Humanitarian Parole and the “Uniting for Ukraine” Program

Humanitarian parole is not intended to be used as a substitute for normal visa processing procedures and timelines or to bypass inadmissibility through other entry processing channels. Since humanitarian parole is not a legal status, a person who is in the U.S. on humanitarian parole will either need to reapply for another term of parole before their current term expires, select a different legal status for which to apply, or leave the U.S.. However, a person who is in the U.S. on humanitarian parole may apply for a change in legal status by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

Ukrainians who have been granted humanitarian parole may be eligible to apply for a U.S. social security number. There are two potential methods. You can either apply directly to the Social Security Administration, or you may apply for one when you file Form I-765 Application for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). A humanitarian parolee with only a Form I-94 or a parole stamp in their passport may only apply for a non-work Social Security number (SSN). If you are applying for benefits, your local welfare or social service agency should provide you with a referral letter to the Social Security Administration explaining that the agency needs your SSN in order to process your application for benefits. With this letter, the Social Security Administration will accept your application for an SSN. To apply for a non-work SSN directly through the Social Security Administration, fill out the application for a Social Security Card and print the application. Bring it to your nearest Social Security Administration office, along with your passport, I-94, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and the referral letter from the welfare or social services agency. You may need to make an appointment in advance at the Social Security Administration. Prepare translations of any required documents in advance. The link for the social security card application can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf You can look up… Read more

Some states or municipalities offer non-permanent residents certain benefits, depending on a person’s legal status. It is necessary to check with each state or municipality to find out whether it offers benefits. Each state also has different laws about driver’s licenses. Some states allow licensed drivers from other countries to drive legally for a year. Other states allow non-permanent residents to apply for a visitor driver’s license by taking a test and obtaining insurance. Please note that a temporary or visitor driver’s license may not necessarily qualify as a state-issued form of identification.

Ukrainian individuals (and certain non-Ukrainian individuals who last habitually resided in Ukraine) who have been or will be granted humanitarian parole by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may be eligible for some federal benefits. These benefits may include cash assistance through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income, health insurance through Medicaid, and food assistance through Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If you are not eligible to receive these benefits, you may still be eligible for state government benefits or other benefits from a resettlement agency in your state. These benefits may include cash assistance, medical screening, employment assistance, and other services. For more information, please visit https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/fact-sheet/benefits-ukrainian-humanitarian-parolees.

Humanitarian parole allows a person to temporarily live in the U.S. without fear of deportation. A person with humanitarian parole may also apply for employment authorization to work legally.

Applications for Employment Authorization may take 8-12 months or longer. It is important to understand that Employment Authorization is not necessarily granted to all applicants. Each application is reviewed individually based on the reason for application, length of time the applicant has been approved to stay in the U.S., and other factors. USCIS currently has extremely long backlogs of pending cases that has led to delays in adjudication of nearly all applications, including those for work authorization.

No, humanitarian parole does not automatically authorize a person to work in the U.S. After being granted entry into the U.S. under this program, a person who wishes to work in the U.S. must file an Application for Employment Authorization on Form I-765 with USCIS.

Humanitarian parole under the Uniting for Ukraine program is granted for up to 2 years.

Children may only travel to the U.S. under this program if they are accompanied by at least one parent or legal guardian. A child under 18 years old will not be allowed to enter the U.S. through this program on their own or with an adult who does not have court-ordered custody/legal guardianship documents for the child.

Immediate family members of a designated beneficiary may be sponsored through United for Ukraine as well. These include the spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian citizen, and their unmarried children under the age of 21. Please note that a child who is under 18 years old must travel to the U.S. with a parent or legal guardian in order to use this process.