Ukrainian MIL Humanitarian Parole ending in April; options?

[Trapper99 30]

Hey all, here is the situation. My MIL from Ukraine was admitted over the Mexico border on 1-year humanitarian parole on 4/18/22. The was given via CBP, what is known as Port Parole. I called the local CBP in late fall and they said they would handle reparole, to call back about 90 days out. I called back this week and they said they just received guidance to refer all Ukrainian reparoles to USCIS. The problem is, I'm not sure what program would work. She is wanting to only be here till the war is over, not get on a path to residency.

 

Options:

Temporary Protected Status - This would be the easiest, but it's for Ukrainians who have been in the US since 4/11/22. She missed that by 1 week.

United for Ukraine - They specifically say this is for Ukrainians outside the US. I do know someone who was here on a tourist visa (6 month stay). They took a few days trip to Mexico, got U4U approved, then came back (2 year humanitarian parole).

I-131 - Apply for Humanitarian Parole with USCIS, although has long lead times and cost $$$

Apply for asylum - just to get her legal presence while adjudicated. Wouldn't actually want to complete the process

?????

 

CBP is squared away every time I have dealt with them, but USCIS is a bureaucratic nightmare. I tried calling to speak with someone but can't get past the auto prompts. I haven't had any luck getting consultation with local lawyers either, booked a month out. 

[Boiler 45,445]

U4U is obvious, but likely to take longer now so no way of knowing how long she would be gone, and it gives her another 2 years.

 

Being petitioned by her daughter I assume is out.

 

Can you apply for HP inside the US? I did not think so.

 

Asylum, now there have been people waiting 6 years plus but I get the impression they are letting those hang and concentrating on more recent applications. My question on this is how you would frame it, if you were from the occupied areas I can see that but not from Ukraine itself. Well unless you are a Putin supporter.

[Trapper99 30]

26 minutes ago, Boiler said:

U4U is obvious, but likely to take longer now so no way of knowing how long she would be gone, and it gives her another 2 years.

 

Being petitioned by her daughter I assume is out.

 

Can you apply for HP inside the US? I did not think so.

 

Asylum, now there have been people waiting 6 years plus but I get the impression they are letting those hang and concentrating on more recent applications. My question on this is how you would frame it, if you were from the occupied areas I can see that but not from Ukraine itself. Well unless you are a Putin supporter.

My wife just told me she read on instagram someone in a similar situation left and U4U was denied. I guess because they had parole and abandoned it?

 

My wife just got her 10 year a few months ago, so she can’t apply for naturalization till next fall, so that path is out. Plus not looking for a permanent way to stay, that’s why asylum doesn’t seem like a great option (also for the fact it would probably be denied like you said)

 

What a bureaucratic disaster 🤦🏻‍♂️

[Boiler 45,445]

I am not aware of any restriction on applying more than once and hard pressed to remember any denials

 

To be fair it is political, and that is where the issue lies.

[OldUser 6,608]

U4U appears to be the only option, the alternative is for MIL to wait it out in Canada on CUAET or in the EU (whatever their programs are called).

 

Long term though, yourself, your wife and MIL may want to discuss the option of GC sponsorship once wife naturalizes. It does not look like this conflict will be over any time soon unfortunately. Even if it's over tomorrow the consequences such as damage to critical infrastructure, economy and social services including healthcare system will be felt for decades to come...

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from General Immigration-Related Discussion to the RUB regional forum, where topics related to options for U4U beneficiaries are discussed ***

 

[Kineo 93]

On 1/13/2023 at 4:19 PM, Trapper99 said:

Hey all, here is the situation. My MIL from Ukraine was admitted over the Mexico border on 1-year humanitarian parole on 4/18/22. The was given via CBP, what is known as Port Parole. I called the local CBP in late fall and they said they would handle reparole, to call back about 90 days out. I called back this week and they said they just received guidance to refer all Ukrainian reparoles to USCIS. The problem is, I'm not sure what program would work. She is wanting to only be here till the war is over, not get on a path to residency.

 

Options:

Temporary Protected Status - This would be the easiest, but it's for Ukrainians who have been in the US since 4/11/22. She missed that by 1 week.

United for Ukraine - They specifically say this is for Ukrainians outside the US. I do know someone who was here on a tourist visa (6 month stay). They took a few days trip to Mexico, got U4U approved, then came back (2 year humanitarian parole).

I-131 - Apply for Humanitarian Parole with USCIS, although has long lead times and cost $$$

Apply for asylum - just to get her legal presence while adjudicated. Wouldn't actually want to complete the process

?????

 

CBP is squared away every time I have dealt with them, but USCIS is a bureaucratic nightmare. I tried calling to speak with someone but can't get past the auto prompts. I haven't had any luck getting consultation with local lawyers either, booked a month out. 

I think I would be good to contact your Senator's offices. They should have resources to get answers from USCIS on the correct process for "re-parole" under U4U. 

-Kineo

[Boiler 45,445]

1 minute ago, Kineo said:

I think I would be good to contact your Senator's offices. They should have resources to get answers from USCIS on the correct process for "re-parole" under U4U. 

-Kineo

This is not U4U, came in through Mexico.