This program allowed certain religious minorities from the former Soviet Union, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania who were denied refugee status and subsequently paroled into the United States on a humanitarian basis to apply for lawful permanent resident status after acquiring one year of physical presence in the United States, without regard to visa availability. Although renewed by Congress, this program is no longer in effect, and individuals who have been offered parole under this provision were required to arrive in the United States by Sept. 30, 2012.