Humanitarian visa in the US: what it is, price, requirements and how to process it

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(CNN Spanish) --

Also known as

or humanitarian permission for people outside the United States, the humanitarian visa is the option for those who have an urgent humanitarian reason or public interest to stay temporarily in the United States.

What is a humanitarian visa?

Although the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not provide a regulatory definition of the term "urgent humanitarian reasons," officials evaluate it on a case-by-case basis in which they consider factors such as the sensitivity of the circumstances in which the applicant finds himself and the degree of suffering that may result if the permit is not authorized.

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A humanitarian visa allows foreign nationals to live and work in the United States without being formally admitted to the country under Immigration Law.

It is important to note that this procedure cannot be used to circumvent denied visa applications or to avoid applying for a waiver.

Additionally, USCIS may deny a humanitarian visa application if it is used to circumvent other visa requirements.

Requirements

The USCIS establishes that anyone can apply for the temporary stay humanitarian visa, but it is generally granted to people with medical or emergency situations or who need to be in the country for reasons of public interest.

According to USCIS, examples of urgent humanitarian circumstances could include, but are not limited to:

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• Receive medical treatment in the United States

• Donate organs to a person who is in the United States

• Reunite with a family member who is in the US for urgent humanitarian reasons

• Caring for or providing support to a family member who is in the US with a serious or terminal illness

• Attend a funeral or coordinate matters related to a deceased relative in the US.

• Coming to the US to protect yourself from persecution or personal harm

• Participate in legal proceedings in the US

An important factor considered when determining whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will exercise discretion in granting the temporary humanitarian visa is whether the beneficiary will have a means of support while in the United States, according to USCIS. .

For this, it is required to present evidence of a sponsor that will provide financial assistance to the beneficiary of a permit.

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The USCIS warns that if you do not provide evidence of financial support for your stay in the United States, it will be taken as "a negative factor of weight" that could result in the denial of the temporary humanitarian visa.

How to process a humanitarian visa?

• To request it, it is necessary to complete and sign form I-131, Application for Travel Document

• You must also complete and sign Form I-134, Affidavit of Support, which will show that you "will not become a public charge" while in the United States.

• Pay and attach additional documentation that supports the request such as medical reports, letters, death certificates, that is, with all the additional and detailed supporting documentation that serves to demonstrate that an emergency exists.

• Once the documentation is submitted, USCIS responds by letter to the applicant between 90 and 120 days after submission.

• In some cases, you will be required to appear for an interview.

• In urgent cases, it is possible that in a matter of days the permit can be accessed.

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How much does the humanitarian permit cost?

The fee varies depending on the age of the applicant.

For a 27-year-old person, the price of the procedure is US$ 575, for example.

Here you can calculate the rate, just select the corresponding form (I-131), your age and the type of procedure you want to carry out (in this case, it would be

).

In case you cannot cover the cost of the humanitarian visa, you can apply for a fee waiver and show that you cannot afford it.

If you require more information about this process, you can find it at this link. 

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