The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people.
- IRAP helps some people find services and prepare refugee and visa applications.
- IRAP is not part of any government, IOM, or UNHCR.
- IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases.
- IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs.
- All of IRAP’s help is free. No one affiliated with IRAP has the right to ask you for money or any other service.
IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social or political or religious criteria.
This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications.
This information was revised in August 2023. Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.
Summary
The U.S. government agreed to re-open some CAM applications based on an agreement made in a lawsuit called a settlement. The government agreed to open applications for certain families who were close to traveling to the United States on parole when President Trump ended the program on August 16, 2017.
Families who travel under the settlement will have parole status. Parole is temporary permission to live in the United States.
- For more information, watch these videos.
- You can find a pamphlet about the process here.
- If you have been asked for a re-interview, or have any questions about the re-opening process, call the CAM Hotline:
- US: (917) 410-7546
What do I need to do to be approved for travel under the settlement?
- Watch a video about the letter that you should have received about CAM.
- Watch a video with basic information about next steps.
If your case was re-opened under the settlement, the parent in the U.S. should have received a letter from the U.S. government. It will say “Notice of Re-opening and Continued Processing for the Central American Minors Parole Program.” The letter will look like this.
The next step is for IOM or the government to contact family members in Central America who are a part of the CAM application. You do not need to do anything unless your family in Central America changed their contact information or had child since applying for CAM. If they did change their contact information or have a new baby, you should contact IOM.
- El Salvador: + 503 2521 0500 option 1
- Honduras: + 504 2237 7460 option 2
- Guatemala: + 502 2414 7401 ext. 7409
- iomsalsvcamparole@iom.int
Next steps will include a medical exam. The medical exam looks at whether there are any health-related reasons why you should not be allowed to enter the United States.
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IOM will ask the U.S.-based parent to pay for the medical exam by debit credit card. If you are having trouble paying for the exam, tell that to IOM. These are the estimated costs for cases where no follow-up is needed. The price will depend on the person:
- El Salvador: $260 for adults; $145 for children, $65 for babies
- Honduras: $160 for adults; $150 for children; $65 for babies
- Guatemala: $245 for adults; $200 for children; $90 for babies
- IOM will provide the children or family members with the date and clinic address for the medical exam.
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During the exam, the doctor will:
- See if you have any medical conditions.
- See if you have any tattoos or scars.
- Run a drug test.
- Ask whether you use drugs, marijuana, or alcohol.
- Ask you about any vaccinations you have had. Bring any records of your vaccinations to your medical exam to avoid having to pay for repeat vaccinations.
- If the doctor decides you need follow up medical tests, you may need to pay additional fees and make another appointment. IOM will contact your family with more information.
- Your medical exam results will be sent to IOM and the government.
If you clear your medical exam and security checks, IOM will contact you to arrange your travel. Read below for what you should do to prepare for travel.
If your family needs to travel right away (for example, for medical or safety reasons), contact Adelante CIMITRA (Tel: +503 2519 5528; WhatsApp: +503 7641 3065).
If you believe you should have been contacted through the settlement for your case to be restarted but have not heard from them, contact the CAM Hotline for assistance: (917) 410-7546.
What do I do after I have been approved for travel? Do I need to pay?
IOM will contact you with a date for your flight to the United States. You will be asked to travel to the capital city of your country the day before your flight and to stay overnight at a hotel. You will be expected to cover these expenses.
**If you receive a phone call requesting CAM flight payments, this could be a scam. Contact IOM:
- El Salvador: + 503 2521 0500 option 1
- Honduras: + 504 2237 7460 option 2
- Guatemala: + 502 2414 7401 ext. 7409
- iomsalsvcamparole@iom.int
Or contact the CAM Hotline:
- US: (917) 410-7546
To travel, you will need a passport and your child may need additional documents to leave your country. You can find country-specific information here:
Before you travel:
- Come up with a plan for contacting someone in the United States as soon as possible after you get there. This is so that at least one person will know if you have problems at the airport. Give the person your flight information and decide how you will contact them.
- Make sure to pack your travel documents in a place that you can get to easily.
- Take a picture of the Form I-512L because you will need it to renew parole in the future, and sometimes immigration authorities keep it when you are processed for parole.
You can read more about what to expect at the airport here.
What do I do after I get to the United States?
You should first check how long you have CAM parole status. You can do this by looking at the stamp that the officer put in your passport at the airport or by getting an electronic copy of Form I-94 here.
Your parole status should last for three years. Some people were granted only one year of parole by mistake. You should contact the CAM Hotline at (917) 410-7546 if this happens to you.
What do I need to do if I receive a request for evidence?
Some people receive a letter from the government that says “Notice of Re-opening and Continued Processing for the Central American Minors Parole Program and Request for Evidence,” which looks like this. This means that the government believes that the parent no longer has lawful status in the United States. The government might be wrong. If you received this letter, find a lawyer to ask for advice.
What do I need to do if I’m asked to re-interview?
If the government asks to re-interview you, the CAM Hotline, working with IRAP, may be able to connect you with a lawyer to help you prepare for your re-interview. Call the CAM Hotline as soon as possible:
- US: (917) 410-7546
What do I need to do if I receive a letter saying my case is being administratively closed?
If you receive a letter saying that your case is being administratively closed, contact the CAM Hotline:
- US: (917) 410-7546
How will changes to my family (to the parent or the child/family member hoping to travel to the US) affect my CAM application?
- What if the parent no longer has legal status in the U.S.? Your CAM application will not be processed.
- What if the parent was arrested charged with or convicted of a crime after filing the CAM application? You should find a lawyer to ask for advice about how it affects the parent’s lawful status in the US. The parent must have lawful status for the CAM application to be processed.
- What if the child is now over 21 years old? Your application will be processed if you received the re-opening letter for the child.
- What if the child has gotten married? Your application will not be processed if the child is legally married. If the child is living together with another person but is not legally married, the application will still be processed.
- What if the family member in Central America on the application had a new baby? Tell IOM about the new baby and you may be able to add the baby to your case. This video has information about how to send updated information about new babies to the government.
- What if the child or family member on the application does not live in the same country they were in before? Your application will be processed if the child/family member lives in one of the CAM countries: El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. They may be allowed to process in other countries as well. They may want to find a lawyer to ask for advice before returning to one of the CAM countries.
- What if the family member in Central America on the application has been deported from the United States? Your application may still be processed. Being deported from the United States does not automatically disqualify you from CAM, but the government might consider it in deciding whether to approve the application.
What if I didn’t receive a notice of re-opening, or one of my children/family members didn’t receive the notice?
If you did not receive a notice of re-opening and believe that you should have, please contact the CAM Hotline for assistance at (917) 410-7546.
What if I have more questions about the settlement or about CAM?