Ukrainian Client Support

Check out our Ukraine Crisis page for more.

Most Requested Resources

How to Help Ukrainians Find Refuge
The war in Ukraine sparked the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since World War II, forcing more than 8 million people to flee their homeland. In April 2022, the U.S. government created the Uniting for Ukraine program (U4U) allowing people in the U.S. to provide Ukrainians seeking to escape conflict a pathway to safety in America.

Welcome Connect
Sponsor people seeking refuge with the Welcome Connect platform. Under new government programs, American sponsors can provide a lifeline to individuals and families seeking refuge in the U.S. from eligible countries such as Ukraine. The Welcome Connect platform allows you to connect directly with newcomers so you can mutually decide if you want to pursue sponsorship together.

Finding a Sponsor
Many people in need of refuge don't know an eligible person in the U.S. to sponsor them. If you are one of them, please read the information on this page for how to connect with potential sponsors safely and securely. The Welcome Connect registration page for people seeking sponsors opens up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.

Sponsorship FAQs
Get answers to frequently asked questions about the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program established through USCIS sponsorship.

Answering FAQs On Benefits For Ukrainian And Afghan Humanitarian Parolees Arriving On Or After October 1, 2023: This blog post from Switchboard details frequently asked questions surrounding benefit eligibility for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees. 

Other Important Resources

Mental Health Workbook: This workbook, jointly developed by Opora and IRC, supports Ukrainians in nurturing and safeguarding their mental well-being. Available in English and Ukrainian, it delves into essential mental health and well-being elements, blending theoretical insights with practical knowledge. 

Starting February 27, 2024, eligible Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are physically present in the U.S. can now be considered for re-parole. This applies to Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who were paroled into the U.S. on or after February 11, 2022. Applications are being considered on a discretionary, case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. 

  • For eligibility requirements for this process, instructions on how to apply online and by mail, and for additional information, click here. 

  • Please note that if you’re submitting a fee waiver request on Form I-912 it can only be done in the mail. 

  • Employment authorization: If your application for re-parole is approved, you can then file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) as proof of employment authorization consistent with your re-parole period. This can be done online or by mail and should not be filed before receiving a re-parole approval notice. 

  • To be eligible, a parolee must have been: 

    • Granted re-parole as a certain Ukrainian citizen or an immediate family member 

    • Have a most recent date of entry on or before September 30, 2023 

    • Have new I-94 with “UHP” listed as the class of admission.   

  • While the EAD application is reviewed, certain parolees will be able to show their new Form I-94 as acceptable evidence of identity and employment authorization for a period of up to 90 days from the date they are hired (or for reverification when employment authorization expires). 

  • Within 90 days, the employee must present an unexpired EAD or unrestricted Social Security card and a List B identity document such as a state-issued driver’s license or identification card to meet the Form I-9 requirements.  

Remember, as Congress has not approved any expansion of the U4U program beyond the September 30, 2023 cutoff for new arrivals, those arriving on or after October 1 are not eligible for ORR services or standard state benefits unless they are joining immediate family members who came through U4U and arrived before September 31. This scenario does not appear likely to change in the short term but there is a bill before Congress that will address this. It is unclear when they will take up the issue.  

This community mapping resource page developed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and NRC-RIM aims to provide guidance, recommendations, and resources for public health professionals and others working with Ukrainian new arrival communities.

Cultural and Practical Considerations for Working with Ukrainian Clients: This webinar provides newcomer service providers with greater cultural context and skills necessary to work effectively with Ukrainian clients. In partnership with the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE) and a panel of experts, this session helps participants cultivate increased cultural awareness to better support Ukrainians in their communities. 

This community mapping resource page developed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and NRC-RIM aims to provide guidance, recommendations, and resources for public health professionals and others working with Ukrainian new arrival communities. 

A friendly reminder that the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (AUSAA) authorizes the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) to provide resettlement assistance and other benefits available for refugees to specific Ukrainian populations and other non-Ukrainian individuals in response to their displacement from Ukraine and entry into the United States. Grantees may use AUSAA RSS funding to fill gaps in housing needs not met by the private sponsor or when ORR eligible Ukrainians do not have a sponsor and are not able to support their housing costs. You will need to document the use of these funds for housing and report them on your ORR-6 and Annual Service Plan.  

