Parole in Place: Military Families, INA 212(d)(5)(A), Form I-131 Fees and the Keeping Families Together Status
Parole in place for military families is a case-by-case grant of parole under INA 212(d)(5)(A): USCIS says it may grant parole in place in 1-year increments to certain current and former service members and to their spouses, widow(er)s, parents, sons and daughters who are present without admission, on Form I-131. Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26) prints a filing fee for the military parole in place row, only for the beneficiary, and Federal Register notice 2026-20185 sets the FY 2027 HR-1 parole fee at $1,050 for parole granted on or after October 16, 2026, in addition to any other fee; this page shows both documents side by side and leaves open which amounts apply to a given request. The 2024 Keeping Families Together process for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens was vacated by a final judgment of November 7, 2024, according to the USCIS page captured on September 27, 2026. This page is not legal or immigration advice; the USCIS page is authoritative. Each quotation was compared word for word with a saved copy of the document when we checked on November 5, 2026.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 5, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Legal basis: INA 212(d)(5)(A)
Parole is a discretionary authority in the statute, exercised case by case. The statute is quoted for subparagraph (A) only; subparagraph (B) limits parole of refugees and is not part of the military process.
(A) The Secretary of Homeland Security may, except as provided in subparagraph (B) or in section 1184(f) of this title, in his discretion parole into the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit any alien applying for admission to the United States, but such parole of such alien shall not be regarded as an admission of the alien and when the purposes of such parole shall, in the opinion of the Secretary of Homeland Security, have been served the alien shall forthwith return or be returned to the custody from which he was paroled and thereafter his case shall continue to be dealt with in the same manner as that of any other applicant for admission to the United States.
USCIS military parole in place: who qualifies
USCIS lists the service members and the family members on its page for military members, enlistees and their families. The same passage keeps the condition that parole in place is only for people present without admission, and says what applies to someone lawfully admitted who remained past the authorized period.
We may grant parole in place on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the INA. You may be eligible for parole in place in 1-year increments if you are 1 of the following service members, or are the spouse, widow(er), parent, son, or daughter of 1 of the following service members:
Active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces;
Individual in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve; or
Individual who (whether still living or deceased) previously served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and was not dishonorably discharged.
Parole in place may be granted only to individuals who are present without admission and so are applicants for admission. If you were admitted to the United States lawfully but are present in the United States beyond the period of stay authorized, you are not eligible for parole in place because you are not an applicant for admission. However, you may qualify for deferred action. See the Deferred Action section below for more information.
Filing Form I-131: evidence and fee
USCIS lists the evidence for a parole in place request. The Form I-131 page says the form is also used for parole in place based on urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit, including military parole in place.
To request parole in place, your application should include:
Completed Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records. Check the appropriate box in Part 1 (Item 8.A. for initial military parole in place or 10.H for re-parole for military parole in place);
Evidence of the family relationship, such as:
Marriage certificate;
Documentation of termination of previous marriage;
Son’s or daughter’s birth certificate;
Current or former service member’s birth certificate with parent’s name; or
Proof of enrollment in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS);
Evidence that your family member is a current or former member of the U.S. armed forces, such as a photocopy of the front and back of the service member’s military identification card or DD Form 214;
For parents of current and former service members of the U.S. armed forces, evidence the current or former service member supports the application for parole in place;
Two identical, color passport-style photographs; and
Evidence of any additional favorable discretionary factors that you would like us to consider.
If you are an alien who is currently inside the United States and you are present without having been admitted, you may use this form to apply for parole in place based on urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit, including requests for military parole in place and the FRTF process.
