LEGAL RESOURCES ON U.S. IMMIGRATION TOPICS FOR UKRAINIANS FLEEING THE WAR.

On June 9, 2025, USCIS issued a memo authorizing immigration officers to resume processing applications filed by parolees. This follows the federal District Court’s May 28th order directing DHS to lift the suspension that had been in effect since February 14. This means that USCIS has resumed processing applications from parolees for work permits, TPS, asylum, green cards, and other immigration benefits. Although the District Court’s ruling is good news for Ukrainian parolees seeking more stable immigration statuses and employment authorization, parolees who filed applications in the past 5-10 months could still see long wait times due to major application backlogs. Additionally, re-parole requests and related work permits may not be approved for all applicants due to the White House’s restrictions on humanitarian parole grants.

Ukrainian nationals who currently hold TPS and wished to extend their TPS status through October 19, 2026 were required to re-register for TPS with USCIS. The 60-day re-registration window started January 17, 2025 and ended March 18, 2025. Ukrainians who did not re-register to extend their TPS status through October 19, 2026 if they can show good cause for why they are filing their re-registration late.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended the processing of all immigration applications filed by individuals who entered on parole programs, including Ukrainians who entered on U4U. This affects applications filed by parolees for asylum, TPS, EADs, advance parole travel, adjustment of status, naturalization, and others. While USCIS officers may continue to work on cases already filed, they are not allowed to issue any decisions while the administrative pause is in effect. Parolees who planned to apply or recently applied for another lawful status through USCIS will not be able to obtain any approvals for the foreseeable future.

All people who are living in the United States have certain rights that are given to them by the U.S. Constitution. This includes citizens, lawful permanent residents, those who are here on a visa, those with humanitarian parole, other immigrants, and those who are undocumented. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has authority to investigate, apprehend, arrest, detain, and remove noncitizens who are within the United States unlawfully or who have committed acts that make them deportable. If you or someone you know are approached by ICE, know your rights at work, at home, and in public places.

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18 months, through October 19, 2026, due to the ongoing war and extraordinary conditions in Ukraine that prevent individuals from safely returning. Ukrainian nationals (and individuals without nationality who last resided in Ukraine) are eligible to re-register for TPS if they arrived on or before August 16, 2023 and have been continuously residing in the United States since that date — with or without lawful immigration status.

Following new laws passed by the Ukrainian government, male U.S. citizens ages 18-60 with Ukrainian nationality may be subject to military registration requirements and restricted travel out of Ukraine. In addition, Ukrainian males in the U.S. can no longer receive Ukrainian passport renewals or other consular services without Ukrainian military documents. Learn more about U.S. and Ukrainian citizenship laws, rights and obligations of dual citizens, and travel advisories for U.S. citizens in Ukraine.

Many Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. since Feb. 2022 qualify for both TPS and humanitarian parole/re-parole. Although individuals can hold both of these statuses at the same time, there are some key differences. Learn more about the the eligibility criteria, application procedures, periods of protection, access to benefits, advantages and disadvantages of TPS vs. humanitarian parole for Ukrainians in our article here.

Many Ukrainians who entered the United States through the Uniting for Ukraine program are wondering how they might be able to remain in the United States after their humanitarian parole expires. Here are some potential options that could allow certain Ukrainians on humanitarian parole to remain in the United States after their Uniting for Ukraine stay ends.

Individuals seeking political asylum in the United States must file an Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal within one year of their arrival to the United States, though there are a few limited exceptions to the one-year filing deadline. In addition to the one-year filing deadline, there could be other bars to asylum such as firm resettlement in another country or criminal history. A person may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of their country of origin or their current immigration status. In order to apply for asylum protection, applicants must show….