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) launched the Virtual Resettlement Line (VRL). It is a one-stop resource for any prospective clients who are not yet connected to a resettlement agency or who are struggling to access benefits or resources in their communities. VRL is staffed by English, Ukrainian, Russian, Dari and Pashto speaking virtual navigators. VRL is open 8am – 4pm CT Monday – Friday by calling +1 (212) 551 - 3010 or emailing VRL@rescue.org  

Upwardly Global has introduced a new Career Portal for Ukrainians in the US. The portal: 

  • Provides resources for employers and community sponsors to help immigrants and refugee professionals to build careers in the U.S. 

  • Provides free career coaching program for newcomers to find professional work and connections with top employers and professional contacts. 

  • Free certifications (from Microsoft, Google, Udemy, Coursera, and more) 

  • Free online resources include virtual training videos and guides on critical skills and cultural norms for the job search in the U.S. 

Welcoming New Neighbors from Ukraine: What do Service Providers Need to Know?: Are you a service provider beginning to connect with sponsors for Ukrainian newcomers? Are you fielding questions about affordable housing for this population? This blog post is for you! Developed in partnership with Refugee Housing Solutions, this post describes how Ukrainians arrive in the U.S. and provides housing tips to share with sponsors for these new neighbors.   

Health Benefits and Requirements for Ukrainian New Arrivals: Newcomers who have arrived through the Uniting for Ukraine program have access to certain health benefits, and have two main health requirements before and after traveling to the U.S. Learn about this key health information and access resources in English, Ukrainian and Russian on this new webpage from NRC-RIM. 

Uniting for Ukraine Post-Arrival Assistance Overview: CORE has recordings from their March event about the assistance available in the United States to Ukrainian parolees arriving through the Uniting for Ukraine program. The recordings are available in Ukrainian, Russian, and English. 

Although ORR is not providing any funds for Ukrainian legal assistance, there is still help out there. The Ukraine Immigration Task Force has legal resources listed on their website: https://ukrainetaskforce.org/.

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolee, Supporter, and Resettlement Agency Worksheet: This newly published resource can be used to facilitate a conversation between Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHP), U.S.-based supporters, and refugee resettlement agency staff to clarify and define activities, review services delivered, and coordinate activities that still need to be done. Available in Ukrainian and Russian.  

Ukraine: One Year Later

  • The War in Ukraine in Eight Photos: From day one of the invasion, photographer Lynsey Addario was on the ground capturing moments of ruin and heroic resolve. One year later, she says it’s unlike any war she’s covered. 

Remember Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees are eligible for work even without an EAD in hand (this is also true for AHPs). Click here to review the guidance from USCIS.  

CWS is providing remote case management to Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees in need of support accessing resources and social services. This program is open to individuals who cannot otherwise access support services through a local refugee resettlement agency and who were granted Humanitarian Parole into the United States on or after February 24, 2022. For more information or to get in contact, please email usukraineassistance@cwsglobal.org or join our Facebook group: https://lnkd.in/eEVUegdp   

The online Uniting for Ukraine: Tuberculosis Information and Resources toolkit is now available in Ukrainian and Russian. This toolkit includes the following and will be updated as additional information is available:   

The Justice Department has published resources for Afghans and Ukrainians on their employment rights. Click here for links, videos, fact sheets, hotlines and more. 

Reminder that U4U individuals, even without EADs in hand, are authorized to work incident to their parole. Click here for more information on this from USCIS. 

Here are some important links for Social Security Administration with regards to U4U cases (and others): 

Newly arrived Ukrainians resettling in the United States now have more resources for information as they adjust to their new communities. Settle In for Ukrainians, an initiative launched by the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange, is designed to directly engage newly arrived Ukrainians resettling in the United States. 

USAHello has a new Information Center for Ukrainians, a comprehensive online hub for newly arriving Ukrainians in the USA.

