Legal Updates

In July 2023, USCIS added a new question to Form I-134A, the online Declaration of Financial Support used to apply for sponsorship through the Uniting for Ukraine program (as well as other parole programs). The new question asks the supporter (sponsor) to write why the beneficiary should be granted humanitarian parole. Read more

USCIS recently changed the procedures for certain beneficiaries applying for Uniting for Ukraine travel authorization. Minor children under 18 years old and non-Ukrainian citizen family members are no longer able to submit their own biographical information or attestations from their own beneficiary accounts. the primary beneficiary must first add the other approved beneficiaries to the primary beneficiary's travel group then submit all the beneficiaries' information and attestations. Read more

Uniting for Ukraine beneficiaries who are approved for travel but unable to come to the U.S. within 90 days may be able to to obtain a 90-day extension of their travel authorization issued by CBP. The request must be submitted by the sponsor no earlier than 30 days before and no later than 30 days after the expiration of their original travel authorization. Read more

Ukrainians who are traveling from or through Ireland, Canada, or the Caribbean should note that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may conduct their entry interviews in those countries rather than at a United States airport. Please alert travelers who have layovers in or are boarding flights from certain countries that CBP may conduct their interviews abroad so they can schedule accordingly to allow additional time for each travel group member to be interviewed. Read more

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. Read more

Attention! All male parolees who are between 18 and 25 years old (with a few exceptions) are required by U.S. law to register with the U.S. Selective Service System. Failure to fulfill this requirement may result in losing future access to immigration opportunities and benefits. Read more

Ukrainians who have specifically defined closely-related family members in the United States may be eligible to apply for an Adjustment of Status through family-based immigrant visas. There are two types of family based pathways to permanent residence: U.S. Citizen Immediate Relative visas and U.S. Citizen/LPR Family Preference visas. Read more

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that certain Ukrainian nationals and immediate family members who were paroled into the United States last year for urgent humanitarian reasons will be allowed to extend their parole. Those who have their period of parole extended will also be eligible to receive employment authorization for the additional year. Read more

There are certain health testing and vaccination requirements for Ukrainians who wish to be beneficiaries through the Uniting for Ukraine program. Some of these requirements must be completed before the beneficiary is approved to travel, while other requirements must be completed after the beneficiary is paroled into the United States. Read more

Many Ukrainians ask about the consequences on accepting public benefits if they later wish to apply for a green card (lawful permanent residence). Ukrainian humanitarian parolees MAY accept those federal benefits for which they have been approved by law through an act of Congress while they are present on valid humanitarian parole. Read more