• Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”);
• Asylum;
• Petitions for eligible relatives; and
• Visa extensions.

Temporary Protected Status

The United States Department of Homeland Security has the authority to grant TPS to any county. These reasons include political unrest, like war or similar violent conflicts. Fewer than ten days after the Russian invasion, the United States Department of Homeland Security granted Temporary Protected Status, or “TPS,” to many Ukrainians who fled Ukraine for the United States. The TPS registration period for Ukraine started on April 19, 2022, and continues through October 19, 2023. To qualify for TPS, you must meet the following criteria:

• Continuously resided in the United States since April 11, 2022;
• Apply during the registration period of April 19, 2022-October 19, 2023;

If you are granted TPS, you receive several protections, including employment authorization, and you cannot be deported.

For assistance in applying for TPS, please call The Justice Firm locally at (310) 914-2444 or Toll-Free at (866) 695-6714.

Asylum

Seeking asylum in the United States offers many of the same protections as TPS, but the process and purpose are different. People from all over the world seek asylum in the United States because they have been persecuted or fear persecution by their home countries. Persecution can be for many reasons, including:

• Race;
• Religion;
• Nationality;
• Membership in a specific social group; or
• Political opinion.

If you want to apply for asylum, you must file an I-589 Form within one year of your arrival in the United States. If you bring a spouse and child with you, they can be included in the application. Like TPS, asylum will prevent you and your family from being deported, and you will be authorized to work in the United States.

Petitions For Eligible Relatives

There are a couple of options available for Ukrainians living outside the United States. One of these options involves a family member already living in the United States helping a Ukrainian family member immigrate to the United States.

If you are interested in helping a Ukrainian family member move to California or the United States generally, you will be responsible for much of the planning. You must be either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident to qualify. Your family member must be an eligible relative who wants to permanently live in the United States and get a Permanent Resident Card, also known as a “Green Card.” Determining who is an eligible relative depends on whether you are a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.

Assuming your family member qualifies as an eligible relative, you must file an I-130 Form called a Petition for Alien Relative.

Extend Your Visa

If you are in the United States on a student or work visa, you can apply to extend your stay in the United States. For either visa, you will need to file Form I-539 and provide evidence of your reasons for extending your visa. You can be eligible to remain in the United States if you have:

• Your current visa is valid;
• Nonimmigrant visa status is active;
• Avoided criminal activity that impacts eligibility;
• Not violated conditions of your stay; and
• A valid passport.

Extending your visa can be a creative solution to avoiding returning to conflict areas in Ukraine.

Hiring A California Immigration Attorney

If you have questions or are ready to apply for any of the options discussed, please contact The Justice Firm locally at (310) 914-2444 or our Toll-Free number at (866) 695-6714, or visit us on our website. Our immigration attorneys serve clients in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernadino counties.

Learn more about immigration law.

Who Can Support Ukrainians And Their Families?

If you decide you would like to apply to become a supporter of a Ukrainian citizen or family, you must fill out and submit an I-134 Form. Uniting for Ukraine requires supporters to have the financial ability to provide aid to Ukrainians, so the Form will require you to provide proof that you have the necessary financial resources. Proof of financial ability will require you to show that you can support the person or family for up to two years. Having “financial ability” does not mean you need extraordinary resources and unlimited money. It does mean that you should consider whether you can ensure the following needs are met for the individual or family:

• Receive the individual or family when they arrive;
• Transport them to their initial housing and provide for initial basic needs;
• Appropriate housing and healthcare needs are available for the duration of the stay;
• Assist with social security card (if applicable) and employment authorization; and
• Finding English language or other education courses; enrolling children in school; finding employment; assisting with other program eligibility.

You and other supporters must be located in the United States and also be at least one of the following:

• United States citizens or nationals;
• Lawful permanent or temporary residents;
• Conditional permanent residents;
• Nonimmigrants in lawful status;
• Refugees, Asylees, or Parolees;
• Beneficiaries of deferred action or Deferred Enforced Departure; and
• Temporary Protected Status holders.

If you would like to help Ukrainians and are unsure of your status or whether you could financially qualify, please contact The Justice Firm locally at (310) 914-2444 or Toll-Free at (866) 695-6714, or visit us on our website. Our immigration attorneys serve clients in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernadino counties.

Who Can Come To The United States?

Uniting for Ukraine has several eligibility requirements for Ukrainians interested in coming to the United States. Ukrainian citizens qualify if they:

• Possess a valid Ukrainian passport;
• Currently live outside the United States;
• Lived in Ukraine immediately before the invasion;
• Were forced out of their homes or otherwise displaced because of the invasion;
• Have a supporter in the United States who has filed an I-134-Form; and
• Pass a security check.

Immediate family members can also qualify, even if the family members are not Ukrainian. Eligibility for immediate family members can be a:

• Spouse or common-law partner of the eligible Ukrainian citizen; or
• Children who are unmarried and under age 21.

Spouses or common-law partners are also required to have valid passports.

Immigration Attorneys In California

When you are ready to learn more about Uniting for Ukraine or other programs that serve immigrants, please call The Justice Firm locally at (310) 914-2444 or Toll-Free at (866) 695-6714. With offices located in Norwalk, Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Woodland Hills, California, we are ideally situated to serve you where it is convenient for you. Our immigration attorneys serve clients in Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernadino counties.

Learn more about immigration and applying for legal residency in the United States.