What is HIAS ?

will the power point be available to us?

HIAS is a nonprofit organization that works on immigration and resettlement

Right. But what does it stand for ?

A video of this presentation will be available and sent to participants after the presentation

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

Thanks

YEs

Some people are still trying to get in to the webinar. Colin Knisely from my firm (Duane Morris) is trying to get in.

Please share this link with anyone trying to get in. Thank you.https://troutman.zoom.us/w/95057238187?tk=E3Hov2z8mpxJbYosGzDrlMxmSfqGgZnyG0hFWAwUcq0.DQMAAAAWIdpYqxZ4WkFGVVZyblJocUhJODdZNTBXc1d3AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&pwd=WEJpZklGd3UrUDJnV1R3RnNDdTRiUT09&uuid=WN_vEUY1XGyR8aJ-wWzJ41LZQ

for applicants with multiple family members, can the same Explanation of Need statement be submitted for all of them (just duplicated in each packet)?

Jessica - I cannot copy the link. Won't let me.

click on the link and it will open, then you can cut and paste

thank you

We really need to advocate to state for a simpler process specific to Afghan issue (blanket waiver of Hum Parole filing fees, bypassing lock box etc)

Some Answers to questions: HIAS PA is the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a resettlement organization in Philadelphia. The other resettlement organization is Nationalities Service Center.

Each person requires a fee. An application package must be filed for EACH PERSON seeking to enter the U.S. These forms CANNOT be filed electronically. They should be sent BY MAIL, preferable FED EX to addresses provided in the slide show

Client stuck in Afghanistan, doesn't know if/when he can get to a third country. What is the timing? Should we file request for humanitarian parole asap? what happens if he can't get to a US embassy or consulate in a third country fast enough?

Family of 20 over 50k - that’s just impractical

Apologies - got math wrong.

There are fee waivers available for the $575 fee and advocacy is underway to give a blanket waiver for Afghans, but so far, a fee waiver request for EACH beneficiary/applicant must be filed. We will address this later.

What does NGO mean

Non governmental organization

@Judi glad advocacy underway for blanket waiver

This sample packet will be available, along with the recording after the training.

Any advocacy to bypass lock box?

As any gotten folks out of Afghan using Hum Parole? Any success stories of completing the process that’s being presented now?

I believe the correct term for a person from Afghanistan is Afghan--Afghani refers to currency

There is also advocacy to automatically expedite these applications, but it is unclear if that is still the case now that Operation Allies Refuge is over. Afghan is the correct term to refer to a citizen of Afghanistan.

will this recording be made available for those who attended?

Jessica, can you enlarge the form on your screen. Can't read it at present magnification

Most people who have gotten out of Afghanistan had either part of the HP process completed but not the entire process and were given "port parole" by CBP at the border.

Thanks, Jessica

I am a US lawyer but live abroad. Ok to list as attorney address a foreign address -- can I rely on USCIS to mail me documents in Europe?

Would HIAS be the "requestor"?

We will circulate this training video and all documents after the training. Thank you.

What benefit does HP have for an SIV applicant who is part way through the process and has been evacuated to a third country?

@Judi, so if I understand what you’re say, Humanitarian Parole app underway didn’t necessarily get them on a plane. They just manager to get on plane and now HP underway, correct?

I-864P https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

Are Afghans going to be classified as "refugees" according to the UNCHR? That would change the sponsorship rules?

Same question as Carol Roberts.

A copy of the sample will be available to all registrants. It is better to have an individual from an organization such as HIAS PA to be the requestor.

Yes - also need advocacy blanket waiver of sponsorship rules. My clients don’t have folks in the US that can sponsor. Are there orgs who have publicly said they will help as financial sponsors?

At this point, if an Afghan arrives on HP, they will need to apply for asylum to get refugee status. That is the equivalent to refugee status. It would be a good advocacy campaign to permit Afghans who apply for asylum to be given the benefit of the doubt if they had particular backgrounds (i.e. worked for Afghan government, woman activist, journalist, etc). I am not aware of those who arrive in the U.S. getting refugee status; refugees acquire this designation outside their country and the U.S. unless Congress creates a different scheme.

If you want to refer potential clients to this group for pro bono services, please email their name and contact information to helpforafghans@hiaspa.org.

There is more information about services for Afghans on the HIAS PA website at https://hiaspa.org/afghanistanhaiti/

As Monica stated, a good starting point to see if you have enough assets to be a sponsor of a family, say of 6 people, is to go to I-864P form on USCIS website and see if you can support the intending migrant and their children at 125% of the poverty level. There is probably some flexibility on this requirement for Afghans, but nothing in writing.

We will collect these questions and post the answers to the google group created for pro bono attorneys working on these cases through PALawyersforAfghans.

Thanks Jessica. How do you join the google group?

What benefit does HP have for an SIV applicant who is part way through the process and has been evacuated to a third country? THE BENEFIT IS THAT THE PERSON CAN ARRIVE RIGHT AWAY AND BE GIVEN 2 YEARS OF LAWFUL PRESENCE SO THEY CAN TRY TO COMPLETE THE SIV PROCESS IN THE US OR FILE FOR ASYLUM. IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW SUCH A PERSON CAN FINISH THE SIV PROCESS AT THIS POINT, GIVEN THAT THE COM IS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN

if the sponsor has not sponsored anyone in the PAST, but is sponsoring several family members all at the same time, do we disclose those other sponsorships?

