Information on Refugee Resettlement for Ukrainians
Uniting for Ukraine
Last year the Biden administration announced that it would allow 100,000 Ukrainians and others to come to the U.S. through a range of legal pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
On April 21, 2022 President Biden announced Uniting for Ukraine, a new process to provide opportunities for Ukrainian citizens who have fled Russia’s aggression to come to the United States. This process provides a pathway for Ukrainians to apply for humanitarian parole for a period of two years.
To start the process, a sponsor in the United States (friend, relative, or organization) must file Form I-134A, Declaration of Financial Support, which documents that the applying sponsor(s) has the financial means to support the arriving Ukrainian(s) for up to two years, if necessary. Ukrainians must have been residents in Ukraine as of February 11, 2022, complete public health requirements (including vaccines), submit biometrics, and pass security checks. If the I-134A is approved, sponsors and/or Ukrainian beneficiaries must arrange travel to the United States. After parole is granted, Ukrainians will be permitted to reside in the U.S. for a period of up to two years and will be eligible to apply for employment authorization. More information about Uniting for Ukraine and the application process can be found here.
HIAS was awarded additional Ukrainian Supplemental funding by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to provide essential services to eligible Ukrainians upon their arrival to the U.S. Currently, HIAS resettlement partners provide Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees with initial services for up to 90 days and Intensive Case Management services through the Preferred Communities program. Through this program, the resources provided, and an extensive referral system, our Ukrainian clients integrate into their new communities.
Lautenberg Program
For many years, HIAS has served clients through the Lautenberg program, which allows members of certain religious minorities in the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and in Iran to apply for refugee status in the United States. The Lautenberg Amendment must be renewed by Congress each fiscal year; it was renewed for Fiscal Year 2023 and the last date for new applications is September 30, 2023. More information on the Lautenberg Amendment can be found here.
While the Uniting for Ukraine plan included the administration’s intent to prioritize Ukrainian Lautenberg cases, no specific information has been provided regarding the administration’s plan for admitting or expediting these cases. If individuals come through the Uniting for Ukraine parole program, processing of their Lautenberg cases will be paused as they will no longer be residing in one of the countries of the Former Soviet Union. Lautenberg case processing can continue once applicants have left the United States.
Individuals who are already in the refugee resettlement application process through the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Eurasia/IOM should email the RSC at icc@iom.int to inquire about case status or provide updated location/contact details.
