The Biden administration on Monday set up a program that allows Americans to sponsor Ukrainian refugees and force them to stay temporarily in the United States under a system known as humanitarian parole.
The program, called Unification for Ukraine, is part of a larger initiative to temporarily resettle up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, but the migrants themselves cannot apply directly. Instead, a sponsor in the United States must apply on their behalf, and migrants can then complete the process once their sponsor is approved.
Here’s how the program works:
American sponsors
Most people legally residing in the United States – including green card holders and other immigrants – can apply for sponsorship of Ukrainian migrants, as long as they prove they can support them financially. This may include providing room and food or direct payments to refugees for necessary expenses.
Sponsors need to identify specific refugees to help. Welcome.US, a humanitarian group for the resettlement of refugees, has created a mailing list for people who want to become a sponsor.
Here is a step-by-step process on how sponsors can apply:
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Go to the program web portal at dhs.gov/ukraine.
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Submit Form I-134. This document helps to prove that the sponsor can financially support Ukrainians while in the United States. Sponsors must document their own income and assets, as well as the income and assets of sponsored migrants and families.
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The sponsor will then go through a government process to check for “protection against exploitation and abuse” of migrants, according to the instructions on the web portal. Officials reviewing the application may also ask the sponsor for additional supporting evidence or an interview before approval.
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If approved, the sponsor will be notified in writing.
Ukrainian migrants
Ukrainian citizens and their children and spouses or civil partners may qualify for conditional humanitarian release under the program. They do not need to be in Ukraine now, but they must have fled after February 11.
Once their sponsor is approved, the Ukrainians and families listed in the application will be notified of the next steps in the process.
They include:
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Confirmation of personal information – such as names, dates of birth, telephone numbers and addresses – as well as family relationships using a myUSCIS account.
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Provide evidence of vaccination against measles, polio and coronavirus.
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Pass security checks.
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To undergo a medical examination for tuberculosis within 14 days of arriving in the United States.
After completing the necessary steps, migrants will be notified of final approval and permission to travel to the United States through myUSCIS. Migrants must then enter the United States within 90 days and are responsible for arranging their travel once approved.
Other matters
How long can a Ukrainian migrant stay?
Ukrainian migrants approved for the program can stay for up to two years. They may also apply for a work permit in the United States upon arrival.
How long will the process take?
The administration said the program was designed to be faster than the usual immigration process, but could not say how long it would take.
Can a Ukrainian who is already in the United States apply?
Ukrainians already in the United States cannot apply for humanitarian parole. However, they can apply for temporary protection status, which allows them to stay and work for up to 18 months, as long as they have been in the United States since April 11 or earlier.
What is happening now with the Ukrainians on the Mexican border?
The Biden administration closed the border to Ukrainian migrants on Monday. Anyone still in Mexico can apply for humanitarian parole with a sponsor, but must wait for approval before entering the United States.
How much does it cost to apply?
There is no fee for Ukrainians to apply for humanitarian parole through this program. Applying for humanitarian parole using the standard form costs $ 575 per person. Ukrainians who have already paid this fee through another pending application can return it.
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