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DictionaryIdentity and taxes

Parole: what it means

In immigration, parole is permission to enter or stay in the United States temporarily. Federal law, 8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5), lets the Secretary of Homeland Security grant it at their discretion, case by case, for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.

In Spanish it is

Parole

Also written as: humanitarian parole · immigration parole

The full explanation

The law says parole is not an admission to the country. When its purpose has been served, the person returns to the situation they were in and their case continues like that of any other applicant for admission. Under the regulation, parole ends automatically if the person leaves the country or the authorized time expires.

An example

Héctor entered on parole and his arrival record has an expiration date. To learn what options he has before that date, he looks for a representative accredited by the Department of Justice.

You will see it in…

  • Your arrival-departure record (Form I-94)
  • USCIS documents about your case
  • The rules of some public benefit programs

Words that go with it

You will rarely see this word alone. These are the ones that show up with it on the same papers.

More guides that use “parole”

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

Still confused by a paper?

A HUD-approved housing counselor can walk you through it. Agencies usually charge little or nothing, many work in Spanish, and they do not sell you anything.

Official sources

We sum up what these official sources say, in plain words. We add no rules they do not state; when a rule changes, the definition and its date change.

  1. 1. Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) · 8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(5): parole (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026
  2. 2. Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) · 8 CFR § 212.5: parole of aliens into the United States (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026
  3. 3. Legal Information Institute (Cornell Law School) · 8 CFR § 264.1: registration and fingerprinting (Form I-94 for paroled aliens) (external site) · in English · Verified on October 17, 2026