FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is “Uniting for Ukraine”? On April 21, 2022, the United States announced a key step toward fulfilling President Biden’s commitment to welcome Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion. Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily in a 2 year period of parole. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States.

What is USCIS? U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) supports America’s immigration process in many ways, including overseeing the approval process for citizen financial support of new arrivals to our country. DOS has collaborated with Welcome.us to provide the American people and private sector with information on welcoming and supporting newcomer populations. The Welcome.us Ukraine webpage includes information for those interested in learning more about supporting someone from Ukraine.

What is parole authorization? As of April 25, 2022, the primary process for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion and seeking parole into the United States is through Uniting for Ukraine. This process enables approved Ukrainians to travel to the United States, be considered for parole for a period of up to 2 years, and be eligible to apply for employment authorization while in the United States.

Who May Be Considered for Parole Under Uniting for Ukraine? To be considered for parole under Uniting for Ukraine, the beneficiary must have a supporter who files a Form I-134A on their behalf.

What is the I-134A form? Use this form to request to be a supporter and agree to provide financial support to a beneficiary and undergo background checks as part of Uniting for Ukraine; the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans; or the family reunification parole processes. You must file a separate Form I-134A for each beneficiary you are requesting to support. There is no fee to filing a I-134A form.

What services are available to help refugees? There are programs available for refugees in South Dakota such as Lutheran Social Services (LSS), Department of Social Services (DSS), and local resettlement agencies and other partners also provide case management services to eligible newcomers.