US Immigration from Ukraine

Greetings everyone!

I would appreciate your advice/thoughts on the following issue. TL;TR: should a Ukrainian with J1 status extension attempt to stamp it abroad?

I'm a Ukrainian who is on J1 as a research scholar at a large US academic clinic since mid-March 2022. I got my J1 a month before the war started last year in Kyiv, Ukraine. I recently got my program extended for another year to finish my project. I received my DS-2019 last week, which I know allows me to stay in the US for my next year at the clinic. I have a couple of important international conferences coming up next year, attending which would really advance my career prospects (I really want to attend them). In addition, part of my family relocated to Canada. Therefore, I would very much like to be able to travel and re-enter the US and was initially intending to stamp the visa.

Here are relieving factors:

• My sponsor is one of the largest clinics in the US;
• I've been in good standing and did not violate any J1 regulations;
• I have my parents left in Ukraine, along with some property (car, apartment in a joint ownership, quite a solid sum on Ukrainian bank accounts), which could be use for connection to homeland statement.

However, here are the problems:

• I cannot apply in Ukraine because the US Embassy doesn't process any visas at the moment - I'll need to apply abroad, most likely either Mexico or Canada;
• Since I apply abroad, 99.9% I will get interviewed;
• If so, it will be still challenging for me to prove nonimmigration intents since I am (1) from a country affected by war, (2) single and only have my parents left in Ukraine.

... and I also read that if I'm refused the stamp, I will not be able to go back to the US even if I will be traveling from Mexico or Canada and my DS-2019 will be to-date.

Another factor, importance of which I struggle to assess, is that I've recently got Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET). I applied this summer, when I didn't expect the program extension yet but part of my family had already relocated to Canada. I got a notification that my application has been processed a day after I got my new DS-2019 form. CUAET grants an extended temporary status for Ukrainians (a visitor status first, which one can extend to temporary resident and then to permanent resident under certain conditions). I wonder if it would be considered as a red flag for immigration intents.

I know that nobody can predict whether or not I get rejected at the interview. I would like to get your opinion on the situation overall: being in such situation, would you attempt stamping the visa? Are my worries well-grounded or I put way too much weight on some of them?

Thank you a lot for getting to the end and even more thank you for your opinion!

Hey folks,

My Ukrainian family entered the U.S. last year as humanitarian parolees and were granted 1-94 cards. We are going through the I-485 process, however the I-94s will expire in April. I believe we need to file I-539s to extend their status but am not certain. The instructions list those who should file and I don't really see our category.

Can anyone clarify this for me?

Thanks!

Has anybody heard how long it has been taking to get your 10 year card once you send off you I-751? I have heard conflicting stories of 2 years.

I cant find anything on this. My wife's 2 year green card is coming up to expire at the end of Oct. Is it like a passport where you cant travel when it will expire in 6 months or can she travel up to the expiration date on the green card?

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.