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 provide additional support, such as enrolling in educational or training programs or securing employment.

Question 2

Who is eligible for sponsorship?

Accepted Answer

To be eligible for sponsorship, Ukrainians must have been residents of Ukraine as of February 11, 2022. Those who are not Ukrainian citizens but are immediate family members of Ukrainian citizens, such as spouses and children, are also eligible for sponsorship.

To be approved for sponsorship, Ukrainians must attest that they have met program requirements, such as vaccinations, and pass Department of Homeland Security screening. security checks.

To find a sponsor in the U.S., please fill out our Form, and we will connect with you, if Sponsor is interested in your application (Form Link:  https://www.sponsorshub.uahouse.org/forms/form-for-sponsors).
For more information about Uniting for Ukraine, visit USCIS.gov and DHS.gov.

Question 3

Who can be a sponsor?

Accepted Answer

Sponsors may be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or other lawfully present individuals. This includes Ukrainian Americans, immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), recently arrived refugees, and other everyday Americans, like you! Nonprofits, educational institutions, and employers can help sponsor refugees fleeing Ukraine.

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, fill out our Form to find a Ukrainian family looking for an American sponsor. (Form Link: https://www.sponsorshub.uahouse.org/forms/form-for-sponsors)

For more information about Uniting for Ukraine, visit USCIS.gov and DHS.gov.

Question 4

Do I need to be a family member to serve as a sponsor?

Accepted Answer

No. Uniting for Ukraine allows anyone to serve as a named sponsor, including extended family, employers, friends, or others interested in welcoming Ukrainians seeking refuge. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, fill out our Form to find a Ukrainian family looking for an American sponsor. (Form Link: https://www.sponsorshub.uahouse.org/forms/form-for-sponsors)
For more information about Uniting for Ukraine, visit USCIS.gov and DHS.gov.

Question 5

Can I sponsor a Ukrainian with a group of people?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While not required, your sponsorship experience can be strengthened by working with a group — friends, family, work colleagues, congregation members, or other networks.
There are many reasons to sponsor as part of a group — it makes the work easier, can be deeply rewarding, and helps the arriving family to meet more people in the community. With a group effort, you can share the joy and responsibilities of helping newcomers thrive in their new communities.

This guide shows how sponsor groups are typically structured. Uniting For Ukraine (U4U) Humanitarian Parole Application Guide from Welcome.US has all the details on how to submit an application as a group.

Question 6

What are a sponsor’s responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

Sponsors create support systems that ensure newcomers can thrive. Sponsors are neighbors, cheerleaders, and guides for people starting a long, difficult, and exciting journey.

More specifically, sponsors are responsible for finding suitable housing for newcomers. They support newcomers in ensuring health needs are met, kids are enrolled in school, and adults find work, among other factors.

Sponsorship is a deep commitment but a transformative one for both you and those you welcome. You are changing lives and strengthening your community and country. You don’t have to do it alone. Sponsorship can be most successful and most joyful when it is done in a community of friends, family, and colleagues.

Question 7

Do I need to host a Uniting for Ukraine beneficiary in my home?

Accepted Answer

There are no requirements to host a Ukrainian beneficiary in your home. However, housing can be a challenge in communities across the U.S., which may be a temporary option deployed. Sponsors are encouraged to remember that many Ukrainians have not had a place to call home for months and may be eager for independence. Each beneficiary will have different perspectives, so it’s important to determine housing arrangements together before arrival.

Question 8

What are a sponsor’s financial obligations?

Accepted Answer

There is no fee for filing the paperwork to support a Ukrainian, and the I-134 is not legally binding. However, sponsorship carries with it some basic financial responsibilities. As part of the application process, you will sign a Declaration of Financial Support form, in which you assure the U.S. government that, if needed, you will financially support the Ukrainians you seek to sponsor for the duration of their parole. While the Declaration of Financial Support is not legally binding in most cases, it’s important to recognize that beneficiaries will likely need your help, including financially, as they work to rebuild their lives.

Question 9

What are the steps to becoming a sponsor?

Accepted Answer

Our in-depth U4U Humanitarian Parole Application Guide will help you navigate the sponsorship process from start to finish or approval. The high-level steps are

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility. Sponsors can be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or other lawfully present individuals, such as those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and refugees. Non-profits, educational institutions, and employers can also help to sponsor people fleeing Ukraine.

Step 2: Match with a Ukrainian in need. If you aren’t connected to a Ukrainian in need of support, fill out the form https://www.sponsorshub.uahouse.org/forms/form-for-sponsors. Alternatively, national and local partner organizations can help match you with someone who meets the requirements of a beneficiary (ex. Welcome.Connect).

Step 3: Fill out the Humanitarian Parole Application. Collect the necessary information and documentation for yourself and your beneficiary, and fill out your online sponsorship application on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) web site.

Step 4: Await approval. The U.S. government is solely responsible for approving sponsor applications. While you wait, you can track your application, and both you and the beneficiary may need to respond to any requests for further information.

You can also find more information and the application on the USCIS’ web site.

Question 10

How can I be matched with a Ukrainian to sponsor?

