On April 21, 2022, President Biden announced the launch of a new program called Uniting for Ukraine to offer Ukrainian nationals (and their non-Ukrainian immediate family members) who fled their country following the recent Russian invasion a chance to come to the United States via what has been portrayed as private sponsorship.1 This comes after Bidens commitment made in Brussels to welcome 100,000 Ukrainians with a focus on reuniting families.2. Ukrainians already present in the U.S. cannot apply for humanitarian parole under this program, nor can children who are not accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Resided in Ukraine immediately before the Russian invasion (through February 11, 2022) and were displaced as a result of the invasion; Are a Ukrainian citizen and possess a valid Ukrainian passport (or are a child included on a parents passport); If not a Ukrainian citizen, they must be an immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen beneficiary of Uniting for Ukraine with a valid passport; Have a supporter who filed a Form I-134 on their behalf that USCIS has vetted and confirmed as sufficient; and. 8 Immigration Parole, Congressional Research Service report, October 15, 2020. This travel authorization is valid for 90 days. Uniting for Ukraine was launched by the U.S. government on April 21, 2022 to provide a safe and orderly means for Ukrainians displaced by conflict in Ukraine to join supporters in the U.S., along with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Medical Attestations and Vaccine Requirements. So far in FY 2022, 886 Ukrainian refugees have been resettled in the United States through the formal refugee resettlement program (October 1, 2021, to May 31, 2022): Other measures undertaken by the U.S. government relating to the Ukrainian crisis were Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians already living in the United States and allowing (for a limited period of time only) Ukrainians to enter the country to seek asylum despite Title 42 (a public health order instituted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic that allows for the expulsion of migrants at the border without providing them the chance to seek asylum). U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate.html. Even though one separate Form I-134 must be filed for each beneficiary, multiple supporters can agree to support one beneficiary. We cannot indicate a timeline at this time. Prospective adoptive parents should consult their ASP about how the crisis in Ukraine may impact their adoption plans. So, despite having only one U.S.-based individual as the signatory of the I-134 Form, financial support can come from organizations such as refugee resettlement agencies that are, in turn, mostly funded by U.S. government grants. Get the latest news about the IRC's innovative programs, compelling stories about our clients and how you can make a difference. Lawful permanent residents, lawful temporary residents, and conditional permanent residents; Nonimmigrants in lawful status (that is, who maintain the nonimmigrant status and have not violated any of the terms or conditions of the nonimmigrant status); Beneficiaries of deferred action (including DACA) or Deferred Enforced Departure. 17 President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Department of Homeland Security press release, April 21, 2022. This resource addresses adoptions and intended adoptions at various stages of the process and provides guidance on whom to consult and clarifications on the Department's potential role and ability to assist.

All B1/B2 visa applicants are assumed to be intending immigrantsand therefore ineligible for a nonimmigrant visaunless they can establish otherwise. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, updated May 27, 2022. 18 I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, U.S. U.S.-based supporters can be U.S. citizens and nationals or green card holders; but they can also be individuals who hold other lawful status in the United States, such as asylees, refugees, parolees, people on temporary (nonimmigrant) visas, TPS holders, or those benefiting from deferred action (including DACA) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). Requesting Expedited Processing of I-130 Petitions: If you filed a Form I-130 petition with USCIS and it has not yet been approved, you may inquire with USCIS regarding expedition: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request. 26 Bills Signed: H.R. Supporters will be vetted by the U.S. government to protect against exploitation and abuse and ensure that they are able to financially support the Ukrainians they are agreeing to sponsor. Meanwhile, FY 2022 refugee resettlement admissions remain low. Only 886 were Ukrainians. Immigrant visas are for foreign nationals who intend to live and/or work permanently in the United States. International Rescue Committee is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The beneficiary will receive an email instructing him to check his myUSCIS account for the status of his authorization to travel. A supporter may agree to support more than one beneficiary (such as different member of a same family unit); he will still need to file a separate Form I-134 for each beneficiary. A U.S.-based supporter for a beneficiary under Uniting for Ukraine need not be a U.S. national, citizen, or lawful permanent resident (green card holder); other individuals lawfully present in the United States can also sponsor Ukrainians under the program. 7691). 14 million people at risk of starvation in East Africa, Have a valid Ukrainian passport, or be included on a parent's passport, Complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, Submit to biometrics collection, biographic screening, and security vetting, and. Nonimmigrant visas are for temporary stays in the United States. Evidence of financial support could come from the beneficiaries own assets in Ukraine (such as documents showing that the beneficiary owns a home there).21. Following the launch of Uniting for Ukraine, Ukrainians who present at land U.S. ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine will be denied entry and referred to apply through this program.17. No, individuals granted humanitarian parole under Uniting for Ukraine do not (as of April 25, 2022) have access to resettlement benefits. 15 U.S. 7691), signed into law26 by President Biden on May 21, 2022, provides supplemental emergency appropriations for fiscal year 2022 to Federal agencies to respond to the situation in, and for assistance to, Ukraine.27 The bill provides $40.1 billion in FY 2022 emergency supplemental appropriations for activities (including economic assistance, humanitarian aid, diplomatic programs, military programs etc.) The new streamlined process under Uniting for Ukraine, which began on April 25, allows Ukrainians to come to the United States straight from Europe for an initial period of two years under humanitarian parole.3 Ukrainians need to be privately sponsored by U.S.-based supporters who commit to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay.