Two kinds of fee appear in the official documents. The filing fee is in the Form G-1055 row for military parole in place. The HR-1 parole fee is a separate fee under Pub. L. 119-21, which Form G-1055 lists as an Additional I-131 Fee if Approved and the Federal Register notice 2026-20185 sets for FY 2027. The table puts them side by side with their dates and conditions.
| Item | Filing fee | HR-1 parole fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26), I-131 military parole in place row (current or former service member, Item 8.A.(1)) | $0 filing fee, only if the beneficiary qualifies | See the group line quoted below: Additional Fee if Approved, See below | Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26) |
| Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26), I-131 military parole in place row (spouse, parent, son or daughter, Item 8.A.(2)) | $0 filing fee, only if the beneficiary qualifies | See the group line quoted below: Additional Fee if Approved, See below | Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26) |
| 8 CFR 106.2(a)(7)(v) | There is no fee for parole requests from current or former U.S. armed forces service members. | Not stated | eCFR, 8 CFR 106.2 (up to date as of October 29, 2026) |
| Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26), I-131 Additional Fee if Approved: Pub. L. 119-21 Immigration Parole Fee | Not a filing fee | $1,050, if USCIS notifies of conditional approval | Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26); no fee waiver |
| Federal Register 2026-20185 (October 1, 2026), FY 2027 HR-1 parole fee | Not a filing fee | $1,050 for parole granted on or after October 16, 2026 | Federal Register notice 2026-20185, 91 FR 62534 |
The G-1055 rows for military parole in place come first, for the initial request and for re-parole, each with the filing fee in the fee column. The asterisk note in the Form Number and Title column is a group note, printed at the Initial Request for Parole In Place group and repeated at the Re-parole group; it limits the filing fee exemption to a beneficiary who meets the eligibility requirements for it when the form is filed for another person.
If you are applying for Military Parole in Place (PIP), only on your behalf, as a: • Current or former service member. Select Part 1., Item Number 8.A.(1). • Spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a current or former service member. Select Part 1., Item Number 8.A.(2).
* If you are filing Form I-131 on behalf of another person, a fee exemption ($0) applies only if the person on whose behalf you are filing meets the eligibility requirements for a fee exemption.
If you are applying for Military Parole in Place (Military PIP) as a: • Current or former service member. Select Part 1., Item Number 10.H.(1). • Spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a current or former service member. Select Part 1., Item Number 10.H. (2).
The Additional Fee if Approved line is printed at the end of each of those two groups, with See below in the fee column, and the Form Number and Title column of the Additional I-131 Fee if Approved names both groups. Both group lines and the list of covered groups are quoted next.
Additional Fee if Approved: Pub. L. 119-21 Immigration Parole Fee
Additional Fee if Approved: Pub. L. 119-21 Immigration Parole Fee
Advance Parole Document (for individuals who are inside the United States) (fee collected by CBP), Initial Parole Document (for individuals who are currently outside the United States) (fee collected by CBP), Initial Request for Arrival/Departure Record for Parole In Place (for individuals who are inside the United States) (fee collected by USCIS), and Arrival/Departure Records for Re-parole for Individuals Who Are Requesting a New Period of Parole (from inside the United States) (fee collected by USCIS).
The Additional I-131 Fee if Approved itself, with its fee column and its ten exceptions, reads as follows in the same edition of Form G-1055.
Additional I-131 Fee if Approved: Pub. L. 119-21 Immigration Parole Fee If USCIS recommends approval, you must pay this additional fee to be granted parole, unless USCIS or CBP determines that you qualify for one of the exceptions provided in Pub. L. 119-21. NOTE: As of Feb. 5, 2026, this Immigration Parole Fee under Pub. L. 119-21 does not apply to Ms. L. Settlement Class members and their Qualifying Additional Family Members (QAFMs), pursuant to a court order issued in Ms. L. v. ICE, 18-cv-00428 (S.D. Cal.). You cannot request a fee waiver for any fees required by Pub. L. 119-21.
Online: $1,050, if USCIS notifies you of conditional approval.
