USCIS: Certain Afghan & Ukrainian Parolees Are Work-Authorized “Incident to Parole”

USCIS has clarified that many Afghan and Ukrainian parolees are employment authorized incident to parole—meaning they may work immediately upon lawful entry without first obtaining an EAD. This applies to individuals paroled under programs like Operation Allies Welcome (Afghans; COA often “OAR”) and Uniting for Ukraine (Ukrainians; COA often “UHP”), as reflected on the I-94.

What this means for employees

• If your I-94 shows you were paroled (e.g., “Parolee,” COA OAR/UHP) and remains unexpired, you are work-authorized for the duration of your parole (commonly up to two years, unless extended).
• You may still apply for an EAD (Form I-765, category (c)(11)) for convenience with state DMVs, SSA, or employers unfamiliar with I-94 rules, but it’s not required to begin working.

I-9 verification (for employers)

• Acceptable List A combination: an unexpired foreign passport and the unexpired I-94 showing parole (e.g., OAR/UHP) and validity dates. Record the document numbers and expiration date of the I-94.
• Do not request extra documents beyond I-9 requirements. When the parole period ends, follow reverification procedures.

Best practices for parolees

1. Print your I-94 (cbp.gov) and keep it with your passport.
2. Apply for an SSN (you can request it on the I-765 or at SSA directly with your passport/I-94).
3. Consider filing for TPS (if designated), asylum (generally within 1 year of arrival), or family/employment options for longer-term stability.
4. If your employer prefers an EAD, file I-765 (c)(11); add Form I-912 if you qualify for a fee waiver.

Extensions & travel

• Track your parole expiration. Some parolees may be eligible for re-parole; file early if offered.
• Do not travel outside the U.S. without legal advice; parole ends when you depart unless you obtain advance authorization.

Bottom line
Afghan OAW and Ukrainian U4U parolees can start work right away using their passport + I-94 (parole). An EAD is helpful but optional. Pair immediate work eligibility with a permanent-status strategy to avoid gaps when parole expires.