Question 1

What is Uniting for Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Uniting for Ukraine is a streamlined process that allows Ukrainian citizens displaced by Russia’s aggression to apply for humanitarian parole in the United States.

Under Uniting for Ukraine, the U.S. government allows people fleeing the war in Ukraine to seek refuge in the United States, temporarily known as humanitarian parole, with the support of a sponsor in the United States. The sponsor will provide financial support to meet the basic needs of someone fleeing Ukraine. They may also offer additional support, such as enrolling in educational or training programs or securing employment.

Question 2

Is Uniting for Ukraine limited to only Ukrainian citizens?

Accepted Answer

Uniting for Ukraine is available to eligible Ukrainian citizens and their non-Ukrainian immediate family members with valid passports. Non-Ukrainian immediate family members must travel to the United States with Ukrainian citizens. For purposes of Uniting for Ukraine, immediate family members include:

The spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian citizen; and

The unmarried children under the age of 21 of a Ukrainian citizen.

NOTE: If a child is under 18, they must travel with a parent or legal guardian to seek parole through the Uniting for Ukraine process.

Question 3

Will a beneficiary be eligible for consideration under Uniting for Ukraine if they are Ukrainian and have a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visitor visa but are currently outside the United States for work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A Ukrainian citizen outside the United States who still has a valid, unexpired U.S. visitor visa may still seek parole into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine if we have confirmed that Form I-134A filed on their behalf is sufficient if they meet other requirements. Being paroled into the United States does not automatically terminate the validity of a U.S. nonimmigrant visitor visa.

Question 4

Is Uniting for Ukraine limited to the first 100,000 applications?

Accepted Answer

No. There are no numerical limits on requests for travel authorization or parole under Uniting for Ukraine. The U.S. government is committed to providing Ukrainians displaced due to Russia’s invasion a full range of legal pathways, including parole, immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, in accordance with U.S. laws.

Question 5

What is humanitarian parole?

Accepted Answer

Humanitarian parole allows individuals in urgent need of refuge to enter the United States and temporarily stay in the U.S. While the U.S. government has chosen humanitarian parole as the program for those arriving under Uniting for Ukraine, humanitarian parole is not new. It can be used on a case-by-case basis for other populations.

Humanitarian parole provides:

An efficient path to safety and refuge

Temporary immigration status

Ability to apply for work authorization

Access to certain benefits, such as Health Exchange Marketplace insurance plans

Humanitarian parole does not provide the following:

A pathway to permanency and citizenship

Automatic work authorization

For humanitarian parolees arriving under Uniting Ukraine and Ukrainians who were paroled into the country by the Department of Homeland Security after February 24, 2022, the program also provides the following:

Ability to apply for an expanded list of federal benefits, such as Medicaid or food assistance

Access to services funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, such as case management, employment, and English language classes

For more information about Uniting for Ukraine, visit USCIS.gov and DHS.gov. Or go to the Office of Refugee Resettlement website for more information about services.

Question 6

How is travel to the U.S. arranged?

Accepted Answer

After confirming their biographic information and vaccine status, beneficiaries will receive a decision about their travel authorization to their USCIS account. If approved, their travel authorization will be valid for 90 days.

An approved U4U travel authorization does not guarantee travel, parole, or processing disposition. The travel authorization enables airline carriers to facilitate the generation of a boarding pass and allows the airlines to board the individual for a flight to the United States. Individuals must comply with existing travel requirements and, where applicable, immigration exit requirements of the country they will depart from.

Question 7

Are Ukrainian children seeking to come to the United States without their parent or legal guardian eligible for Uniting for Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

No. Children under the age of 18 who are traveling without their parent or legal guardian are not eligible for Uniting for Ukraine. Children who are not traveling with a parent or legal guardian but coming to the United States to meet a parent or legal guardian may seek parole through the standard Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, process.

Question 8

Will beneficiaries who have been paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine be able to obtain an advance parole document?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Suppose a beneficiary who has been paroled into the United States wants to apply for an advance parole document, which will allow them to seek parole into the United States at a port of entry when they return from a trip outside the United States. In that case, they should file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. For more information about advance parole documents, including fees and fee waivers, visit Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

Please note that having an advance parole document does not guarantee an individual will be paroled into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will make a separate discretionary decision on your request for parole when you arrive at a port of entry.