USCIS may determine an alien qualifies for an exception to the HR-1 parole fee if the alien is being paroled because: (1) (A) the alien has a medical emergency; and (B)(i) the alien cannot obtain necessary treatment in the foreign state in which the alien is residing; or (ii) the medical emergency is life- threatening and there is insufficient time for the alien to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process; (2) (A) the alien is the parent or legal guardian of an alien described in paragraph (1) above; and (B) the alien described in paragraph (1) is a minor; (3) (A) the alien is needed in the United States to donate an organ or other tissue for transplant; and (B) there is insufficient time for the alien to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process; (4) (A) the alien has a close family member in the United States whose death is imminent; and (B) the alien could not arrive in the United States in time to see such family member alive if the alien were to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process; (5) (A) the alien is seeking to attend the funeral of a close family member; and (B) the alien could not arrive in the United States in time to attend such funeral if the alien were to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process; (6) the alien is an adopted child -- (A) who has an urgent medical condition; (B) who is in the legal custody of the petitioner for a final adoption-related visa; and (C) whose medical treatment is required before the expected award of a final adoption-related visa; (7) the alien -- (A) is a lawful applicant for adjustment of status under INA 245; and (B) is returning to the United States after temporary travel abroad; (8) the alien -- (A) has been returned to a contiguous country pursuant to INA 235(b)(2)(C); and (B) is being paroled into the United States to allow the alien to attend the alien's immigration hearing; (9) the alien has been granted the status of Cuban and Haitian entrant (as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422; 8 U.S.C. 1522 note); or (10) DHS determines that a significant public benefit has resulted or will result from the parole of an alien -- (A) who has assisted or will assist the U.S. Government in a law enforcement matter; (B) whose presence is required by the U.S. Government in furtherance of such law enforcement matter; and (C)(i) who is inadmissible or does not satisfy the eligibility requirements for admission as a nonimmigrant; or (ii) for which there is insufficient time for the alien to be admitted to the United States through the normal visa process.
When we checked on November 5, 2026, the Additional I-131 Fee if Approved text of Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26), the group lines that close the parole in place groups and the list of covered groups did not mention military service or service members.
The Federal Register notice 2026-20185 states the FY 2027 amount and who pays it.
Pursuant to HR-1, the Secretary of Homeland Security must require the payment of a fee by any alien who is paroled into the United States, unless an exception in Public Law 119-21 section 100004(b) applies. See Public Law 119-21 sec. 100004 (8 U.S.C. 1804). Specifically, this fee is required each time an alien is granted parole under sec. 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)(A), including initial parole from outside the United States, parole in place, re-parole, or parole from DHS custody. See 90 FR 48317, 48318.
Accordingly, the inflation-adjusted HR-1 parole fee for FY 2027 will be $1,050 ($1,020 + $30). The HR-1 parole fee will not be assessed if the alien establishes, to the satisfaction of DHS, on an individual, case-by-case basis, that the circumstances of the alien's parole align with at least 1 of the 10 exceptions found in HR-1. See Public Law 119- 21 sec. 100004(b). The operative event that triggers the statutory obligation to pay the HR-1 parole fee is the actual grant and effectuation of parole into the United States--not the filing of an application or request. Thus, unless statutorily excepted, the FY 2027 inflation-adjusted HR-1 parole fee will be collected from any alien who is granted parole on or after October 16, 2026, regardless of when the underlying application or request was submitted. The $1,050 HR-1 parole fee is required in addition to any other fee authorized by law. See Public Law 119-21 sec. 100004(a).
When we checked on November 5, 2026, the parts of Federal Register notice 2026-20185 saved for this page did not mention military service or service members.
The Additional Fee if Approved line is printed at the end of the parole in place groups, including the Re-parole group that contains the military parole in place row (Item 10.H). When we checked on November 5, 2026, G-1055 did not say in words whether military parole in place is excluded from it, and the Federal Register notice names parole in place without listing a military exception. The documents are shown side by side and this page does not resolve the question: USCIS is the source that confirms which amounts apply to a request.
The USCIS page on military parole in place also says the following, in its passage on IMMVI-based parole for people outside the United States, which is a different process from parole in place; it names current and former service members, including IMMVI-based requestors, and fees for certain forms.
