Ukrainians must have a financial supporter in the United States. Supporters initiate the Uniting for Ukraine process by filing the Form I-134 Declaration of Financial Support and providing information about themselves and the Ukrainian beneficiary. Supporters will be vetted by the U.S. government to ensure that they are able to support Ukrainians and to mitigate against potential exploitation.Every Ukrainian seeking authorization to travel to the United States to seek parole must be supported by a U.S.-based individual, including representatives of non-governmental organizations. Each supporter must pass security and background vetting and demonstrate sufficient financial resources to “receive, maintain, and support” the Ukrainians they commit to support

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides the Secretary of Homeland Security with discretionary authority to parole noncitizens into the United States temporarily, on a case-by-case basis, for “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

Individuals who are granted parole pursuant to the Uniting for Ukraine process will generally be paroled into the United States for a period of up to two years and are eligible to apply for employment authorization.

Not at this time. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), any child under the age of 18 who is not accompanied by their parent or legal guardian generally must be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and vetted to protect against exploitation and abuse. Sponsors must be vetted before that child can be released and reunified. As a result, children traveling on their own, or with a non-parent or non-legal guardian adult, are not currently eligible for this process. We are working towards establishing other mechanisms to permit travel of vulnerable children and caregivers with appropriate safeguards.

Individuals who clear initial screening, vetting, and security checks will receive authorization to travel to the United States valid for a period of 90 days. Once authorized, they will be responsible for arranging and funding their travel to the United States. With this authorization, individuals will be able to book their own commercial air travel directly from Europe to the United States. Individuals traveling to the United States must have a valid passport, or, if a child without their own passport, be included in a parent’s passport, and adhere to travel requirements as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including pre-departure testing for COVID-19.

As a result of the Russian military’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine and ongoing aggression, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to welcoming 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression. To meet this commitment, the Administration intends to utilize the full range of legal pathways to the United States, including new processes such as Uniting for Ukraine and existing opportunities such as immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and refugee resettlement processing.

The number of Ukrainians potentially eligible for Uniting for Ukraine will be driven by the breadth of welcome U.S.-based supporters are willing and able to provide. Therefore, we cannot estimate a specific number of potential Ukrainian beneficiaries.

In support of President Biden’s commitment to providing legal pathways to displaced Ukrainians as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government will welcome 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression. We will deliver on this commitment through the full range of legal pathways, including humanitarian parole, immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and new processes such as Uniting for Ukraine.

We anticipate that the process will be fairly quick, but DHS cannot say definitively how long the process will take.

Ukrainians must have a financial supporter in the United States. Supporters initiate the Uniting for Ukraine process by filing the Form I-134 Declaration of Financial Support and providing information about themselves and the Ukrainian beneficiary. Supporters will be vetted by the U.S. government to ensure that they are able to support Ukrainians and to mitigate against potential exploitation.

Every Ukrainian seeking authorization to travel to the United States to seek parole must be supported by a U.S.-based individual, including representatives of non-governmental organizations. Each supporter must pass security and background vetting and demonstrate sufficient financial resources to “receive, maintain, and support” the Ukrainians they commit to support.

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A supporter – a U.S.-based individual, including representatives of non-government organizations – must first file a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through the myUSCIS online portal. Supporters need to also include specific information on the Ukrainian beneficiary they intend to support. Once a supporter has been confirmed by USCIS, Ukrainian beneficiaries will receive notification from USCIS about next steps in the process to obtain authorization to travel to the United States and seek parole.

Individuals granted parole under this process will generally be paroled for a period not exceeding two years.

Yes, individuals paroled into the United States pursuant to this process may request authorization to work by filing a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

For more information on employment authorization in the United States, visit: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765

Ukrainians approved via this process will be authorized to travel to the United States and be considered for parole, on a case-by-case basis, for a period of up to two years. Once paroled through this process, Ukrainians will be eligible for work authorization.

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Ukrainians should not travel to Mexico to pursue entry into the United States. Following the launch of Uniting for Ukraine, Ukrainians who present at land U.S. ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine will be denied entry and referred to apply through this program.

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Any U.S. citizen or individual, including representatives of non-government organizations, can sponsor Ukrainian applicants. Individuals and organizations seeking to sponsor Ukrainian citizens in the United States will be required to declare their financial support and pass security background checks to protect against exploitation and abuse. The Department of Homeland Security will administer the program. Eligibility requirements will include required vaccinations and other public health requirements, as well as biographic and biometric screening, vetting, and security checks.

To be eligible, Ukrainians must have been residents in Ukraine as of February 11, 2022, have a sponsor in the United States, complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, and pass rigorous biometric and biographic screening and vetting security checks.