[Last Updated: May 11, 2022]
Legalpad serves entrepreneurs, industry leaders, scientists, researchers, and countless other professionals from over 60 countries, including Ukraine and Russia. We are disheartened by the arising conflict in Ukraine and recognize that this may affect the community we serve.
We stand with Ukraine and our international community, and we will continue to fulfill our mission to enable global opportunity. We're monitoring the situation closely for updates from the U.S. in support of protecting Ukrainian nationals residing in the U.S.
On March 3, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated Ukraine Temporary Protected Status ("TPS") for 18 months. Ukrainian nationals residing in the United States prior to March 1, 2022, are eligible for TPS. TPS protects Ukrainian nationals and individuals without nationality who last resided in Ukraine from deportation and allows eligible individuals to apply for work authorization. Nearly 75,000 Ukrainian nationals are eligible.
Starting from April 19, 2022 until October 19, 2023, Citizens of Ukraine who would like to apply for TPS must submit their applications during this period. Eligible individuals will also be able to apply for TPS-related employment authorization and travel permission. The DHS has also announced that certain employment authorization rules for Ukrainian students in the U.S. on F-1 visas will be suspended. More information on this issue can be found here.
On April 21, 2022, "President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine". DHS to accept Ukrainian citizens for Humanitarian Parole: Ukrainian citizens who resided in Ukraine as of February 11, 2022, have a U.S. sponsor, meet vaccination and public health requirements may be sponsored for humanitarian parole. Parolees may apply online via a new streamlined process. If accepted, Ukrainian citizens are eligible for parole and work authorization in the U.S. for up to two years. More information can be found here.
Humanitarian Parole Program “Uniting for Ukraine” Open: The Biden Administration has created a Parole program called “Uniting for Ukraine” that allows American citizens to sponsor Ukrainian citizens for up to two years. Ukrainians must have a U.S. sponsor who will agree to provide for them financially while they are in the United States. If you’re a U.S. citizen who wants to sponsor a Ukrainian, you must fill out and submit Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support with USCIS on behalf of the Ukrainian citizens you will be sponsoring. To qualify, an individual must be a Ukrainian citizen, or the family of a Ukrainian citizen must have been in Ukraine, as of February 11, 2022, on the date of the Russian invasion and must have been displaced. Additional requirements can be found here. Ukrainian citizens who have been sponsored will be eligible for work authorization after they have been paroled. More information on this program can be found here. Information on who exactly can be a sponsor of a parolee can be found here.
The State Department has released guidance for Ukrainian applicants: The State Department has updated their guidance for Ukrainian citizens coming to the U.S.. Ukrainians who are applying for nonimmigrant visas (NIV) must verify in their applications that they have an intent to leave the U.S. after a designated period and return living abroad. NIV are not to be used to begin immigration petitions, refugee or resettlement processes. For immigrant visas, the State Department has released full guidance in a document found here. They are currently clarifying scheduling of appointments and transferring of cases, requesting expedited processing, and local filing options. Ukrainians who have already submitted a visa petition to USCIS may request that their petition’s adjudication be expedited. USCIS will be considering whether to expedite on a case-by-case basis, and additional documentation may be required. Information on expediting requests can be found here.
We can all be a source of compassion and strength during this time. If you'd like to learn more about ways to support Ukraine or if you’re a Ukrainian national residing in one of the countries listed below, please explore the list of resources. We also encourage you to reach out to us with other resources to share with the community.
Let us all show solidarity with Ukraine.
#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦💙💛
Immigration Options for Ukrainian Nationals
Austria
Ukrainian nationals will be permitted to enter Austria without a visa for up to 90 days with a biometric passport.
Bulgaria
Ukrainian nationals working remotely in Bulgaria will be permitted to stay for 90 days. After the first 90 days, Ukrainian nationals will need to obtain a work permit.
Canada
Ukrainian nationals currently in Canada may apply for an extension to their work status.
Czech Republic
Ukrainian nationals residing in the Czech Republic may be eligible for extensions or apply for a special long-stay visa.
Denmark
Ukrainian nationals in Denmark will be eligible to apply for extensions.
Ireland
Visa requirements have been lifted for Ukrainian nationals in several other countries including Ireland.
Poland
Visa requirements have been lifted for Ukrainian nationals in several other countries including Poland.
United Kingdom
Ukrainian nationals in the UK may temporarily extend their visas or change visa status.
United States
Ukrainian nationals residing in the United States prior to March 1, 2022, are eligible for Temporary Protection Status.
Other Resources
Ukraine
#StandWithUkraine - How you can help Ukraine, from the official website of Ukraine https://ukraine.ua/news/stand-with-ukraine/
