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.
Children under 18 years of age may only be eligible for Uniting for Ukraine travel authorization if they travel to the United States with a parent or legal guardian. Learn more about the requirements for traveling with minor children in our article here.
Non-Ukrainian family members may only be eligible for Uniting for Ukraine if they travel to the United States with a Ukrainian citizen immediate family member. For purposes of Uniting for Ukraine, immediate family members include:
- the spouse or common-law partner of the non-Ukrainian citizen
- the parent or legal guardian of an unmarried child under the age of 21
Once the sponsor’s application has been approved, all the named beneficiaries will receive a confirmation notice from USCIS. They should also receive an account notice explaining how to create a USCIS account to add their information and link their confirmed I-134A.
For travel groups that include minor children (under 18 years old) and/or non-Ukrainian citizen family members, an adult Ukrainian citizen must be designated as the primary beneficiary. For purposes of Uniting for Ukraine, a Ukrainian citizen minor child cannot be the primary beneficiary of a travel group.
After all the beneficiaries have received confirmation notices and created USCIS accounts, the primary beneficiary must first add the other approved beneficiaries to the primary beneficiary’s travel group.
After all the other beneficiaries have been added to the primary beneficiary’s travel group, the primary beneficiary then needs to complete the biographical information and submit the required attestations (including health attestations) for all the other beneficiaries BEFORE the primary beneficiary submits their own biographical information and attestations.
Caution: If the primary beneficiary does not submit the other beneficiaries’ biographical information and attestations BEFORE submitting their own biographical information and attestations, the other beneficiaries will NOT be able to apply for travel authorizations on their own! It is important that primary beneficiaries do not submit their own biographical information and attestations without first submitting the other beneficiaries’ biographical information and attestations.
For more information on Uniting for Ukraine eligibility and procedures, visit the USCIS Uniting for Ukraine page here:
Please note that children under the age of 18 who are traveling without their parent or legal guardian are not eligible for Uniting for Ukraine. Children who are not traveling with a parent or legal guardian but are coming to the United States to meet a parent or legal guardian may instead seek parole through the standard Form I-131, Application for Travel Document process.
Photo by Westwind Air Service on Unsplash.