At Judi, same question with different fact pattern, what benefit does HP have for SIV applicant who is part way through the process and has NOT been evacuated to a third country?

Will you create a document from this chat and make it available as part of the package at the end of the webinar? Would be very helpful.

Any thing we can do to help clients in Afghanistan get safe passage to border? Any recommendations which nearby 3rd country is the best in terms of getting access to embassy and consulate? For example, I assume it is not a good idea to flee to Iran if you want to get humanitarian paroled to US?

I HOPE WE CAN SAVE THE CHAT AND SEND OUT THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS.

Judy - FYI - My client has been informed by the Afghan consulate, which is temporarily operating out of another country, that he can request a transfer of his case to another consulate in the country to which he has been evacuated.

I have the same question as Alexandra.

I have several P2 referral pending and SIV pending Afghans stuck in Afghanistan. Trying to figure out if also applying for HR is tactically smart.

If you want to refer potential clients to this group for pro bono services, please email their name and contact information to helpforafghans@hiaspa.org.

National ID cards are sufficient for HP

Must be at a US embassy/consulate to process HP.

What Afghans who are undocumented Afghans?

At this point, Afghans can get their case transferred to a consulate at another country if they are in that country.

Sorry, what about Afghans stuck in Afghanistan who are undocumented?

what if child is orphan?

K-1 Client has Access Pass to airport, which we know is closed. If he can escape to the border, what's the next step? Humanitarian parole or reschedule with Consulate? We just received an email telling him to process at Consulate in Qatar but he can't get there. Any special agreement between US and Pakistan or Qatar to let him enter with only the visa to security checkpoints for departing flights that are now no longer available?

My NGO would probably be the requester. However, we are incorporated in UK, not US. Can the requester be a non-US organization?

"Undocumented" Afghans must explain why they are lacking documents. If they can get to a 3rd country and be referred for the U.S. refugee program, they don't need documents, but we are not certain when the program will be up and running. Turkey as a Refugee Support Center. Also, in the past, refugee processing takes about 2 years due to all the security checks and vetting. A challenge

If we are helping friends who live in the US who are permanent residents get their family here… would we be the requestor or would our friends be the requestor as they’re trying to get their family here, but they don’t qualify as a sponsor.

We will save the chat.

This training is amazing. Thank you so much.

If there are 600 people on this call, does HIAS still need other volunteers (e.g., to pick up people at the airport, clean and set up housing, etc.)? I know that Nationalities Service Center (here in Philadelphia) isn’t taking any more volunteers, per their website.

I am still unclear how applying for Humanitarian Parole helps those who are still in Afghanistan. I understand who it help once folks have gotten to 3rd country or to the US, but HP is not helping get folks out of the country.

Will filing a fee waiver delay application processing? What are viable arguments for why applicant cannot pay fee? Of course anyone applying is in a humanitarian emergency, so does the explanation have to be much more than this?

Do they need to be in third country to apply? Or can we apply while they are trying to get to a safe third country, to start the approval process?

Do we know if there is any federal legislation pending to waive fees on the federal immigration forms re. Afghanis?

Piggybacking on Holly’s question, does applying for HP folks are stuck in Afghanistan help them get docs from US to get out of Afghanistan?

I am not aware of any legislation to waive the fees for Afghans, but there is advocacy on this issue. It is possible something has been introduced at this time, but I am not following.

Wouldn't the fee waiver application conflict with the affidavit of support? On one hand, you're saying you have sufficient resources to support the family, but on the other you don't have enough to pay the application fees.

Any reason why firms can't pay filing fees and short circuit a lot of this?

Question

@Collin - I think this is a matter of requester vs. sponsor

Wouldn't the fee waiver application conflict with the affidavit of support? On one hand, you're saying you have sufficient resources to support the family, but on the other you don't have enough to pay the application fees.

Many are asking if applying for HP will help get folks out of Afghanistan. It is uncertain. However, many private groups, US Senators and Congressional representatives are offering to assist for those stuck in Afghanistan who are USCs, LPRs, SIVs. In your advocacy efforts state the individual has applied for humanitarian parole.

That’s why we need blanket policy to waive application fees and sponsorship requirements for this specific crisis.

Advocacy efforts to get the fees waived are underway.

For question above, yes and no. It is possible to submit and I-134 with a nonprofit sponsorship letter along with a fee waiver, where the sponsor says they will provide food, and the nonprofit provides housing or other service. I don't know if this will fly, but it is an option

I don't understand whose information we are supposed to put in the fee waiver. The person seeking HP? Or the sponsor here in the US?

Question regarding how many applications need to be submitted. Do we need to fill out each of these forms per person, or per familly?

So, the person requesting the fee waiver is the person trying to obtain HP and come to the US?