Question 9

What materials do the beneficiaries need to collect?

Accepted Answer

The USCIS wants to understand who is coming to this country and what resources U4U beneficiaries have that could contribute to their support while in the United States.

Sponsors must work with their U4U beneficiaries to gather the following information.

Identification and contact information

Other names since birth (including aliases, maiden name, etc.)

Phone and email contact information

Current mailing and physical address

Date of birth

City, state, and country of birth

Gender

Marital status

Total number of dependents

Travel information

Country of citizenship or nationality

Country of most recently issued passport

Passport number and expiration date

A-number (not required and only if applicable)

The anticipated period of stay in the U.S. - individuals arriving under Uniting for Ukraine can stay in the U.S. for 24 months.

Financial information

The total value of assets

How much income will the beneficiary’s dependents contribute to the beneficiary annually?

These numbers can be zero, as USCIS will look at the beneficiary and the sponsor's income and assets.

You’ll also be asked to submit information about your financial status. For more information on all the materials required, please see the U4U Humanitarian Parole Application Guide.

Question 10

What does the beneficiary need to do after the application is approved?

Accepted Answer

If the application is sufficient, your U4U beneficiary will receive an email from USCIS with instructions on how to set up an account on the USCIS website and other next steps.

The beneficiary will be asked to confirm their biographic information on the USCIS website. They’ll also be asked to:

Certify that they understand the family relationship requirements for children under 18 under Uniting for Ukraine; and

Confirm they have completed vaccine requirements or are eligible for an exception to vaccine requirements for measles, polio, and the first dose of an FDA-approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccine or a WHO-Emergency use listed (EUL) COVID-19 vaccine.

You and your beneficiary should continue checking your myUSCIS account and email, including spam and junk folders, for important messages from USCIS.

Question 11

Can a beneficiary bring their pet?

Accepted Answer

Ukrainian beneficiaries under U4U may be able to bring their animals to the United States. But these animals will be subject to regulation by the USDA APHIS and other federal agencies. Depending on your destination state, your pet may need to meet additional health requirements.

The pet owner’s responsibility is to fully understand these regulations and ensure they can meet requirements before arriving in the U.S. with their animal.

Please visit the USDA website and the CDC website for more information.

Question 12

What types of government assistance might Ukrainians on humanitarian parole be eligible for?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility for government programs depends on various factors, including income level and household composition. As a result, eligibility for public benefits is often determined through an application process, which sponsors can help newcomers navigate.

Benefits and programs available to help you in your sponsorship journey include the following:

Health Insurance: Medicaid, Health insurance plans operating under the Affordable Care Act, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Refugee Medical Assistance, employer-based health insurance programs, and Emergency Medicaid, which provides healthcare coverage in the event of a life-threatening event

Healthcare: Low-cost healthcare services at community healthcare centers and school-based clinics, Vaccinations and other health screenings at local public health departments (including for required screening like for tuberculosis), and doctor’s offices that accept the beneficiaries' health insurance plan

Cash assistance: Refugee Cash Assistance and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Childcare: childcare financial assistance programs, Early Head Start and Head Start, summer and after-school programs for youth, and youth programs run by nonprofits

Youth education: public school enrollment and associated services, such as free and reduced lunch and parent engagement programs, local Refugee School Impact programs, and public library programs

Nutrition and Food Assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits Women, Infants, and Children (WIC, for ages under 5) services and benefits, and local food banks

Workforce and Job Training: workforce and training services at American Job Centers (workforce centers); employment services funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and your state’s State Refugee Coordinator office; Refugee Career Pathway programs, community college training programs, apprenticeships, and job skills training programs at employers. In California, you can connect with SETA (Sacramento Employment and Training Agency) at https://www.seta.net/;

Adult education: English classes, including those funded through state adult education programs and State Refugee Coordinator offices, community colleges and institutions of higher education classes, and pieces of training for in-demand occupations, such as Commercial Drivers Licenses for jobs in the trucking industry

Each family or individual may have different needs and different eligibility for federal and state programs, and programs will vary by state. That’s another reason to connect with local service organizations that can help guide sponsors through the local ecosystem.

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