U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its extensive list of frequently asked questions and answers (FAQ) on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and the use of advance parole. Generally, USCIS said, it will issue an advance parole document if the DACA recipient wants to travel outside the United States for:
- Humanitarian purposes, including to obtain medical treatment, attend funeral services for a family member, or visit an ailing relative;
- Educational purposes, such as semester abroad programs and academic research. Travel for educational purposes means travel affiliated with an institution that provides education as its primary purpose. A DACA recipient does not need to be enrolled in the institution with which the program is affiliated but must be enrolled in the program they will be traveling with; or
- Employment purposes, such as overseas assignments, interviews, conferences, trainings, consular appointments for an employer-sponsored nonimmigrant visa, or meetings with clients overseas.
Travel for vacation is not a valid basis for advance parole, USCIS said.
The FAQ also includes a summary of DACA-related court decisions, and examples of documents to submit to demonstrate that the applicant meets the threshold criteria for DACA.