A new opportunity arises in the United States for those sponsors who, says Diario Las Américas, have declined the request to protect someone from Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela or Haiti under the humanitarian parole program.

If the I-134A is denied, the backer can file a new one for the same or a different beneficiary, Urbina law confirms.

The humanitarian parole, the insurance agency recalls, is a temporary residence permit issued for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. It is a legal way to stay in the country for at least a year, even if you do not have a visa.

According to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), “Sponsors who receive notice that their process has been denied (not that it is pending or under review) may resubmit Form I-134A and start a new case.

Form I-134A is the online application to become a support person and statement of financial support.

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Migrants of various nationalities wait at the entrance to the San Ysidro pedestrian checkpoint to apply for asylum from US authorities. Photo: EFE

What is the difference between Form I-134 and Form I-134A

On the USCIS site, they answer the question: What is the difference between Form I-134 and Form I-134A? Before January 6, 2023, there were two versions of Form I-134:

An online filed by potential supporters under United for Ukraine and the process for Venezuelans. In addition to a version presented in print by people who agreed to provide financial support to other types of beneficiaries.

USCIS states: “When we implemented the processes for Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua on January 6, 2023, we updated the online version of Form I-134 and renamed Form I-134A to differentiate between the two versions of the form. As of January 6, 2023, if you wish to support a beneficiary under the Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, or Venezuelan Processes, you must submit Form I-134A through a free online account.

Processing times may vary, USCIS clarifies, a service that says it is working with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) “to review and process cases.” Photo: Istock

If you submitted Form I-134 online before January 6, 2023 (for the Venezuelan or United for Ukraine process), we will continue to process your Form I-134. You do not need to file a new Form I-134A.

USCIS

It is important to note that “prospective sponsors may not file a duplicate Form I-134A for the same beneficiary,” Diario quotes Las Américas.

How long does the humanitarian release process take?

Processing times may vary, USCIS clarifies, an agency that says it is committed to “assessing and handling cases in the most diligent and prompt manner possible” along with the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Under these processes, the United States government will grant travel authorizations for up to 30,000 people each month to come to the United States, he reiterated.

Due to the high level of interest in these processes, they acknowledge, “we updated the effective review process on May 17, 2023.”

They explain to users and stakeholders: “We have updated this process because the number of potential support persons who have submitted Form I-134A significantly exceeds the 30,000 prior travel authorizations available monthly. This is intended to maintain a fair and available path for all beneficiaries of a Form I-134A to proceed with the process and apply for a travel authorization.”

Under this new review process, which went into effect in mid-May 2023, “USCIS will randomly select approximately half of the monthly total of Forms I-134A, regardless of filing date, from the number of cases pending for review.”

What happens to the rest? “The other half will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis based on the filing date of the case, with priority given to the oldest Form I-134A for review.”

Important to know: “We reject any duplicate Form I-134A filed by a potential sponsor for the same beneficiary.”

speak to a lawyer

Diario Las Américas reports that the lawyer Enrique Núñez – interviewed for Univision 23 by the journalist Jorge Hernández – reported that “they are now allowing people who have been previously denied to resubmit a new I-134A with new evidence to prove economic solvency and be able to be main sponsor’.

“They have to start the process all over again as a new application following the same steps,” he said.

Consult USCIS for more information