A beginner’s survival guide for Nicaraguans in the USA: the initial immigration procedures, requirements, and tips to start working.
HAVANA TIMES – Thousands of Nicaraguans have arrived in the United States through humanitarian parole, which allows them to live and work in the country for a period of two years. However, upon arrival, most face a completely new world, and in many cases, English is the first major barrier to managing their documentation and integrating into the daily life of the state where they will reside.
What should Nicaraguans accepted into the parole program do after arriving in the United States? CONFIDENCIAL spoke with experts from different areas to create a starter and survival guide for Nicaraguans, starting with the initial immigration procedures, requirements, and tips for starting work.
The process of renting a room or apartment, getting around, and accessing medical services can also be tedious for a newly arrived person. This guide also addresses general concerns about these demands.
Immigration experts emphasize the importance of meeting each requirement requested by the parole program to avoid problems with US authorities and their immigration status.
According to official figures up to January 2024 over 64,000 Nicaraguans have been authorized to travel to the United States with humanitarian parole. Of those, over 58,000 have already arrived in the United States through the program, which allows them to live and work in the country for two years.
What is the first thing I should do?
The number one priority for any Nicaraguan arriving with humanitarian parole in the United States is to complete the Employment Authorization Application through form I-765.
How to fill out form I-765
There are two options for filling out form I-765, depending on your level of English and experience: one is with legal assistance and another by yourself. In both cases, you must ensure that all your information is filled out correctly. Below we detail the requirements, costs, and procedures for each option.
Filling out the form with legal assistance
If you do not speak English or have doubts about how to complete form I-765, you can seek assistance from duly certified paralegals to do it for you online or by mail. They will request the following documents:
– Form I-94 (a copy of the document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office at the airport upon arrival in the United States).
– Copy of passport
– Personal information (including phone number and residential address in the US where you will receive postal mail)
– A visa-sized photograph
– Deposit of $410, representing the form fee. Note that as of April 1, this amount will increase to $470 due to a fee update by USCIS. You can review this information at the following link: Frequently Asked Questions about USCIS Fee Rule.
The estimated cost of paralegal services is $150 to $250 for filling out this permit. Another option with legal assistance is to hire an immigration lawyer, who charges around $250 per hour.
Fill out the form by yourself
Another option is to complete form I-765 yourself or with the support of a family member or someone who has done it before. To do this, you must log into your USCIS account and select the “My Account” window, and then the “File a form online” tab.
The site will open a menu selection bar, where you must choose the employment authorization form. When filling out the document, you will also need to check the box requesting your Social