Update to Legislation Related to Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees
A recent legislative extension in the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (USSAA) provides that Ukrainian citizens and nationals, as well as certain non-Ukrainians who last habitually resided in Ukraine, who were paroled into the United States between Feb. 24, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024 “shall be eligible for resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits available to refugees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. § 1157) to the same extent as such refugees” unless parole has been terminated by the Secretary of Homeland Security. Previously, eligibility was limited to individuals who were paroled between Feb. 24, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023, under the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (AUSAA).
Documentation
These parolees can obtain a copy of their electronic Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, from the U.S Customs and Border Protection website at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. The Form I-94 record will include a class of admission (COA) of UHP (Ukraine Humanitarian Parole). UHP parolees may also have one or more of the following:
- Paper Form I-94 with a UHP COA;
- Foreign passport with parole stamp that includes “Uniting for Ukraine”, “U4U”, or a COA of “UHP”;
- Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, (EAD) with a C11 category; or
- Form I-766, EAD with a C11 category and a Form I-797C extending the EAD validity period.
SAVE Verification
An initial SAVE verification response is automated and includes one immigration status or category, and EAD information, if any.
Based upon information from a benefit applicant’s documentation, SAVE can provide an initial verification response of parolee with documentation that indicates a UHP COA and the applicant’s country of birth. The initial SAVE response may also include the most recent parole grant date.
Individuals with Ukraine Humanitarian Parole may apply for and receive re-parole, which is a new period of parole. Additionally, parolees may have more than one valid immigration status or category and may also present valid immigration documents that demonstrate other pending applications or approved statuses or categories.
If the initial automated SAVE response is unexpected or is not sufficient for an agency to make a benefit eligibility determination, the agency should request additional verification. SAVE additional verification provides a detailed verification response, including:
- Original Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole grant date and re-parole expiration date, when a Ukrainian parolee has received re-parole;
- Additional immigration statuses and categories, if any; and
- Pending immigration applications.
SAVE additional verification response times vary. Current processing times are available at uscis.gov/save.
Additional Information
- Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 (USSAA)
- Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (AUSAA)
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Uniting for Ukraine webpages provide information about eligibility for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parole.
- USCIS Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainian Citizens and Their Immediate Family Members
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Re-Parole Process for Certain Ukrainians and their Immediate Family Members
- Fact Sheet: DHS Efforts to Assist Ukrainian Nationals