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Immigration Update

Nov 28, 2022 | Immigration Updates

In this edition, find the latest news on certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees becoming immediately work authorized, Title 42 being blocked as of December 21, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ announcement that it will only be accepting the 8/19/22 edition of Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions.

USCIS Says Certain Afghan and Ukrainian Parolees Are Immediately Work Authorized

Effective as of November 21, 2022, certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees are work authorized incident to their parole status based on recently passed laws, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced. To implement the statutory language, “other benefits available to refugees,” USCIS is providing employment authorization incident to status normally accorded to refugees and a no-fee initial (and replacement of an initial) employment authorization document (EAD) to Afghan and Ukrainian parolees so they “receive the same treatment as refugees,” the agency said.

This policy applies to the following individuals if their parole has not been terminated:

  • Afghan parolees whose unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, contains a class of admission of “OAR.” Those who are Afghan parolees covered under section 2502(b), P.L. No. 117-43, who did not receive an “OAR” class of admission on their Form I-94 should email U.S. Customs and Border Protection at oawi94adjustments@cbp.dhs.gov to update their class of admission, if appropriate;
  • Ukrainian parolees whose unexpired Form I-94 contains a class of admission of “UHP”; and
  • Ukrainian parolees whose unexpired Form I-94 contains a class of admission of “DT” issued between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, and indicates Ukraine as the country of citizenship on the document.

For these parolees, their unexpired Form I-94 is an acceptable receipt they may present to employers to show their identity and employment authorization for the purposes of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The receipt satisfies the Form I-9 requirement for 90 days from the date of hire (or in the case of reverification, the date employment authorization expires). After the 90-day period, parolees must present an EAD or unrestricted Social Security card and acceptable List B identity document from the Form I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents (such as a state-issued driver’s license or identification card). Ukrainian and Afghan parolees must still file a Form I-765 to receive a physical EAD.

Effective as of November 21, 2022, USCIS is also exempting the fee to file Form I-765 for Ukrainian parolees filing for an EAD by mail. Afghan parolees under OAW are already exempt from the fee for an initial paper-filed Form I-765 (and a replacement EAD) through September 30, 2023.

Effective December 5, 2022, USCIS will be able to process fee exemptions for online filings of Form I-765 for eligible Ukrainian and Afghan parolees.

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Title 42 Policy Blocked Effective December 21

On November 15, 2022, U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan blocked the Title 42 policy that has resulted in many migrants being turned away at the southern U.S. border. The same night, the Department of Justice filed a motion to stay the order for five weeks, which Judge Sullivan granted. The order will be effective December 21, 2022.

The Trump administration instituted the policy in March 2020, with the stated purpose of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Title 42 was the subject of litigation, and the Biden administration was prevented from revoking the policy. In vacating Title 42, the court noted that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes that current public health conditions no longer require continuation of an order to keep migrants out of the United States, and that plaintiffs would continue to face substantial harm if they were returned to their home countries. In its order vacating the policy, the court included “all orders and decision memos issued by the [CDC] suspending the right to introduce certain persons into the United States.” The court also declared the Title 42 policy to be “arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.”

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the delay in implementation of the court’s order “will allow the government to prepare for an orderly transition to new policies at the border. But to be clear, under the unopposed motion, Title 42 would remain in place for some period.”

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USCIS Accepting Only 8/19/22 Edition of N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions

As of November 21, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is accepting only the 8/19/22 edition of Form N-648, Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. USCIS revised the form and removed several questions, including dates of diagnosis and when the disability or impairment began; description of severity of each disability or impairment; effects on the applicant’s daily life; and an explanation of the doctor-patient relationship. Also, telehealth medical examinations are now permitted for Form N-648, among other changes.

USCIS will accept a Form N-648 after a Form N-400 is filed but recommends that applicants submit both forms at the same time.

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