Current and former military service members, including IMMVI-based requestors, are exempt from paying fees for certain forms. For a complete list of all USCIS fees, including fee exemptions and fee waivers, see our Fee Schedule.
A person granted parole and otherwise eligible for a green card files through adjustment of status, covered on its own page, and a work permit is requested on Form I-765, covered on the EAD card page.
The 2024 Keeping Families Together process
Keeping Families Together was a process for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens, not for military families. USCIS describes what it was and the court judgment that vacated it, and its status is dated in the row below.
On June 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a key step toward fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to promoting family unity in the immigration system. On Aug. 19, 2024, DHS implemented Keeping Families Together, a process for certain alien spouses and alien stepchildren of U.S. citizens to request parole in place under existing statutory authority.
ALERT: On November 7, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in State of Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, Case Number 24-cv-306 (E.D.T.X. Nov. 7, 2024) issued a final judgment vacating the Keeping Families Together (KFT) parole process, published at 89 Fed. Reg. 67,459 (Aug. 20, 2024).
Effective immediately, USCIS is taking the following steps to comply with the Court’s Order:
Pending Form I-131F applications will not be adjudicated and intake of new Form I-131F applications will cease.
Anyone with a future Application Support Center appointment in support of a filed Form I-131F should consider that appointment cancelled immediately. Anyone who appears for such an appointment will be turned away.
External engagements on the KFT parole process are cancelled.
In the coming days, USCIS will publish additional information on how it will handle pending cases and paid application fees.
| Rule or action | Status | Date | Effective or expiry | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeping Families Together parole process, 89 FR 67459 | Vacated | Final judgment of November 7, 2024, as USCIS describes it | USCIS says it took the steps listed in its alert effective immediately, including not adjudicating pending Form I-131F applications and ending intake of further applications | USCIS Keeping Families Together page (Internet Archive capture of September 27, 2026) |
When we checked on November 5, 2026, the USCIS Keeping Families Together page (Internet Archive capture of September 27, 2026) did not describe any later court action on the November 7, 2024 judgment, and this page says nothing about the litigation beyond that USCIS page.
While it ran, USCIS said parole in place under that process led to adjustment of status and a work permit request. The marriage green card page covers the ordinary spouse route.
Parole in place is available only for aliens who are present in the United States.
If granted parole, and if otherwise eligible, these aliens may apply for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident without being required to leave the United States and be processed by a U.S. consulate overseas.
If granted parole, you will also be eligible to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
Not legal advice
This page reports what the statute, the eCFR and USCIS published, with the dates shown. It is not legal or immigration advice, and eligibility depends on facts that only USCIS decides. The USCIS page on discretionary options for military members and their families is the official source for the process.
USCIS Check Case Processing Times tool: https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal basis for parole in place?
INA 212(d)(5)(A) (8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(5)(A), checked on uscode.house.gov) says the Secretary of Homeland Security may, in his discretion, parole into the United States temporarily, only on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, any alien applying for admission to the United States, and that such parole shall not be regarded as an admission of the alien. The USCIS page on discretionary options for military members and their families (last reviewed July 14, 2026) says it may grant parole in place on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit under section 212(d)(5)(A).
Who may request military parole in place?
The USCIS page on discretionary options for military members, enlistees and their families (last reviewed July 14, 2026; Internet Archive capture of September 17, 2026) says a person may be eligible for parole in place in 1-year increments if the person is an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces, an individual in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, or an individual who previously served on active duty or in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and was not dishonorably discharged, or is the spouse, widow(er), parent, son or daughter of one of them. The page adds that parole in place may be granted only to individuals who are present without admission and so are applicants for admission.
Which form, evidence and fee apply to military parole in place?
