Uniting for Ukraine Program

Uniting for Ukraine program is only for people outside of the United States who want to come to the U.S. If you are already inside the U.S., you may be eligible for other immigration options. Consult an immigration attorney.

The most likely reason for denial is insufficient income of the supporter. The same supporter or a different supporter can apply again for the same beneficiary by filing a new form I-134a. The supporter and the beneficiary may need to jointly show additional resources in order to demonstrate enough financial support for the beneficiary. Occasionally, a supporter application may be denied because the supporter does not have an eligible immigration status.

The supporter is not undertaking any legally-binding obligations by signing form I-134a, and thus cannot be sued for any expenses the beneficiary may incur while in the U.S. The purpose of form I-134a is to help make sure the beneficiary has a person to rely on in the U.S. for guidance as well as financial and housing support – to the extent the supporter agrees to provide it. By signing form I-134a, the supporter promises to “receive, maintain and support” the beneficiary to ensure that the beneficiary has financial resources to meet their basic necessities. Such “support” can (but does not have to) include direct financial support, as well as helping the beneficiary find employment or apply for welfare benefits the beneficiary is eligible for.

If you, as a supporter, are not comfortable with providing certain forms of support, do not pledge to provide them. State what you are willing to do.

Note: As of May 21, 2022, Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (AUSAA) makes Ukrainians admitted under the Uniting for Ukraine program eligible for refugee resettlement benefits, including cash assistance, food stamps and health insurance. See https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/orr/PL-22-13-Ukrainian-Humanitarian-Parolees-Eligible-for-ORR-Benefits-and-Services.pdf and https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/fact-sheet/benefits-ukrainian-humanitarian-parolees.

Form I-134a is not legally binding. It is used by the government to make sure the Ukrainian arrival has a person to rely on for advice and support in the United States.

Supporters should not commit to anything that makes them uncomfortable.

No. Depending on income, beneficiaries under Uniting for Ukraine may be eligible for government-funded Medicaid or RMA health insurance. The supporter’s income does not count towards the beneficiary’s eligibility for this insurance or other benefits. If the beneficiary’s income makes them ineligible for Medicaid/RMA, the beneficiary may purchase a private health plan on the health insurance marketplace.

USCIS uses the Federal poverty guidelines to determine if a supporter can financially support the number of beneficiaries they are applying for. USCIS takes into account both the supporter’s household size and the household size of the beneficiaries. Example: a family of four (parents and two kids) that files form I-134a for two beneficiaries (a mother and a child) would need to show income of $40,280 sufficient for 6 persons.

Income is judged by your federal income tax return. If you filed a 1040 or a 1040A, use your total income reflected on the form as guidance. The easiest way to find this number is to use line 9 on your completed 1040 tax return. If you filed a 1040EZ, list your adjusted gross income under income. Attach your tax return to form I-134a.

If you meet the income requirements, you likely do not need to list assets. If you do not meet income requirements, do list all of your financial assets as USCIS will take these into account when determining your eligibility to be a supporter.

Yes. Multiple supporters may join together to support one or more Ukrainian beneficiaries. In this case, the primary supporter (a natural person) must sign form I-134a. The co-supporter should prepare a letter explaining what responsibility they are undertaking and attach the letter with evidence of co-supporter’s resources to the same form I-134a. The letter needs to state the identity of the co-supporter, their relationship to the main supporter, their intent to share responsibility, and resources the co-supporter is willing to dedicate to the beneficiary’s support.

Yes, if you are applying for more than one beneficiary, you need to submit a separate form I-134a for each person, even a child.

Only people who resided in Ukraine right before the war are eligible. If you traveled temporarily, for work or pleasure, but your home was in Ukraine, you are eligible. But if you lived in another country before the war, and not simply visited it as a tourist or on business, you may not be admitted at the U.S. border. The Customs and Border patrol officer will examine your passport and may interview you about your prior residence. There are many known cases where people were denied entry for this reason and had to fly back.

Yes. But your spouse or partner will only be able to receive Travel Authorization if they are added to your travel group and you submit vaccination attestations for both of you at the same time. Do not submit your vaccination attestations until you both received supporter approvals and are added in the same travel group!

