USCIS Memorandum, Parole Decision Authority (Amendment to March 16, 2001 memorandum)

U.S. Department of Justice Immigration and Naturalization Service HQIAO 120/17.1 Office of the Executive Associate Commissioner 425 I Street NW Washington, DC 20536 August 23, 2001 MEMORANDUM FOR REGIONAL DIRECTORS DEPUTY EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER IMMIGRATION SERVICE DIVISION DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS FROM: /S/ Michael A. Pearson Executive Associate Commissioner Office of Field Operations SUBJECT: Parole Decision Authority Headquarters Office of International Affairs (HQIAO) is in the midst of the three-phase process of transferring humanitarian parole authority from the overseas districts to HQIAO, Parole Branch. This is to update the March 16, 2001 memorandum, which indicated that jurisdiction over the Rome District Office paroles was to be transferred to HQIAO on September 1, 2001. 1. Effective 1 March 2001, all humanitarian parole requests of persons residing under the jurisdiction of the Bangkok District Office (Burma, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, the entire Pacific) began to be forwarded to HQIAO, Attention: Parole Branch.

2. Effective 1 June 2001, all humanitarian parole requests of persons residing under the jurisdiction of the Mexico City District Office (Latin America, South America, the Caribbean) began to be forwarded to HQIAO, Attention: Parole Branch. 3. Due to staffing shortages, effective immediately, all humanitarian parole requests of persons residing under the jurisdiction of the Rome District Office (Europe, India, Russia, Pakistan, Africa, Bangladesh, Middle East) should be forwarded to HQIAO, Attention: Parole Branch.

Memorandum for Regional Directors , et al. Subject: Parole Decision Authority As stated in a previous memorandum on this subject, the transfer of this authority applies only to requests for humanitarian parole that are filed using the I-131, Application for Travel Document. The overseas District Directors retain the discretionary authority to grant parole in emergency situations. This change in the delegation of authority will be published in the Code of Federal Regulations, Operations instructions and the Immigration and Naturalization Service Internet.

If you have any questions, please forward them to the HQIAO Parole Branch, on 202-305-2670.