Uniting for Ukraine Parole Program – If you are outside the United States
On April 21, 2022, the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program was announced by the U.S. government. This program allows Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members outside the United States to live and work in the United States for a temporary parole period of 2 years. There is no pathway to lawful permanent residence status or U.S. Citizenship through the U4U program. You may have other personal factors which may qualify you for other types of relief, such as asylum.
You must have a U.S.-based supporter to apply for the program. This supporter must hold lawful status in the United States, be a parolee, or be a beneficiary of deferred action. This includes U.S. Citizens, Green Card holders, parolees, asylees, refugees, TPS holders, DACA holders and nonimmigrants in lawful status, such as nonimmigrant workers or students. A supporter must also demonstrate sufficient financial resources to receive, maintain, and support you.
Eligible beneficiaries include Ukrainian citizens in possession of a valid Ukrainian Passport (or a child included on a parent’s passport) as well as their non-Ukrainian spouses and unmarried children under 21. Beneficiaries must be outside of the United States, have resided in Ukraine immediately before the Russian invasion (through February 11, 2022), and have been displaced because of the invasion.
Temporary Protected Status – If you are inside the United States
Ukrainian citizens already in the United States are eligible for a different program, called Temporary Protected Status, which authorizes beneficiaries to live and work in the U.S. for a temporary period designated by the government, which at this time is until April 19, 2025. This end date is extended by the government if the unsafe conditions in the designated country continue.
To be eligible, a Ukrainian citizen (or stateless person that last resided in Ukraine) must have continuously resided in the United States since August 16, 2023, and been continuously physically present in the United States since October 20, 2023. Continuous residence and physical presence are not affected by brief, casual trips outside the country.