Before Coming to the US
This section provides all the information you need before arriving in the US on the Uniting for Ukraine program. We recommend everyone consider all the options available to the Ukrainians in addition to the US: please see Should I come to the US. We recommend everyone consider all the options available to the Ukrainians in addition to the US.
In the What is Uniting for Ukraine Program article we explain in plain language what you can expect from the program, as well as dispel the myths about U4U. For those of you who do not have a reliable sponsor or family members/friends in the US, we wrote Life in the US without a sponsor.
While Svitlo focuses on welcoming Ukrainians to the US, we realize that the United States is not the best option for everyone. To help you make an informed decision, we recommend you use information collected by our partner organization — Rubikus.
Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) allows Ukrainian citizens who have been displaced by the Russian invasion to apply and stay temporarily in the United States. It is a streamlined process run by the U.S. government. U4U grants “humanitarian parole” — a temporary permission to stay in the U.S. for a period of 2 years.
If you’ve decided to come to America without asking for financial help from a sponsor, please, do your research! Prices in most American cities are very different from what you are used to in Ukraine. Be realistic about what you can and cannot afford.
As you plan your move to the U.S., you should spend time considering your destination. The U.S. is a large and diverse country and your experience will be different depending on the area you choose. Two main considerations should be whether the area has a Ukrainian community and whether you will choose to reside in an urban, suburban, or rural area.
Step-by-step instructions on form I-134A that the sponsor and supporter need to fill out. We explain every question in detail. There are also videos with instructions one can watch.
FAQs on the U4U program including mixed passport families, vaccination records and requirements, U4U eligibility, and paperwork questions.
You are allowed to bring certain animals to the United States if monitored by the USDA APHIS, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
In this article, we provide guidelines on how to buy airline tickets to fly to the U.S. on the Uniting for Ukraine program. This will be particularly useful if you do not have much experience buying airline tickets online.
Instructions on what to bring to the US including: vaccination records, medications, and official documents.