Last Updated on November 25, 2022 by Anda Malescu
On April 21, 2022 the US President announced a new streamlined immigration program for Ukrainian citizens, who have been affected by the war in their country. The new process is called “Uniting for Ukraine” and it will give the opportunity of up to 100,000 Ukrainians to come to the United States. The effort is separate and distinct from the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) which is now available to Ukrainian citizens who were already in the United States on April 11, 2022. To learn more visit our U4U page.
To be eligible for the new “Uniting for Ukraine” immigration program, Ukrainian citizens must have been physically residing in Ukraine as of February 11, 2022, have a US sponsor, show that they have completed the required vaccinations and other public health requirements that are standard for immigration to the US, be able to pass rigorous biometric and biographic screening, as well as passing all vetting security checks.
Ukrainians approved via this process will be authorized to travel to the United States and be considered for parole, on a case-by-case basis, for a period of up to two years. Once paroled through this process, Ukrainian citizens will also be eligible to apply for work authorization in order to support themselves while in the United States.
Starting April 25, 2022, US sponsors, which can be either U.S.-based individuals or U.S. entities, such as non-profit organizations, will be able to apply with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to sponsor Ukrainian citizens who have been displaced by the war.
US sponsors will be able to apply directly through the DHS website, where they will be required to show their ability to provide financial support to the Ukrainians coming to the US. Sponsors will also have to pass security background checks to protect against exploitation, human trafficking and abuse.
The US government also encourages Ukrainian citizens displaced by the war, who are not eligible for other visas, to use the new program and apply from Europe, instead of travelling to Mexico and applying for asylum at the US-Mexico border. Further, the US government states that after the launch of the Uniting for Ukraine program, Ukrainians without a valid visa or pre-authorization to travel who come to a US boarder will be denied entry.
In addition to the Uniting for Ukraine program, the US government announced an expansion of existing legal paths for immigration for Ukrainian citizens. This includes an expansion of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operations in Europe with the aim to expedite petitions for refugee resettlement for Ukrainians fleeing the war.
To that end, the US government is working with its European partners, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and NGOs to identify particularly vulnerable Ukrainian citizens who need permanent resettlement. Aside from the expansion of the USRAP operations, the US State Department will instruct its European embassies and consulates to increase the number of nonimmigrant visa appointments for Ukrainian citizens, especially for individuals with humanitarian, medical, or other extraordinary circumstances.
To find out more you can contact our immigration lawyers in Miami, Florida USA.
Malescu Law P.A. – Immigration Lawyers