Accepted Answer

If you aren’t connected to a Ukrainian in need of support, we can help you out. You can fill out our form (https://www.sponsorshub.uahouse.org/forms/form-for-sponsors), and then receive a list of Ukrainian families that turned to our organization to find a sponsor, or you can register on the Welcome Connect platform. On Welcome Connect, potential sponsors complete online training modules, create a profile and message directly with Ukrainians seeking refuge.

Alternatively, national and local partner organizations can help match you with someone entering the United States who meets the beneficiary requirements.

Question 11

What materials do I need to collect to fill out the I-134 form?

Accepted Answer

The USCIS wants to understand who is and whether you can support your U4U beneficiary during their time in the U.S., should that be something that the beneficiary needs.

Below are some of the key documents to prepare. Before starting the U4U humanitarian parole application, we suggest converting each document into a format that is easy to upload, such as a PDF or JPG.

Financial documents:

Statement(s) from your employer on business stationery showing:

Date and nature of employment;

Salary paid; and

Whether the position is temporary or permanent

An employer statement template. You can find a template in the Appendix of this guide.

Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions with deposits, identifying the following details regarding the account:

Date account opened

Total amount deposited for the past year; and

Present balance

Copy of last U.S. federal income tax return filed (tax transcript); or

List containing serial numbers and denominations of bonds and name of record owner(s).Citizenship or immigration status

A U.S. citizen or U.S. national may submit a copy of a birth certificate, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, consular report of birth abroad to U.S. parents or a copy of the biographic data page on your U.S. passport.

Proof of lawful permanent resident status includes a photocopy of both sides of the Permanent Resident Card, Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551), or a photocopy of an unexpired temporary Form I-551 stamp in either a foreign passport or DHS Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record.

Proof of lawful nonimmigrant status may include a copy of an unexpired visa in a foreign passport.You’ll also need to collect background material from your beneficiary. For more information on all the materials required, please see the U4U Humanitarian Parole Application Guide.

Question 12

How do I fill out the Uniting for Ukraine application?

Accepted Answer

Once prepared with the above information, documents, and proof of eligibility, you are ready to fill out the application or the form I-134 on the USCIS website.

First visit the Uniting for Ukraine page on the USCIS website

From the drop-down menu in the center of the page, expand the ‘Who Can be a Supporter for a Beneficiary Under Uniting for Ukraine’ section

Scroll to the bottom of the section and click the ‘File Online’ button

Create an account (or log in if you’ve already done so)

You will be taken to an introductory page for the application

Read through the two pages of information provided, clicking ‘Next’ and then ‘Start’ to advance through them

Once here, you will have arrived at the starting point of the application

The online workflow to fill out the application is flexible:

You can advance through the full application in order to understand the materials, where to upload evidence, and the format required

You can save your application and come back to it at a later date if necessary

Prior to application submission, you can change the information in the form, such as fix the spelling of the beneficiary’s name

Once you submit an application, you cannot change the information in the form, but you can call USCIS Contact Center

If you need support with filling out the form or walk through the online application form, call the Ukrainian American House Sponsors Hub at (916)201-0101 or email gethelp@uahouse.org.

You must fill out an I-134 form for each U4U beneficiary you sponsor.

For more information, please see the U4U Humanitarian Parole Application Guide.

Question 13

What are the next steps after my application is approved?

Accepted Answer

Sponsors and beneficiaries can expect a written decision about the application.

If the application is deemed sufficient, Ukrainian beneficiaries will also receive an email from USCIS with instructions on how to set up an account on the USCIS website and other next steps.

You and your beneficiary should continue to check your email daily, including spam and junk folders, for important messages from USCIS.

Question 14

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.

Sponsors and beneficiaries should work together to coordinate travel arrangements to the United States within this window. Beneficiaries will need to meet CDC travel requirements.

Upon the Beneficiary’s arrival, they will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the port of entry. At that time, they’ll be considered for parole for a period of up to two years. They may have conditions placed on their parole, such as tuberculosis (TB) screening.

Question 15

What documents and benefits might I need to help a beneficiary apply for?

Accepted Answer

Sponsors will help beneficiaries apply for critical documents for life in the U.S., including Social Security cards, their State IDs, and their first U.S. Drivers’ License. You’ll also help them open up a new bank account and assist them in applying for Employment Authorization - all critical steps to establishing a stable foothold in their new home.

Newcomers may also need help applying for the many public benefits and services available, including healthcare, employment and educational opportunities, and career training.

We can provide you the assistance with getting those steps done. Call the Ukrainian American House Sponsors Hub at (916)201-0101 or email gethelp@uahouse.org.

Question 16

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:

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 age 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)https://www.seta.net/;

Adult education: English classes, including those funded through state adult education programs and State Refugee Coordinator offices, community college and institution of higher education classes, and trainings 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.

Question 17

How can I contact USCIS directly?

Accepted Answer

The best way to contact USCIS is through their website.

If you prefer to speak to someone directly and are within the United States, the toll-free number is 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833), and the hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8 pm Eastern. For callers outside of the U.S., please call +1-212-620-3418.

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