Be prepared to provide evidence of a bona fide relationship, both with form I-134а and at the border, such as photos together, joint leases, joint bank accounts, birth certificates of common children, etc.

Yes, if they are under 21 years old. Their supporter should indicate their relationship to you in the application forms, an you must add them to your travel group for vaccination attestations. Have the children’s translated birth certificates ready to prove the relation.

Yes. If your children do not have passports of their own and are listed in your passport instead, they can still travel to the United States. Your supporter should indicate your passport number for each such child in their I-134a applications.

No.

No. The child under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. A legal guardian is a person appointed by the court when the parents are deceased or have given up their parental rights. A relative with a proxy form is not a legal guardian.

Yes, but you may need additional paperwork prepared in advance for your pet. For more information, see Traveling with Pets.

No. The supporter needs your information such as your name, your date of birth, your passport number and expiration date, and information about your finances, but you can provide this information in a text or email without attaching copies of the documents. Do not provide photos of your documents to a supporter who is not your close friend or relative! Beware of identity theft!

It varies from a few days to several weeks. If you’ve been waiting for a very long time, you can try applying again with the same or a different supporter.

Travel Authorization can be extended once for additional 90 days.

Your supporter must submit an extension request within the 30 days before or after your Travel Authorization’s expiration date by sending a message to USCIS through their USCIS online account (My Account > Inbox > New Message, select “A case already filed online” and enter receipt number for form I-134a). In the message, the supporter must state their continued interest in supporting you and request an extension of your travel authorization. You will receive a notification from USCIS when the decision is made.

Under the Uniting for Ukraine program, you are not required to have any proof of vaccinations. You need to submit only an attestation that you have received the necessary vaccines. However, it’s a good idea to have your vaccination records intact for several reasons:

• An airline may ask for your proof of the COVID-19 vaccine;
• Your children will be required to provide vaccination records at school;
• If you ever become eligible for a green card, you will need to submit a vaccination record to USCIS.

If you or your children do not have their vaccination records, you will be able to receive the vaccines in the U.S. or restore your vaccination history by blood antibody tests.

Yes. Medicine for personal use is allowed and should not cause any problem. If you take any essential medication, bring several months’ supply with you as it may take time to apply for health insurance and get a new prescription in the U.S.

Yes. You are not required to live in the same state as your supporter. Be prepared to provide your address of stay at the border – if you do not have permanent housing secured, this can be a motel or Airbnb.

You will have to show your passport, Travel Authorization and provide the address of your stay in the U.S. It is a good idea to also have the address and phone number of your supporter handy.

Ukrainians arriving under Uniting for Ukraine are entitled to limited welfare assistance, such as free health insurance, food money and some cash assistance for basic necessities. See Welfare Aid for more info. You will also be permitted to work and are encouraged to get employed as soon as possible.

Be mindful that housing assistance is generally not provided, and cash assistance you may receive will not be enough to rent an apartment or even a room. You need to have savings sufficient to rent short-term housing for your family for the first few months until you find a stable job. If your relatives, friends or supporter offer you housing, have a plan B if the relationship sours and they ask you to move out!

Generally, no. Uniting for Ukraine is meant to be a temporary program to allow people to escape the war. However, some people may be eligible for an adjustment of status based on personal circumstances such as:

• an application for asylum based on personal persecution in Ukraine;
• marriage to a U.S. citizen or green card holder; or
• re-uniting with close relatives who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

To find out if any of these options are available to you, speak with an immigration attorney.

Yes. However, the United States grants asylum only to those applicants who are personally persecuted by the government in their country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, or experienced torture. Fleeing war is generally not a reason for asylum.

Generally, admission under Uniting for Ukraine is a one-time admission. You may leave the United States at any time, but you will not be allowed back under your original Travel Authorization, and you will likely be denied a new one.

If you have emergency reasons for temporary travel, such as illness or death of a close relative, you must first obtain a permission to return from USCIS called advance parole. You will need to provide evidence of the emergency such as proof of your relationship to the person and any medical or coroner records.