Has anyone else applied for the Uniting for Ukraine program?

[Sma99 3]

6 hours ago, Margarin said:

@Sma99 No updates here. I did take a look at a couple of Ukrainian/Russian-speaking groups on FB where U4U sponsors mingle, and it appears that 20-60 days of processing time is the new norm.

Wow! That is pretty long compared to a few months ago.... hope things speed up!

[luciabrooklyn 12]

Hello everyone,

I just applied for I-134A travel authorization extension. How long does it take to get approved and to get a new deadline?

 

One of my beneficiaries is getting cold feet/anxiety/ I don’t know but looks like he needs more time, his wife is already here,

has a job, car, established here, so he has to come eventually. 

[Mrs D. 13]

On 1/13/2023 at 6:03 PM, Kineo said:

You folks may find the section about re-parole in this letter interesting: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/foia/Temporary_Protected_Status_for_Ukraine-Senator_Van_Hollen.pdf

-Kineo

Thank you for sharing.

I have a family who were admitted under U4U in June. Would be good to get clarity on their options to apply re-parole well in advance of their parole status expiring. 

[kostyaby 9]

Hi everyone!

 

So my U4U parolees were here for roughly 6 months and they want to go back to Ukraine to visit family for some time.

 

Is there anything that will prevent us from filling out the U4U documents again and getting them a new 2 year U4U parole? They're thinking of coming back in a month. 

 

Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks!

[Boiler 45,733]

Plenty of people have talked about it, not sure I have seen anybody do it.

 

One downside with the HP recently is that timelines are much longer.

[Kineo 93]

On 3/4/2023 at 3:01 PM, kostyaby said:

So my U4U parolees were here for roughly 6 months and they want to go back to Ukraine to visit family for some time.

Is there anything that will prevent us from filling out the U4U documents again and getting them a new 2 year U4U parole? They're thinking of coming back in a month. 

Generally if they leave the US their humanitarian parole ends. They would need to start the process of U4U over again. There are some exceptions e.g. for school or if family member is terminally ill, etc. In these cases they can file for advanced parole.

-Kineo

[Ethan467 1]

If the beneficiary wasn’t in Ukraine before the war but their hometown is occupied. Is it still possible to come under this program? We have the travel authorization and everything is done but I’m worried that they will see that they weren’t in Ukraine before and deny at the border crossing. 

[Boiler 45,733]

Not sure how they would know? Anyways the scheme says you have to be Ukraine resident but does not define what that means.

 

There was somebody living in Turkey, not clear for how long, but not visiting who had no issue.

[Ethan467 1]

Just now, Boiler said:

Not sure how they would know? Anyways the scheme says you have to be Ukraine resident but does not define what that means.

 

There was somebody living in Turkey, not clear for how long, but not visiting who had no issue.

Ok I’m thinking they would check the passport stamps from their previous travel but I’ve heard a lot of people say a majority of beneficiaries weren’t in Ukraine before the war but obviously couldn’t or didn’t want to go back. Just wanted to see if anyone had an info on that. Thanks appreciate it. 

[Boiler 45,733]

Speaking for myself not everywhere stamps, I only remember entry stamps and that would assume you had a passport for a few years.

 

Do not know the split in numbers, certainly it seems many had moved out to the EU etc before they applied.

[Kineo 93]

From my understanding there is an electronic database of "stamps" that many, but not all (Ukraine was one, don't so any longer) participate in. In light of this it is possible that there could be an issue. We have to remember that the program is to get people the people IN Ukraine out of harms way. Honestly, like what Boiler said, I highly doubt anyone is going to check this. Especially in light of many of these people now have no home to return to.

-Eric

[Boiler 45,733]

There are now 5 Countries who have HP and none of them require the applicant to be in country.

 

These schemes are political. I would not infer any logic.

[KevinA74 2]

What steps are taken after parole is granted and they are residing the U.S.? I've previously filed forms I-130 and I-134. Where do I go from here? 

[uapilot 70]

Hey all, does anyone have estimates for how long the extension takes to process? I submitted the request on Feb 18 with the expiration being on March 18th. I logged in on March 18th to find that they rejected the request because it was more than 30 days before expiration (not correct). I refiled another request, but my beneficiary is traveling March 29th. I'm now a bit worried she won't get the extension in time.

[Dave-n-Oksana 49]

I'll admit my search-fu is weak, but is anyone tracking times for U4U processing (from start to travel authorization)