa Lawyer at Getachew & Ansari Immigration Attorneys, P.C.
Getting a humanitarian visa for the U.S. can allow you to visit a sick relative or address an urgent situation in the United States for a specific period. To apply for this type of visa, you or the person requesting the humanitarian visa on your behalf should submit Form I-131 and send in supporting evidence — like copies of a government-issued identification card. You would also need to explain why you would like to request parole and how long you would like to be in the United States.
Getachew & Ansari Immigration Attorneys, P.C. provides empowering and supportive solutions to people who are trying to immigrate or travel to the United States. We have helped dozens of clients apply for and receive visas and immigrant statuses such as ones based on asylum, refugee, and humanitarian needs. We handle each case with compassion and excellence, helping clients find solutions to their immigration concerns. Contact our team today by calling 408-292-7995 to set up a time to discuss what we can do to help you.