  • The center features content on humanitarian parole and available benefits, along with practical information on everything from finding a job to driving in the USA. The center is professionally translated into Ukrainian and Russian.

  • USAHello also features additional information:

Certain Afghan and Ukrainian Parolees Are Employment Authorized Incident to Parole: Effective Nov. 21, 2022, Ukrainian and Afghan parolees, and their qualifying family members, with certain classes of admission are considered employment authorized incident to parole, which means that they do not need to wait for USCIS to approve their Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, before they can work in the United States.

Settle In for Ukrainians, an initiative launched by the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange, is designed to directly engage newly arrived Ukrainians resettling in the United States.

Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees to U.S. Schools – Practical Tips for Teachers is a resource to help teachers learn basic information about new Ukrainian families arriving in the U.S. 

Resource List: Serving Ukrainian Newcomers: This blog post, created by Switchboard and the Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE), lists resources in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, and English that you may find helpful while serving these clients. 

Cultural Backgrounder: The Ukrainian Crisis & Refugees from Ukraine is a concise document that provides basic information on Ukrainian culture, language, gender roles, religion, education, health, and so on. 

Be sure to check out continually updated information on U4U in the USCIS website’s FAQ section. 

ORR published a new Dear Colleague Letter on RSS services for Ukrainians. Click here to view the letter.

Fact Sheet: Ukraine Crisis and International Standards, from International Social Service, provides guidance on how to apply international standards when working with children and their families impacted by this crisis. 

Multilingual CO Glossary in Ukrainian: Download PDF and word versions of the Ukrainian and Russian versions on CORE’s Working with Interpreters page. This resource is useful to provide for interpreters to support the complete and accurate delivery of resettlement messaging. Coming Next: CORE is translating Settle In website into Ukrainian and developing a Ukrainian backgrounder. Note: Settle In website and app are already available in Russian.

North America for Ukraine is a non-government organization that seeks to help Ukrainians seeking refuge in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The organization put together a guide for prospective sponsors. You can find that guide here. 

Cultural Backgrounder on Refugees from Ukraine: This resource, created by the European Resettlement and Integration Technical Assistance (EURITA), provides resettlement communities with information on refugees from Ukraine. Click here to read more.

Health Coverage Options for Certain Ukrainian Nationals: This guide, created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, offers information on Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Health Insurance Marketplace, and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA). Click here to access the guide.

ORR’s Ukrainian Assistance Resources website is frequently updated as new materials are being added all the time including items translated into Ukrainian.

IRC also has a benefits hotline available for Ukrainians here. Uniting for Ukraine Support Line  (407) 591-3963 (Telephone support to navigate benefits, in Ukrainian and Russian, available M-F 8 am — 4 pm CST)

Article: Welcoming Afghans and Ukrainians to the U.S.: In MPI’s U.S. Policy Beat, they examine the 70-year history of parole, which presently is being used to give Ukrainians and Afghans a two-year legal stay and the ability to apply for work authorization—but does not put them on a path to legal permanent residence.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) website has information about the U4U application and process.

ORR has issued a fact sheet that outlines benefits and services for Ukrainian humanitarian parolees. The fact sheet, featured on the ORR homepage, is in English, but by using the website’s translation feature in the top right-hand corner, it can be translated into over 80 languages, including Ukrainian and Russian.

Resources for Ukrainian Refugees, from Nova Ukraine, provides quick search resources to help Ukrainian refugees navigate entry into the United States.

USCIS has provided more details on the Uniting for Ukraine program and who can be sponsors

Here is Welcome.US’s press release on the announcement of the Uniting for Ukraine program.

Below are some tools that you can use to lift the message of support for Welcoming those fleeing Ukraine (Ukrainians and other foreign nationals):

USAID has a page dedicated to the war in Ukraine with a section on how people can help with dozens of links to governmental and non-governmental organizations. Click here to view.

GoFundMe has a page dedicated to Ukrainian Humanitarian relief. You can refer those asking how to help to that page as well. Click here to see their information.

Ways to help:

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