Given the open questions about fee waivers, shouldn't the principal Afghan be the requester both for self and for family members? Then there would not be confusion about the income of a sponsor or support-provider being required in the I-912.

Same question as Terry. If we, the NGO, are the requester, if we request a fee waiver do we talk about our resources, or the resources of the person in Afghanistan for whom we are requesting humanitarian parole?

The person requesting the fee waiver is the requester if the person is in the US and wants to bring their family members here. The requester can also be the applicant/beneficiary abroad if there is no family member in the U.S.

How do we as attorneys connect with those NGOs? Who are the NGOs?

Will you provide a list of resources for those attorneys who are not active in their personal communities and don't know what resources to reach out to for this money?

Is the form letter the only thing NGOs need to submit?

what does NGO mean or stand for????

Nongovernmental organization --- like a nonprofit

Non Governmental Organization

how long does it typically take to get a decision?

Ugh Monica. That’s what I was afraid you were going to say re: Afghans stuck. HP is not a vehicle for them.

Meaning stuck in Afghanistan.

Firms can absolutely pay the filing fees. ANYONE can pay the filing fees.

Can a retired person with savings and social security (but not annual salary) serve as a sponsor?

Do you have a list of the select nonprofits? My client is super high risk and we could probably get a NGO letter.

What is the definition of “select nonprofits” under P-1?

So P-1 is for those WITHIN Afghanistan?

Ashley - yes, but you still have to show what your income (social security) is, and it still has to meet the requirements.

To clarify, granted P-1s get a P-1 visa? Also, I’ve heard a P2 visa does not exist. Is a P2 referral a vehicle get out of Afghanistan?

All refugee categories at this point REQUIRE a person to be OUTSIDE Afghanistan.

Got it, thanks, Judi.

P3 says unmarried children "over 21", is that a typo?

Any prohibition on applying for both humanitarian parole and P-2? Which likely to be faster, provider the person qualifies?

So P1, P2, and P3 are NOT vehicles to get folks out of Afghanistan?

For P3 - Can siblings qualify under this? Or is it only children?

Humanitarian parole is discretionary. Will the US arbitrarily deny a properly filed and compelling application?

Alexandra - Case by case basis, but USCIS is known for arbitrarily denying applications, so won't be surprised if that happens.

Great question, can a person apply for HP and refugee status. Unclear answer. Rumors are that those that applied for HP that are abroad will be referred for refugee resettlement, which could mean a 2 year wait. We are trying to get more information on the interplay.

This discussion about P-1 to P-3 is not relevant to HP applications, right?

Terry - Issue spotting

Where is the USG webpage explaining P3 instructions?

Thank you Judi. If the person has a strong asylum claim, then humanitarian parole is way better than P-2, right? Because as soon as the person is paroled into the US, then they can apply for asylum -- so for a strong case, it's a shorter wait, right?

Alexandra - That is what I am doing in my cases.

Thanks so much. Great to know.

Do you have a POC at USCIS and DOS to reach out to? There are massive bureaucracies. Can this group organize meetings with DOS and USCIS?

If not an attorney, will there be teams put together to assist in application preparations in volunteer capacity? Assist attorneys with paperwork and entire process? (note: education to become immigrant advocate/volunteer experience – so have experience and understanding around process just not an attorney)

Re: there are reports that Taliban have lists of thousands who have been referred to State. We need to keep USG accountable about this. If true, the US has effectively given a list of TB targets.

If we apply for humanitarian parole for someone, is that person precluded from trying legal immigration avenues to other countries?

Alexandra - depends on that country's laws.

Thank you. Sorry. I asked the question poorly. What I meant to ask: will USCIS deny because the person is also trying legal routes to other countries?

Great question, Alexandra.

Alexandra - you might be referring to third country resettlement issues. if that country OFFERS legal permanent residency and they decline bc they are waiting for the US to respond....it's a tricky issue.

They can get VISAS to other countries, the issue comes up when they were offered permanent status in other countries.

Ok, got it, super helpful. Thank you.

If a person applies for a TEMPORARY VISA to enter a third country, they probably won't affect humanitarian parole, especially if they are still at risk in Afghanistan.

Also super important to monitor who is joining the group for security reasons. I.e., making sure no non-friendly individuals get it in. Security is super important.

Perhaps, you should require attorney who are doing the group to provide their bar number so google group coordinator can verify?

Attorneys who are joining*

Pro bono attorneys are not expected to be sponsors, and I suggest that you find another attorney to do that if you are interested. Although not a direct conflict of interest, it could get sticky.

We don't yet have a packet of information for organizations interested in being sponsors, but it is a great idea.

Can we refer to you a good case? I have an excellent colleague in Afghanistan with a strong case -- would do the case personally were it not for current treatment for a very serious illness. Our NGO could support the pro bono lawyer.

Alexandra - sign up sheet after the program

Lynn - No client needs to find the sponsor

Thank you to all of the presenters today--for your knowledge, passion and determination to make a difference.

Thank you!!!! Fantastic job.

Thank you all! Fantastic program

helpforafghans@hiaspa.org

Thank you to all the presenters!

Thank you!

Thank you!

Thank you so much!

Thank you! Very helpful!