On Monday, January 27, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would stop accepting new applications for the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program pending the Trump Administration’s review of all humanitarian parole programs. This means that no new sponsor applications (Form I-134a) for Ukrainians will be processed until further notice, and no new travel authorizations will be issued to Ukrainian beneficiaries.

The USCIS announcement follows President Trump’s January 20, 2025 Executive Order promising to “terminate all categorical parole programs that are contrary to the policies of the United States” and “ensure that all future parole determinations fully comply with” the administration’s policies. A separate Executive Order signed on January 20 indicates the administration’s intent to exercise grants of humanitarian parole on a case-by-case basis, only when an individual “demonstrates urgent humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit” arising from such parole.

The Uniting for Ukraine program was established by former President Joe Biden in April 2022 to provide a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to come to the United States and stay temporarily in a 2-year period of humanitarian parole. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a U.S. supporter who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States.

What Is the Status of the Uniting for Ukraine Program?

As of now, the Uniting for Ukraine program is still in effect for those Ukrainians who were granted entry through the program and have maintained valid humanitarian parole. The program itself has been suspended but has not yet been officially terminated. The Trump Administration is reviewing Uniting for Ukraine and other parole programs to determine whether they will be continued.

Effective immediately, no new sponsor applications for Ukrainians will be accepted. For sponsors who recently submitted Form I-134a, we do not know if their applications will be processed, and if so, when they might receive a decision.

Likewise, no new travel authorizations will be issued to Ukrainian beneficiaries unless the program resumes operation. Ukrainians who already received a travel authorization under Uniting for Ukraine could try to travel to the U.S. if their travel authorization remains valid. Please note that some previously issued travel authorizations have been canceled, so before traveling, it is important to verify that prospective beneficiaries still have valid travel authorizations from the Department of Homeland Security. If approved beneficiaries decide to travel, please be advised that they are still subject to final approval by Customs and Border Protection upon arrival to a port of entry before they are allowed to enter the United States on humanitarian parole.

How Can Individuals from Ukraine Seek Humanitarian Parole Moving Forward?

Although the Uniting for Ukraine program has been paused indefinitely, it is important to understand that entry on humanitarian parole is still allowed by statute. Individuals who are outside of the United States may continue to seek humanitarian parole to enter the U.S. for a specific purpose without a visa. Applicants may request humanitarian parole for themselves or for someone else by filing Form I-131.

Section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) gives the Secretary of Homeland Security discretionary authority to temporarily parole individuals into the United States on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) delegates authority to USCIS to review applications for humanitarian parole. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has authority to issue travel authorizations and interview individuals at ports of entry who are approved for parole before determining whether to grant them entry into the United States on parole.

While the statute does not define what is meant by “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit,” USCIS describes some circumstances that may warrant an individual grant of humanitarian parole. In its Guidance on Evidence for Certain Types of Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole Requests, USCIS provides a more detailed list of potential factors it considers. For Ukrainians seeking entry into the United States, additional reasons could include:

  • the applicant’s need to reunite with family or close friends in the United States after suffering a traumatic event(s)
  • the applicant’s need to get help from family or close friends in the United States to care for themselves, their children, or their elderly parents
  • destruction of the applicant’s home, or loss of access to safe shelter and necessities in Ukraine
  • the beneficiary’s elevated risk of physical harm by virtue of their personal characteristics if they remain in Ukraine
  • the beneficiary’s need to find safety for their children in the United States
  • the beneficiary’s need to access certain services or care for themselves or their children that can be more effectively accessed in the United States, such as special care or education for certain disabilities
  • the beneficiary’s need to treat serious health issues in their family that can be more effectively accessed in the United States

What Will Happen to Ukrainians Who Are Already in the United States on Humanitarian Parole?

As of today, no announcements have been made regarding the status of Ukrainians who currently have humanitarian parole. For now, they may remain in the United States for as long as their parole period is valid on their I-94 Arrival/Departure Record.

Please note that the Trump Administration issued a guidance memo on January 23, 2025 expanding the scope of the Department of Homeland Security to review cases of individuals who entered on parole and review their parole status to determine whether they should remain on parole “in light of any changed legal or factual circumstances.” Certain Ukrainians who entered through either the Uniting for Ukraine program or at the southern U.S. border may be subject to review of their humanitarian parole status if they come in contact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

By law, grants of humanitarian parole and their termination are always discretionary. A grant of humanitarian parole may be terminated at any time by the Secretary of Homeland Security with written notice if the purpose for parole has been accomplished or if immigration officers decide that there is no humanitarian reason or public benefit for the individual to remain in the United States.

Are Ukrainians Still Eligible for Re-Parole?

As of now, no announcements have been made regarding re-parole for Ukrainians. Currently, USCIS continues to accept applications for Ukrainian re-parole, both online and by mail. It is important to remember that re-parole is simply another grant of parole and therefore completely discretionary. In light of the Trump Administration’s stated policy to return to a case-by-case determination for parole grants, individuals applying for Ukrainian re-parole are encouraged to submit with their application a statement explaining one or more reasons for why they should be granted re-parole.