The USCIS page (Internet Archive capture of September 17, 2026) lists these items for the application: a completed Form I-131 with the appropriate box checked in Part 1 (Item 8.A. for initial military parole in place or 10.H for re-parole), evidence of the family relationship, evidence that the family member is a current or former member of the U.S. armed forces, for parents evidence that the service member supports the application, two identical color passport-style photographs, and evidence of any additional favorable discretionary factors. Form G-1055 (edition 10/26/26) prints a filing fee of $0 for the military parole in place row, which it words as "only on your behalf" for a current or former service member (Item 8.A.(1)) or a spouse, parent, son or daughter (Item 8.A.(2)); its note says that when Form I-131 is filed on behalf of another person, the $0 filing fee exemption applies only if that person meets the eligibility requirements for a fee exemption, and 8 CFR 106.2(a)(7)(v) says there is no fee for parole requests from current or former U.S. armed forces service members. Form G-1055 also lists an Additional I-131 Fee if Approved under Pub. L. 119-21 (the HR-1 parole fee) of $1,050 online, if USCIS notifies of conditional approval, for the initial request for parole in place, and Federal Register notice 2026-20185 says the FY 2027 HR-1 parole fee, which applies to parole under INA 212(d)(5)(A) including parole in place, is $1,050 and is collected from any alien granted parole on or after October 16, 2026, in addition to any other fee. The Additional Fee if Approved line is printed at the end of the parole in place groups of G-1055, including the re-parole group that contains the military row, and when we checked on November 5, 2026, G-1055 did not say in words whether military parole in place is excluded from it. USCIS is the source that confirms which amounts apply to a request.
What happened to Keeping Families Together?
The USCIS Keeping Families Together page (last reviewed January 24, 2025; Internet Archive capture of September 27, 2026) says that on November 7, 2024 the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in State of Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, Case Number 24-cv-306, issued a final judgment vacating the Keeping Families Together parole process, published at 89 Fed. Reg. 67,459 (Aug. 20, 2024). The page says pending Form I-131F applications will not be adjudicated and "intake of new Form I-131F applications will cease", and that a future Application Support Center appointment in support of a filed Form I-131F is to be considered cancelled immediately.
Is a person who was lawfully admitted and remained past the authorized period eligible?
The USCIS page (last reviewed July 14, 2026) says that if a person was admitted to the United States lawfully but is present beyond the period of stay authorized, the person is not eligible for parole in place because parole in place may be granted only to individuals who are present without admission and so are applicants for admission. The page adds that such a person may qualify for deferred action, which it says may be for up to 2 years for the spouse, widow(er), parent, son or daughter of a qualifying service member, and says deferred action does not confer lawful status.
Related pages
Sources
Reviewed November 5, 2026. Every rule, list, date and amount on this page comes from the official documents listed here, and each quotation was compared word for word with a copy saved on November 5, 2026. The uscis.gov pages are quoted from Internet Archive captures whose exact dates are shown with each quotation and source, and the USCIS page itself is authoritative for anything that changed after its capture date. The statute, the eCFR, the Federal Register, whitehouse.gov and Form G-1055 were saved directly. The G-1055 and 8 CFR 106.2 documents were saved on November 2, 2026 for earlier pages and are read again here.
- U.S. House of Representatives, 8 U.S.C. 1182 (INA section 212), subsection (d)(5)
- eCFR, 8 CFR 106.2 (up to date as of October 29, 2026)
- USCIS, Form G-1055, Fee Schedule (edition 10/26/26)
- USCIS, Discretionary Options for Military Members, Enlistees and Their Families (last reviewed July 14, 2026; Internet Archive capture of September 17, 2026)
- USCIS, Keeping Families Together (last reviewed January 24, 2025; Internet Archive capture of September 27, 2026)
- USCIS, I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records (last reviewed October 7, 2026; Internet Archive capture of October 13, 2026)
- Federal Register, Certain DHS Immigration-Related Fees Required by HR-1: Fiscal Year 2027 Adjustments for Inflation, 91 FR 62534 (October 1, 2026)
- USCIS, Check Case Processing Times (a link only: no processing-time figure is shown)