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Uniting for Ukraine | What You Need To Know

On April 21, 2022, the United States announced a new program called “Uniting for Ukraine” in order to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion. Here is what you need to know.

What is "Uniting for Ukraine"?

“Uniting for Ukraine” is a United States pathway program that allows Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s aggression to apply for Humanitarian Parole status in the United States. It allows individuals in urgent need of refuge to enter and temporarily stay in the U.S. with the help of a sponsor.

How do you apply?

There are two groups that you can apply for. One group is the sponsor and the other is the beneficiary.

What is the "sponsor"?

Sponsors are:

What are the sponsors' roles?

What is the "beneficiary"?

Beneficiaries are “Ukrainian citizens (or their non-Ukrainian immediate family members) who are outside the United States and who may be considered for parole under Uniting for Ukraine.” (USCIS)

How do you apply to become a "sponsor"?

You can apply to be a supporter of a beneficiary through ukraine.welcome.us.

To become a sponsor, you must go through training and background checks, as well as financial inquiry to make sure you can support a beneficiary. After signing up and going through the proper steps, you can create a profile and find a beneficiary to support.

You can also find more information through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website or through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

What happens next?

Once a sponsor has found a beneficiary:

What if I have problems with my sponsor or beneficiary?

You DO NOT need to stay in the same living space!

The sponsor should be helping the beneficiary find their OWN living space. A beneficiary can ask their sponsor to help find short-term housing at a hotel or Airbnb until a beneficiary can find long-term housing options.

Published: 10-5-22

Immigration law is always changing. We will do our best to keep our website as up-to-date as possible, but the latest information might be more readily available at USCIS.gov. These pages were written to help you better understand your legal options, however, none of the information published by Catholic Charities Milwaukee should be considered legal advice. If you plan to open your own immigration case, hire an immigration attorney to consult you personally.