What is Uniting for Ukraine?

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In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, putting millions of Ukrainian lives at risk. As their homeland is being attacked, Ukrainians are fleeing to other countries to seek safety and protection. Fortunately for Ukrainians, President Biden, on April 21, 2022, made a step to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion to enter the U.S. under Uniting for Ukraine. This pathway provides Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside of the U.S. to temporarily stay in the U.S. for two years of parole. Ukrainians that are already in the U.S. do not qualify for Uniting for Ukraine. In addition, participating in this process requires Ukrainian beneficiaries to have a U.S.-based supporter. Essentially, a supporter must agree to financially support the Ukrainian beneficiary for the duration of their temporary stay in the U.S. If you are interested in seeking parole under Uniting for Ukraine, please continue reading and contact a trusted New Jersey Immigration Lawyer who can help you seek safety and protection in the U.S.

Who is eligible to be a supporter for a beneficiary under Uniting for Ukraine?

To be eligible to be a supporter of a beneficiary under Uniting for Ukraine, an individual must be in lawful status in the U.S. or a parolee or beneficiary of deferred action or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED). The individual must be able to provide the beneficiary they wish to support with sufficient funds for the duration of their parole in the U.S. In addition, they must pass the vetting process that is performed by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If a supporter is eligible they must submit to USCIS an Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support Form I-134A on behalf of a beneficiary. It is important to note that Form I-134A must be filed for each beneficiary. The USCIS will then vet the supporter to ensure they have sufficient financial resources to support the beneficiary. Once this process is completed, if approved, the Ukrainian beneficiary will receive pertinent information on how to proceed to be authorized to travel to the U.S. However, if the USCIS determines Form I-134A is insufficient, that decision is final and the beneficiary cannot enter the U.S. under Uniting for Ukraine. Nonetheless, the supporter is entitled to file a new form on behalf of the same beneficiary or a new eligible supporter can file on their behalf. It is important to include all the necessary information in Form I-134A. Furthermore, as of April 25, 2022, the process of Uniting for Ukraine has been a beneficial process for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion.

If you or a loved one is seeking parole under Uniting for Ukraine, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our dedicated and trusted team members. Our firm is committed to helping our clients navigate the complexities of this process to seek parole in the U.S. Allow our firm to help you today!

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