I got a notice ending my parole. What do I do?

This page is for people whose parole is ending or was ended by notice. It is general information, not legal advice. Parole is different from DACA advance parole. For TPS, see What to do if TPS for your country is ending. For the big picture, see TPS and humanitarian parole: the complete guide.

What does the notice mean?

It means the government says your permission to be here on parole is over. It does not mean a judge ordered you deported.

Parole is permission to be in the U.S. for a set time, for urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit. It is not a green card and not a visa. Under federal rules (8 CFR 212.5):

• Parole ends on its own when your parole time runs out, or when you leave the country.
• The government can also end it early with a written notice. When that happens, the rules say you go back to whatever status you had when you were paroled.
• A work permit based on parole can be revoked when parole ends.

Since 2025, many parolees got notices like this, often by email or in their USCIS online account. For the parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans (often called CHNV), a federal notice on March 25, 2025 ended the programs. It said parole under them ended April 24, 2025, unless DHS decided otherwise for a person. On May 30, 2025, the Supreme Court let those terminations take effect while the court case continued (No. 24A1079).

We know this is scary. Many of you came the way the government asked, with a sponsor and a plan. You may still have a lawful way to stay. Let's find it.

Is the notice real, and is it about me?

Check before you act.

1. Log in to your USCIS online account and look for the same notice there.
2. Check your I-94 on the CBP website and print it. Note the class of admission and the "admit until" date.
3. Look for your name, A number and receipt numbers on the notice.
4. Never pay anyone who calls, texts or emails to "fix" your parole. The government does not ask for payment by phone or text. See How to spot fake immigration agents and ICE scam calls.

Legal groups report that some notices went to people they did not apply to, such as people who already had other status. If you are a green card holder, a citizen, or have another status, show the notice to a lawyer right away.

Do I have to leave?

Not always. It depends on whether you have another lawful basis to stay, or a case on file. The March 2025 CHNV notice itself said people with lawful status or another lawful basis to be here did not need to leave. It also said people who had not filed for an immigration benefit before the notice would be a priority for removal.

What this means for you:

• If you have another status (for example TPS, a visa, or a green card), the parole notice does not take that away.
• If you have a pending application (asylum, TPS, a green card), your case may still let you stay while it is decided. Ask a lawyer how your case protects you.
• If you have nothing on file, you are at the highest risk. Get a screening now, before your end date if you can. Some options have deadlines.

Staying after parole ends with nothing on file can build up unlawful presence. More than 180 days of unlawful presence, then leaving, can bar a return for 3 years. One year or more can mean 10 years (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(9)(B)).

What options might I have?

Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative can tell which fits you. These are the ones to ask about.

Asylum. If you fear harm in your home country for reasons the law protects, you may apply. You generally must apply within one year of your last arrival. Having parole can count as an "extraordinary circumstance" that excuses a later filing, but only if you file within a reasonable time after parole ends (8 CFR 208.4). Do not wait. The fee is $100. See Who can apply for asylum and how do I start? and The one year deadline.

A green card through family. Parole counts as being "paroled" for a green card inside the U.S. (8 U.S.C. 1255(a)). If your husband or wife is a citizen, or you are the unmarried child under 21 or the parent of an adult citizen, you may be able to apply here even after parole ends. Other relatives usually must keep lawful status. See How a family member can help you get a green card.

The Cuban Adjustment Act. A native or citizen of Cuba who was inspected and admitted or paroled into the U.S. after January 1, 1959, and has been physically present here for at least one year, can apply for a green card under this special law. Approval is discretionary, and the person must still be admissible (text of the law, in the notes to 8 U.S.C. 1255). Ask a lawyer whether it fits you.

TPS. If your country still has TPS and you meet its dates, you may qualify. TPS has changed a lot since 2025. See Which countries have TPS now and how to renew.

Re-parole. You can ask for a new period of parole on Form I-131. Approval is case by case. If USCIS decides to approve, it first sends a notice asking you to pay the $1,050 parole fee by a deadline. Parole is granted only after you pay, and the request is denied if you do not (Federal Register, October 16, 2025; amount from the October 1, 2026 notice). A re-parole work permit costs the regular I-765 fee plus $280. The H.R. 1 fees cannot be waived.

