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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 U.S. to come and stay temporarily in a 2-year period of parole. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the U.S.who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in America. The first step in the Uniting for Ukraine process is for the U.S.-based supporter to file a I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, with USCIS. The U.S. government will then vet the supporter to ensure that they are able to financially support the individual whom they agree to support.

Apply for these documents once you have settled in the U.S.:

Form I-94

The I-94 form is an arrival/departure record issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to foreign visitors entering the United States. It is an important document that shows the date of entry, visa status (if applicable), and the authorized period of stay in the U.S. The I-94 record is crucial as it determines how long a visitor is allowed to remain in the country legally. The I-94 form plays an important role in documenting the lawful entry and stay of foreign visitors in the United States, ensuring compliance with immigration regulations and facilitating legal travel and stay for international visitors. You will need to present this form when applying for a SSN, employment authorization, health insurance and other benefits.

Social Security Card and Number (SSN)

When filling out form I-765, Request for Employment Authorization, check boxes requesting a new Social Security card. You can also complete an application for Social Security Card and take it to the nearest Social Security Administration office along with your passport and Form I-94.

Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

To apply for an EAD, you fill out Form I-765.

Driver’s License

A driver's license is the main identification document in the United States. If you do not drive a car, you can get an identification card (ID) instead of a driver's license. Visit your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website to find out how to apply for a driver’s license or ID.

U.S. Bank Account

When moving to the U.S., you should open a bank account for convenience in calculations, receiving income, etc. If you plan to stay in the country for a long period of time, it is better to open both a debit and a credit account. The easiest way to open an account is to do so at a Bank of America branch, using a Ukrainian passport and secondary identification documents (for example, a driver's license, a Ukrainian debit card, etc.)

Benefits

There are three ways to receive benefits in any state:

  1. Go to the website of the department of human services of your state and look for the opportunity to submit an online application for benefits online.
  2. Google the address of the department of human services near you, come and apply for benefits offline.
  3. Find an organization that helps you apply for benefits using this link.