Sponsor Ukrainians through Uniting for Ukraine

Since February 2022, the world has witnessed the devastation caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Ukrainian people are bravely fighting to defend their country, but Russia continues to attack vital infrastructure like power plants and train stations, and bombs have dropped on schools and hospitals.

More than 8 million Ukrainians, many of them women, children, and families, have fled their homeland in search of safety and security. In response to this immediate need, the U.S. government launched the U4U humanitarian sponsorship program to provide a rapid process for Ukrainians in need of urgent refuge in the United States. U4U depends on everyday Americans to provide a bridge to safety for Ukrainians through sponsorship—and travel authorization to the U.S. can be received in weeks.

See our FAQs for people sponsoring under U4U for more information.

Potential beneficiaries under Uniting for Ukraine include individuals and their immediate family members who were citizens of Ukraine on February 11, 2022, and fled Ukraine due to the war.

The government has not set a ceiling for the maximum number of Ukrainians who can arrive through this program. The Administration has not announced any plans to close the program, especially as the need for refuge for Ukrainians continues.

See our FAQs for people sponsoring under U4U more information.

Sponsors under this program must hold lawful residency in the United States.

• U.S. citizens and nationals;
• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders), lawful temporary residents (such as TPS holders), and conditional permanent residents;
• DACA recipients and other nonimmigrants in lawful status;
• Asylees, refugees, and humanitarian parolees;
• Individuals can sponsor alongside an organization, a group of people, a faith community, or an employer.

See our FAQs for people sponsoring under U4U for more information.

• An eligible supporter files an I-134A application with the U.S. government to sponsor a Ukrainian to come to the U.S.
• The sponsor identifies a specific beneficiary on the application.
• The application is reviewed and if sufficient, approved.
• Those beneficiaries accepted will be granted humanitarian parole in the U.S. for two years and can apply for work authorization.
• There are eligibility requirements for beneficiaries such as passports.

See our Guide to Navigating the I-134A Application.

Through humanitarian sponsorship, you commit to supporting beneficiaries to become self-sufficient within three months, and as needed for at least two years, including financial and social support.

• Watch this 2-minute video of Kelly, an experienced Welcome.US sponsor, sharing her experience about the costs associated with sponsoring someone seeking safety
• Explore financial support for sponsors, such as up to $3,000 in matching grants or free flights