Update on immigration pathways for Ukrainians

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 triggered the largest land conflict in Europe since World War II and displaced millions. While most Ukrainians fled to neighboring European countries or remain internally displaced within Ukraine, more than 250,000 Ukrainians sought safety in the United States, primarily through the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) humanitarian parole program.

Ukrainians arrived lawfully in the U.S. through U4U and have relied on re-parole and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to maintain status and work authorization.

Four years later, Ukrainians are increasingly slipping into immigration limbo. Many face growing instability as processing delays and limited pathways create uncertainty.

Ukrainians seeking shelter in the United States are experiencing denials, delays, or endless follow-up requests on their re-parole and employment authorization filings, resulting in lapses in their parole or work status.

TPS for Ukraine—a separate temporary status from parole—expires in October, and very few TPS applications have been adjudicated, even though the Ukraine TPS designation remains in place.

These processing issues have resulted in heightened uncertainty and continued questions over the long-term future for Ukrainians in the United States as the war in Ukraine continues to rage.

For a more comprehensive review of these issues, check out the Global Refuge report Shaken Stability: Threats to Status, Work Authorization for Ukrainians in the United States.