Changes to Employment Authorization Requirements for Ukrainian and Afghan Parolees
On Nov. 21, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective immediately, both Ukrainian and Afghan parolees, and their qualifying family members, who entered the U.S. under certain classes of admission are no longer required to present an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to begin employment. These parolees are employment-authorized incident to their parole for the first 90 days of employment. Parolees will thereafter need to have the proper credentials, as described below. (This announced change only applies if an individual’s parole has not expired or been terminated.)
To temporarily demonstrate both identity and work authorization for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, parolees may initially present the following documentation:
Ukrainians:
An unexpired Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, with class of admission marked as “UHP”; or
An unexpired Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, with class of admission marked as “DT” that was issued between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 and also lists Ukraine as the country of citizenship.
Afghans:
An unexpired Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, with class of admission marked as “OAR”
Please note that within 90 days of an Afghan or Ukrainian parolee’s hiring date (or in the case of reverification, the date employment authorization expires), the employee must present either:
an unexpired EAD; or
an unrestricted Social Security card as well as a List B identity document from the Form I-9 List of Acceptable Documents.
As part of this November 21, 2022 announcement, USCIS also established filing fee exemptions for Form I-765 EAD applications for both Ukrainian and Afghan parolees.
Further information about employment authorization for Afghan parolees may be found on the USCIS Afghan Nationals webpage. For additional Ukrainian employment authorization information, please visit the United for Ukraine webpage.