“What awaits Ukrainians after the completion of the Uniting for Ukraine program?” – comment by Andriy Prykhodko for Kyiv24

The expiration of the humanitarian program Uniting for Ukraine (U4U), which provided hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians with temporary shelter in the United States, has raised a wave of questions about further legalization of stay. In a commentary for Kyiv 24, lawyer Andriy Prykhodko explained the possible ways for those who find themselves faced with the challenge of changing their migration status.

Important: termination of participation in U4U does not equal automatic deportation.

“The expiration of the humanitarian password under the U4U program does not mean that a person automatically becomes illegal. However, the issue of further status requires immediate attention and professional assessment,” Prykhodko noted.

What are the alternatives?

Among the realistic options that Ukrainians in the United States can consider:

• TPS (Temporary Protected Status) — a temporary protected status that allows them to live and work in the United States until the danger in their country of origin is over.
• Extension of the humanitarian password — in some cases, a petition for an extension of the term is possible.
• Applying for political asylum is for those who have a well-founded fear of persecution if returned to Ukraine.
• Other immigration mechanisms are, for example, family reunification, study or work visas, if there are grounds.

The right strategy is the key to safety

In each case, an individual solution must be sought. Do not delay or hope that the situation will “somehow resolve itself”. Consulting a lawyer is the first step to preserving the legal status and peace of mind of the family.