Citizenship and Immigration Services website, updated May 27, 2022. Some parolees may qualify for a particular form of immigration status, which may include a pathway to lawful permanent residence and eventually U.S. citizenship. Before the recent war, most Ukrainians who were resettled as refugees in the United States were processed under the Lautenberg Amendment, a program started in the early 1990s to give safe haven to religious minorities who were being persecuted in the Soviet Union.15 It produced chain migration, as first-comers filed affidavits of relationship for relatives to join them.

For more information, visithttps://www.dhs.gov/ukraine. Uniting for Ukraine is being presented as a private sponsorship arrangement, but is not necessarily private. Federal funds (i.e., taxpayer dollars) that go to resettlement agencies can in turn be used as added support in the Declaration of Financial Support form submitted to admit a Ukrainian beneficiary into the United States. For more information on NVC case processing, please visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/immigrant-visas-processing-general-faqs.html. Ukrainians should not attempt to apply for visas in order to travel to the United States as refugees. 7691 and H.R.7791, White House website, May 21, 2022. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, updated November 12, 2021. https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/how-to-make-an-expedite-request. It does not constitute formal admission under the U.S. immigration system.8 Parolees have limited access to benefits; unlike refugees and Special Immigrant Visa holders (SIVs)9, they are not typically eligible for refugee resettlement assistance or other federal benefits. 4 Camilo Montoya-Galvez, More than 45,000 Americans have applied to sponsor Ukrainian refugees in the U.S., CBS News, June 3, 2022. This process must be initiated by the U.S.-based supporter; Ukrainian beneficiaries cannot directly apply for parole under this program. Visas (state.gov). Increased refugee resettlement processing under the Lautenberg Amendment and broadened access to visa processing at consular posts overseas have also been announced.14. This added support will be taken into account in determining the signatorys ability to support the beneficiary. That said, if an organization or any other entity is willing to provide financial or other services to the beneficiary to facilitate support, then this information is added as part of the evidence submitted with the Form I-134. Local File Option for Certain I-130 Petitions U.S. Citizen Petitioners: If you are a U.S. citizen who is physically present overseas with your immediate family members and have not yet filed an immigrant visa petition with USCIS, you may request to locally file an I-130 immigrant visa petition at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas. This applies only to U.S. citizens physically present in that consular district filing petitions for their spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents who have fled Ukraine. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, updated April 25, 2022. Ukrainian parolees will be eligible for employment authorization and Social Security numbers, as well as refugee resettlement benefits. Under the program, beneficiaries need to present a pre-travel medical attestation showing they have completed vaccine requirements for measles, polio, and the first dose Covid-19 vaccine or that they are eligible for an exception to those vaccine requirements.24 Within 14 days following their arrival to the United States, beneficiaries need to attest to receiving a medical screening for tuberculosis. Subscribe. You can find those email addresses at each individual embassy or consulates website. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and normal immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing. https://www.uscis.gov/military/military-help-line. 7 Humanitarian Parole, U.S. Please see more information at Information for U.S. Citizens In the Process of Adopting in Ukraine.

As appropriate, assisting the beneficiary with accessing education, learning English, securing employment, and enrolling children in school. Families who previously hosted a child but are not yet approved to adopt may wish to consult the hosting organization to learn what efforts are being made on behalf of the host child. Newly Scheduled Immigrant Visa Appointments: U.S. Consulate General Frankfurt is the designated processing post for all Ukrainian immigrant visa applications except adoption cases. 21 Julia Ainsley, Ukrainians fleeing war face onerous process to enter U.S., NBC News, May 5, 2022. Anyone can file an application for humanitarian parole. 7691), Ukrainian parolees will receive refugee resettlement benefits, including cash and medical assistance (which were recently extended from eight to 12 months).

Be U.S.-based individuals in lawful status, or have parole, deferred action (such as beneficiaries of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), or Deferred Enforced Departure, Pass security and background vetting, and. Benefits of Applying Through This Program. They are not the appropriate tool to begin an immigrant, refugee, or resettlement process. Form I-134 requires one individual to sign the form; so organizations cannot serve as the named supporter on a Form I-134.

Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) processing requirements and are physically outside of Ukraine. 3 President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Department of Homeland Security press release, April 21, 2022. Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. 22 Uniting for Ukraine, U.S. Ukrainian parolees, receiving federal assistance and resettlement benefits, can use those funds to sponsor additional Ukrainian parolees, who in turn will receive the same federal assistance upon arrival. That last exemption ended with the launch of Uniting for Ukraine. If you had an active USRAP case with RSC Eurasia, your case remains active and case processing is continuing, to the extent possible. This private sponsorship seems more linked to federal money than to individual wealth. Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to "receive, maintain, and support" the Ukrainians they commit to support for two years.

Copyright International Rescue Committee, 2022.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on behalf of the beneficiary and include information about them and contact details, such as email address.18 There is no fee to apply. This process must be initiated by U.S.-based supporters (sponsors) who agree to provide them with financial support during their stay here; Ukrainians abroad cannot directly apply for parole under this program. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/immigrant-visas-processing-general-faqs.html, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/nvc-contact-information.html, Information for U.S. Citizens In the Process of Adopting in Ukraine, https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/humanitarian-parole, https://www.usaid.gov/usaid-response-ukraine/resources-refugees-asylum-seekers. *Only Ukrainians who entered the U.S. on or prior to April 11, 2022 and have maintained continuous presences in the U.S. would be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Transferring Immigrant Visa Cases from NVC: Immigrant visa applicants who have received an NVC case number and have supplied all supporting information to become documentarily qualified will receive notice of their Frankfurt appointment in the coming months (see also NVC expedite paragraph above). Heres how: Federal funds go to resettlement agencies that in turn can use this money as added support in the Declaration of Financial Support form submitted to admit a Ukrainian beneficiary into the United States. Requesting Expedited Immigrant Visa Processing from National Visa Center (NVC): If you already have received approval of your I-130 petition from USCIS, but have not yet been scheduled for an appointment in Frankfurt, NVC may be able to expedite processing of your case. Center for Immigration Studies Twitter Account, Center for Immigration Studies Facebook Page, Center for Immigration Studies Linkedin Account, Center for Immigration Studies Youtube Channel, President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, Remarks by President Biden in Press Conference, More than 45,000 Americans have applied to sponsor Ukrainian refugees in the U.S., Ukrainian Refugees in Europe and the U.S., H.R.7691 - Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Programs, The U.S. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, applicants may face extended visa interview wait times at some Embassies and Consulates. Beneficiaries. An organization can offer to provide financial or other services to the beneficiary to facilitate support and approval. We encourage Ukrainians to consult local government authorities in their current location to determine what might be available as you consider resettlement options. 6 H.R.7691 - Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022, Congress.Gov, May 19, 2022. We encourage applicants who are in harms way to find safety and shelter wherever possible. Uniting for Ukraine:The Department of Homeland SecuritysUniting for Ukraine programprovides a pathway for displaced Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily for up to two years. Uniting for Ukraine allows for admission to the United States under humanitarian parole for an initial period of two years, and is renewable. Refugee Admissions Program Access Categories, U.S. Department of State, 2017-2021 Archived Content. 5 Nayla Rush, Ukrainian Refugees in Europe and the U.S., Center for Immigration Studies Backgrounder, April 14, 2022. Total: 886 Ukrainians (out of a total of 12,641 refugees admitted in FY 2022 through May 31, 2022, under a 125,000 ceiling). All newly scheduled immigrant visa cases will be slated for appointments at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt. It is conveniently used today to resettle Ukrainians fleeing a war zone (and not religious persecution). The State Department warned that, starting April 25, 2022, Ukrainians would no longer be exempted from Title 42 and allowed to seek asylum at the southern border: Ukrainians should not travel to Mexico to pursue entry into the United States. If you apply for a nonimmigrant visa but are unable to demonstrate intent to leave the United States after a defined period in order to return to a residence abroad, a consular officer will refuse your application. 13 Admissions and Arrivals, Refugee Processing Center. 12 Nayla Rush, Extending ORR Benefits and Beneficiaries, Center for Immigration Studies blog, April 25, 2022. Adoption cases are being handled at U.S. Embassy Warsaw. Further information and instructions are available here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/humanitarian-parole.

This lifeline for persecuted religious minority groups from the former Soviet Union, including Ukraine, to reunite with their family members in the United States long ago lost its raison dtre; but, like most federal programs, it continues on automatic pilot. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message. The supporter must complete and file online Form I-134 (Declaration of Financial Support) with U.S.

