Source: USCRI
The Biden administration launched Uniting for Ukraine on April 25, 2022. The program allows U.S.- based individuals and organizations to sponsor a Ukrainian individual or family in the United States. For more information and to apply to sponsor a Ukrainian, please see the USCIS site: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/uniting-for-ukraine. Once approved, Ukrainians through the program will receive humanitarian parole for two years and will be eligible for work authorization in the U.S. Sponsors are expected to provide support to beneficiaries for the duration of their parole.
Ukrainians who were paroled into the country between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, will generally be eligible for benefits to the same extent as refugees. Congressional authorization created eligibility for resettlement benefits provided by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), entitlement programs, and other public benefits, but excluded reception and placement benefits administered through the U.S. State Department.
What are the steps to apply for the Uniting for Ukraine program?
1. The supporter or sponsor must fill out a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, through the online USCIS portal. There is no fee for the application. The sponsor must show that they can support the beneficiary for the two-year period.
2. USCIS will check the information and conduct a security screening of the supporter. 3. Once USCIS has made a decision, they will email the supporter and the beneficiary.
4. If the Ukrainian beneficiary is approved, they will receive an email from USCIS to set up an account. The beneficiary will answer biographical questions and attest to their vaccination status.
5. Once this is processed, the beneficiary will be emailed their authorization to travel to the United States.
6. The beneficiary is responsible for setting up their travel, which must be done within 90 days of receiving their authorization to travel.
Who can be a supporter/sponsor?
• U.S. citizens and nationals
• Lawful permanent residents (including lawful temporary residents and conditional permanent residents)
• Nonimmigrants in lawful status
• Asylees
• Refugees
• Parolees
• TPS holders
• Beneficiaries of deferred action (including DACA) or Deferred Enforced Departure.
What are the eligibility requirements for beneficiaries?
• You resided in Ukraine immediately prior to the Russian invasion (through February 11, 2022) and you had to leave your home as a result of the invasion
• You are a Ukrainian citizen and possess a valid Ukrainian passport (or are a child included on a parent’s passport)
o If you are not a Ukrainian citizen, you are an immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen beneficiary of Uniting for Ukraine and have a valid passport
• You have a supporter/sponsor who filed a Form I-134 that has been vetted and deemed sufficient by USCIS
• You complete vaccination requirements
• You pass a background check
Note: Children under the age of 18 must be travelling to the United States in the care and custody of their parent or legal guardian under the Uniting for Ukraine program.
What about Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?
Ukrainians who have been in the U.S. since April 19th, 2022 are eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS recipients are also able to apply for employment authorization.
• To be eligible for TPS, Ukrainians must submit an Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) and pay the filing fee (or submit a Request for a Fee Waiver (Form I-912)) AND:
o Be a Ukrainian national or noncitizen having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine;
o Have continuously resided in the United States since April 11, 2022; and
o Have been continuously physically present in the United States since April 19, 2022.