Ukraine’s TPS Is Extended for Another 6 Months by Operation of Law
Posted on August 21, 2026

Ukraine’s TPS designation that was set to expire on October 19, 2026 has been automatically extended for another 6 months to April 19, 2027. By operation of law, if the Secretary of DHS does not make a final decision on whether to extend, redesignate, or terminate a country's TPS designation at least 60 days before it expires, the designation is automatically extended. This extension does not create a new designation expanding TPS eligibility, so only Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. on or before August 16, 2023 and have been continuously residing here since are eligible. As of now, no further action is needed by current TPS beneficiaries to extend their TPS protection. DHS must still review and make a final decision on whether to extend or terminate Ukraine's TPS after it expires. It remains to be seen how USCIS will handle automatic work permit extensions for qualifying beneficiaries, which are set to expire October 19, 2026. Read more
Are U4U Parolees Allowed to Work with Pending Re-Parole?
Posted on August 20, 2026

Many Ukrainians have applied for re-parole but have yet to receive approvals. After waiting several months and even a year or more, some risk losing their only lawful status that allows them to remain in the United States. Others already live in limbo with expired parole. For those whose sole source of employment eligibility is through humanitarian parole, they could lose their jobs and the ability to support themselves. What are their legal options, and how can those at risk ensure they remain compliant with the law? USCIS provides some alternative methods to proving employment authorization. Those who have received a final grant of re-parole but are still awaiting new EAD cards may show a valid unexpired I-94 with a "UHP" class of admission for up to 90 days. Other parolees may have employment eligibility through TPS or pending applications for asylum or adjustment of status. Read more
Ukrainian Truck Drivers at Risk Due to New Final Rule that Restricts Noncitizen Eligibility for Commercial Driver’s Licenses
Posted on June 11, 2026

A new rule that went into effect March 16, 2026 severely restricts which categories of noncitizens are eligible to hold Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs) that are required to drive trucks and other commercial vehicles. States may ONLY issue or renew Non-Domiciled CDLs/CLPs to drivers who have an H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 visa. Simply having an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is no longer sufficient. This means Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parolees and TPS grantees are no longer eligible to apply for or renew CDLs/CLPs, even if they previously held or currently hold a valid one. Ukrainians driving commercial vehicles who do not have an H-2A, H-2B, or E-2 work visa and a valid CDL are also at greater risk of being stopped, inspected, or detained by police or state transportation authorities. Read more
Uniting for Ukraine: A Four-Year Retrospective
Posted on May 20, 2026

Four years after Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) was launched, many of the 240,000 Ukrainians paroled through this program remain in the U.S., as well as over 30,000 Ukrainians paroled at the U.S. border. Many cannot return to Ukraine but are finding it difficult to maintain lawful statuses and work permits in the U.S. Although some short-term protections are available, application processing can take several months and even one or more years. Between massive delays and skyrocketing fees, many Ukrainians are living in limbo without proper documentation, exposing them to detention and even deportation. Meanwhile, many long-term statuses are effectively out of reach due to lack of eligibility, qualifying sponsors, or shrinking options. Certain immigration pathways also require parolees to leave the United States, jeopardizing their return. Prompt action is needed to address these critical issues that threaten the security and stability of Ukrainians who sought refuge here. Read and share our report summarizing the current challenges facing Ukrainian parolees and proposed solutions to help safeguard their protections. Read more
How to Locate and Get Help for Someone in Immigration Detention
Posted on May 12, 2026

Hundreds of Ukrainians have been held in immigration detention, with the numbers increasing dramatically in the past year. Learning that a family member or someone close has been detained can be frightening and stressful, especially when you don't know where they are being held. Find out which categories are at risk, how you can locate someone at an ICE detention center or a state/local correctional facility, where to find legal counsel to assist them, how to try to get them released from detention, and additional resources for detainees and their families. Read more
Report on the Status of Ukrainians in the United States: Challenges and Proposed Solutions
Posted on March 9, 2026

As the full-scale war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, tens of millions of Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians fled to the United States between 2022 and 2025. Many more were already living in the U.S. as students, visitors, or temporary workers and weren't able to return to Ukraine. While the United States has offered critical short-term protections to Ukrainians who sought refuge here, some of these protections have expired or are set to expire soon. Unfortunately, the majority of Ukrainians who are here temporarily do not have access to long-term immigration statuses that would allow them to permanently resettle in the U.S. As a result, many Ukrainians are living in limbo, uncertain as to how much longer they can stay here and not knowing where else they can go now. Learn about the current issues and proposed solutions to help Ukrainians who cannot return home remain in the U.S. safely. Read more
Top Advocacy Initiatives for 2026
Posted on February 25, 2026

Here are our top immigration advocacy goals for Ukrainians. Share the below flyer and help us spread the word about these important issues! You can also read our full report here summarizing the current issues and proposed solutions to help Ukrainians who fled the war stay here safely: Read more
Submitting Evidence of Urgent Humanitarian Reasons for Re-Parole
Posted on February 6, 2026

Whether you are preparing to apply for re-parole or recently received a Request for Evidence (RFE) after filing Form I-131, you will need to submit sufficient evidence to USCIS demonstrating that 1) there are continued urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit for you to be issued a new period of humanitarian parole, and 2) that you personally warrant a favorable exercise of discretion of parole. Learn how to write an effective affidavit explaining why you need to stay in the U.S. on humanitarian parole and which evidence is helpful to support it. Read more
USCIS Suspends Processing of All Affirmative Asylum Applications, Regardless of Nationality
Posted on December 30, 2025

On December 2, 2025, USCIS issued a Policy Memo that pauses final adjudication of all affirmative asylum applications. The hold applies to all applicants who filed or plan to file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, regardless of the applicant's immigration status, nationality, or country of origin. Although applicants can still file applications to USCIS, no asylum decisions will be issued while the pause is in effect. It is not yet clear whether USCIS will continue to conduct asylum interviews or process work permits for individuals with pending asylum applications. Note that this pause does not affect defensive asylum applications filed in immigration court by individuals who are already in removal proceedings. Read more
What the Diversity Lottery Suspension Means for Ukrainians Seeking Permanent Residence through DV Visas
Posted on December 19, 2025

On December 23, 2025, the State Department announced that it has stopped issuing new Diversity Immigrant Visas to previous winners of the Diversity Lottery. This follows the December 18th announcement by the Department of Homeland Security directing USCIS to stop processing applications by previous Diversity Lottery winners for adjustment of status to permanent residence. While existing visas that have already been issued to previous Diversity Lottery winners should not be affected, it is not clear whether the lottery will be opened to new registrants, since the State Department still has not announced the official registration dates for the 2027 Diversity Lottery. Read more
Recent Posts
Ukraine’s TPS Is Extended for Another 6 Months by Operation of Law
Are U4U Parolees Allowed to Work with Pending Re-Parole?
Uniting for Ukraine: A Four-Year Retrospective
How to Locate and Get Help for Someone in Immigration Detention
Report on the Status of Ukrainians in the United States: Challenges and Proposed Solutions