Furthermore, upon arrival, as per H.R. Instead, they should contact local authorities or UNHCR for refugee processing. 11 "Resettlement Agencies", Office of Refugee Resettlement, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, December 9, 2019. Endless numbers of Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian beneficiaries can use this private, streamlined pathway to come to the United States. Further information on immigrant visas can be found here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate.html. Uniting for Ukraine allows eligible individuals to temporarily join a supporter (sponsor) in the U.S. who has offered to sponsor them for two years. Uniting for Ukraine allows for shorter processing times for those beneficiaries who want to receive temporary safe haven in the United States. Parole is a program run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that allows an individual, who may be inadmissible or otherwise ineligible for admission into the United States, to be in the United States for a temporary period for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Current instructions on appointment scheduling along with details on availability and processing are available on the website of each embassy and consulate, a full list of which is available here:https://www.usembassy.gov/. Refugee Admissions Program Access Categories, I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, Ukrainians fleeing war face onerous process to enter U.S., Uniting for Ukraine Vaccine Attestation, Mark Krikorian on C-SPAN's Washington Journal, Todd Bensman Discusses Texas Border Policy, Steve Camarota Discusses Housing Afghans in Hotels, Map: Sanctuary Cities, Counties, and States, Estimating the Illegal Immigrant Population Using the Current Population Survey, The Jewish Stake in America's Changing Demography, Uniting for Ukraine: A New Privately Sponsored Pathway to the United States. If the individuals case is accepted and he has been authorized to travel to the United States to seek parole under the program, he will have to arrange and fund his own travel. In that case, one supporter must file a Form I-134 and include the identity of, and resources made available by, the additional supporters with a statement explaining the details of this shared responsibility. However, we anticipate that some resettlement processing activities may be delayed. So far, over 45,000 applications have been submitted under Uniting for Ukraine; 6,500 have arrived already and another 27,000 have been approved for travel.4, Uniting for Ukraine is one of the numerous measures by the U.S. government (both in Europe and in the U.S.) to respond to the Ukrainian crisis.5 Among those other measures is a new law, the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. Refugee Resettlement Program an Overview, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, October 4, 2021. And in case these funds are not sufficient, resettlement agencies will be able to chip in additional funds to get the process rolling, potentially creating a taxpayer-funded cycle. The bill also provides $900 million for additional Refugee and Entrant Assistance, to be used for grants or contracts with qualified organizations, including nonprofit entities. Only 12,641 refugees were resettled so far in FY 2022 under a 125,000 ceiling. U.S.-Based Supporter. This report focuses on the Uniting for Ukraine program and the benefits associated with it under the new Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (H.R. The program is a new streamlined process that provides a pathway to Ukrainians and their immediate family members to come to the United States under parole (for an initial period of two years, renewable) and apply for employment authorization, provided U.S.-based supporters (sponsors) agree to provide them with financial support during their stay here. Only a total of 12,641 refugees were admitted so far (October 1, 2021, through May 31, 2022) under a 125,000 ceiling; and, of the 12,641, only 886 were Ukrainians.13, Uniting for Ukraine was introduced by the Biden administration in addition to the $6 billion in humanitarian aid put forward to Ukraine and its neighbors that are welcoming millions who are fleeing the Russian invasion. 7691, Ukrainian parolees with the following: cash and medical assistance, housing, food, and clothing; English lessons, enrollment in various benefits and welfare programs; employment services, etc. 14 President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Department of Homeland Security press release, April 21, 2022. 16 Admissions and Arrivals, Refugee Processing Center.

The application process can be completed through the USCIS on-line portal: https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/uniting-for-ukraine, U.S.-based sponsors begin the application process by completing their Form I-134 Affidavit of Support online: https://www.uscis.gov/i-134. Those who do so anyway could be denied entry and referred to apply through this process. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, updated May 27, 2022. Authorization to Travel to the United States. Have a sponsor in the U.S. whose Form I-134 Affidavit of Support has been approved by USCIS. 7691), that was signed by President Biden on May 21, 2022, and provides some $40 billion in additional aid to deal with the recent Russian attack on Ukraine.6 Included in the bill are numerous benefits offered to Ukrainian parolees and their family members (whether they had access to humanitarian parole through a sponsor under the Uniting for Ukraine program or applied on their own).7. Once USCIS reviews and approves the sponsor's completed form, Ukrainian beneficiaries will receive an email from USCIS with instructions to set up an account on www.my.USCIS.gov and other next steps. Included in that funding is $900 million to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (which includes the Office of Refugee Resettlement): to remain available until September 30, 2023, for carrying out refugee and entrant assistance activities in support of citizens or nationals of Ukraine, or a person who last habitually resided in Ukraine, for whom such refugee and entrant assistance activities are authorized: Provided, That amounts made available under this heading in this Act may be used for grants or contracts with qualified organizations, including nonprofit entities, to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services, including wraparound services, housing assistance, medical assistance, legal assistance, and case management assistance.28 [Emphasis added.].