Protection for survivors. If you were the victim of a crime here, of trafficking, or of abuse by a citizen or green card holder relative, ask about the U visa, T visa or VAWA. Young people abused, neglected or abandoned by a parent may qualify for SIJS. See Immigration options if you survived violence, abuse or trafficking.

I already have a case on file

Good. Keep it alive.

• Keep your address current. Tell USCIS within 10 days of a move, and the immigration court within 5 days if you are in court. See How to tell USCIS you moved.
• Go to every appointment and hearing. Missing one can end your case. See Do I have to go to immigration court?
• Keep copies of every receipt notice with you and at home.
• Ask about a work permit based on your pending case, such as asylum. See How to get or renew a work permit while your case is pending.

What happens to my work permit and benefits?

If your work permit was based on parole, it can be revoked when parole ends. Once it is revoked, you cannot keep working on it. Your employer may ask to see new papers. You still have the right to be paid for work you already did. See Your rights at work.

Some benefits changed too. Since April 1, 2026, most parolees in California cannot get CalFresh, except Cuban and Haitian entrants (CDSS FAQ). Your U.S. citizen children can still get help. See Food help for your family.

Should I leave?

Talk to a lawyer before you decide. Leaving ends parole right away, and it can end a green card application you filed here. It can also start the 3 or 10 year bar.

The government runs an app called CBP Home for reporting a departure. The Congressional Research Service reports that people who use it may get free transportation home, a one time $2,600 exit payment and forgiveness of fines (CRS). Terms can change, so check before you rely on them, and know that leaving can still trigger bars to coming back. Leaving may be the right choice for some families. It should be a choice you make with full facts. See Thinking about leaving the US on your own? and Checklist before leaving the United States.

What if ICE stops me?

Stay calm. You have the right to stay silent and to talk to a lawyer. Do not sign papers you do not understand. Do not lie or show false papers.

Since 2025, the government has tried to use expedited removal, a fast deportation without a hearing in front of a judge, against some people whose parole ended. A lower court had paused that policy. On August 11, 2026, the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. erased the pause because the groups that sued lacked standing. It did not decide whether the policy is legal (Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights v. Mullin, No. 25-5289). So the policy can be used now. If an officer says you will be sent back without a hearing, and you fear harm in your country, say so clearly. Carry copies of any pending application. See Can I be deported without seeing a judge? and What to do if ICE or police stop you.

Make a plan for your children and your papers now. See Make a family preparedness plan.

Mistakes to avoid

• Ignoring the notice. Deadlines keep running, especially the asylum deadline.
• Leaving in a panic. You may lose a case that could have kept you here.
• Paying a notario. In California, a consultant cannot give legal advice. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.
• Filing a weak case just to buy time. A fake asylum claim can bar you for life, and a denied request can lead to a deportation case.
• Working on a revoked work permit. Ask a lawyer about a new one.

Questions people ask

My notice came by email. Is that real? Many real notices came by email and in USCIS online accounts. Check your account and your I-94, and show the notice to a lawyer.

My sponsor is a citizen. Can my sponsor keep me here? Being a financial sponsor does not give you status. But if that person is also your husband or wife, parent or adult child, ask about a family petition.

Can I still apply for asylum if it has been more than a year? Maybe. Time on parole can excuse a late filing if you apply within a reasonable time after parole ends. See a lawyer now.

My children came with me on parole. Are they affected? Each person's parole is separate. Bring every family member's papers to the screening.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (CLSEPA): (650) 326-6440, walk in Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1861 Bay Road. Low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
• Immigration Institute of the Bay Area, Redwood City: (650) 587-1558, by appointment. First consultation free.
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services: (650) 363-4194, immigrantservices@smcgov.org
• Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County: (408) 468-0100
• SIREN: (408) 453-3003
• Asian Law Alliance: (408) 287-9710
• Anywhere in California: state map of free immigration legal services, (916) 651-8017

Only a lawyer or a DOJ accredited representative may give you legal advice. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

Is there a checklist I can print?

A notice is not the end of your story. Take the next step this week, and don't lose hope.