The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a pause in accepting Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support. This decision follows the Jan. 20, 2025, Executive Order, Securing Our Borders issued by the new administration.
“Due to the Jan. 20, 2025, Executive Order, Securing Our Borders, USCIS is pausing acceptance of Form I-134A until we review all categorical parole processes as required by that order,” USCIS stated in an official announcement.
Form I-134A is used by individuals in the United States to sponsor foreign nationals for humanitarian parole programs, which allow temporary entry based on urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The pause will remain in effect while USCIS evaluates these programs in accordance with the new border security policies.
Form I-134A is an online form that enables individuals to sponsor a foreign national for admission to the United States. It is specifically used for the Uniting for Ukraine program and the humanitarian parole program for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans.
Prior to this pause, USCIS was accepting Form I-134A only from individuals requesting to be a supporter and agreeing to undergo background checks to financially support a foreign national. Eligible beneficiaries included Ukrainians and their immediate family members under the Uniting for Ukraine program, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans or their immediate family members under the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans program, and Colombians, Cubans, Ecuadorians, Guatemalans, Haitians, Hondurans, and Salvadorans or their immediate family members under the family reunification parole processes.
According to USCIS, “Supporters must be in the United States to file Form I-134A. Beneficiaries seeking parole under these processes may not file Form I-134A on their own behalf. Supporters must include the name of the beneficiary on Form I-134A.”
Further updates on when acceptance of Form I-134A may resume will be provided after USCIS completes its review.