can ukraine citizen travel to usa now

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How to Apply

Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for displaced Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily for up to two years. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States.

The first step in the Uniting for Ukraine process is for the U.S.-based supporter to file a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support , with USCIS. The supporter will then be vetted by the U.S. government to protect against exploitation and abuse, and ensure that they are able to financially support the individual(s) whom they agree to support.

Ukrainians who present at U.S. land ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine may be denied entry and referred to apply through this program.

Process Overview

Uniting for Ukraine provides a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily, with a period of parole up to two years. Ukrainians participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States. The process begins when the supporter files Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to include information both on the supporter and the Ukrainian beneficiary. Ukrainians who meet the requirements receive authorization to travel directly to the United States and seek parole at a port of entry.

Eligibility

Beneficiaries are eligible for the process if they:

• Resided in Ukraine immediately prior to the Russian invasion (until February 11, 2022) and were displaced as a result of the invasion;
• Are a Ukrainian citizen and possess a valid Ukrainian passport (or are a child included on a parent’s passport), or are a non-Ukrainian immediate family member of a Ukrainian citizen who is applying through Uniting for Ukraine ;
• Have a supporter who filed a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, on their behalf that has been confirmed as sufficient by USCIS;
• Complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, and;
• Clear biometric and biographic screening and vetting security checks.

Note: To be eligible for this process, children under the age of 18 must be traveling to the United States in the care and custody of their parent or legal guardian.

Step 1: Financial Support

Individuals participating in Uniting for Ukraine must have financial support in the United States. A U.S.-based supporter will file a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, with USCIS through the online myUSCIS web portal to initiate the Uniting for Ukraine process.

The supporter will then be vetted by the U.S. government to protect against exploitation and abuse, and ensure that they are able to financially support the individual whom they agree to support. Financial supporters must be verified and found eligible by the U.S. government before the Ukrainian beneficiary moves forward in the process.

Step 2: Submit Biographic Information in myUSCIS

Once a supporter has demonstrated sufficient financial support and is approved, the Ukrainian beneficiary will receive an email from USCIS on how to create an account with myUSCIS and instructions on next steps. The Ukrainian beneficiary will be required to confirm their biographic information in myUSCIS and attest to completing all eligibility requirements.

Step 3: Complete Vaccination Requirements

As part of confirming eligibility requirements in their myUSCIS account, individuals who seek authorization to travel to the United States via the Uniting for Ukraine process will need to confirm prior vaccination against measles, polio, and COVID-19. If not previously vaccinated, individuals will need to receive a first dose of required vaccines prior to obtaining travel authorization to come to the United States.

Step 4: Approval to Travel to the United States

After completing requirements, Ukrainians will receive a notice to their myUSCIS account confirming whether they are authorized to travel to the United States to seek parole. If approved, this authorization is valid for 90 days and Ukrainians are responsible to secure their own travel via air to the United States. Ukrainian citizens will need to meet other CDC travel requirements, including pre-departure testing for COVID-19.

Step 5: Seeking Parole at the Port of Entry

Upon their arrival at a port of entry, each individual will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and considered for parole for a period of up to two years, and may have conditions placed on their parole. All individuals two years of age or older will need to complete a medical screening for tuberculosis, including an IGRA test, within 90 days of arrival to the United States.

As part of the Uniting for Ukraine process, Ukrainians will undergo additional screening and vetting, to include biometric vetting. Anyone determined to pose a national security or public safety threat will be referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Step 6: Approved for Parole

If granted parole pursuant to this process, individuals will generally be paroled into the United States for a period of up to two years and are eligible to apply for employment authorization. Individuals may request authorization to work by filing a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is uniting for ukraine.

Uniting for Ukraine is an innovative approach to provide a safe and orderly process for displaced Ukrainians who have been impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainians who have a supporter in the United States may be considered for parole, on a case-by-case basis, for a period of up to two years. Once granted parole, Ukrainians are eligible to apply for employment authorization in the United States.

Why is the United States creating a process for Ukrainians to come to the United States?

As a result of the Russian military’s unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine and ongoing aggression, millions of Ukrainians have been forced to flee their homes. The Biden-Harris Administration remains committed to welcoming 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression. To meet this commitment, the Administration intends to utilize the full range of legal pathways to the United States, including new processes such as Uniting for Ukraine and existing opportunities such as immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and refugee resettlement processing.

What is parole?

The Immigration and Nationality Act provides the Secretary of Homeland Security with discretionary authority to parole noncitizens into the United States temporarily, on a case-by-case basis, for “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”

Individuals who are granted parole pursuant to the Uniting for Ukraine process will generally be paroled into the United States for a period of up to two years and are eligible to apply for employment authorization.

Am I eligible to participate in Uniting for Ukraine ?

To be eligible, Ukrainians must have been resident in Ukraine as of February 11, 2022, have a supporter in the United States, complete vaccinations and other public health requirements, and pass biometric and biographic screening and vetting security checks. Ukrainians approved via this process will be authorized to travel to the United States to be considered for parole, on a case-by-case basis, for a period of up to two years. Once paroled through this process, Ukrainians will be eligible to apply for work authorization.

How long can I stay in the United States under Uniting for Ukraine ?

Individuals granted parole under this process will generally be paroled for a period not exceeding two years.

How do I travel to the United States?

Individuals who clear initial screening, vetting, and security checks will receive authorization to travel to the United States valid for a period of 90 days. Once authorized, they will be responsible for arranging and funding their travel to the United States. With this authorization, individuals will be able to book their own commercial air travel directly from Europe to the United States. Individuals traveling to the United States must have a valid passport, or, if a child without their own passport, be included in a parent’s passport, and adhere to travel requirements as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including pre-departure testing for COVID-19.

What is the role of a financial supporter?

Ukrainians must have a financial supporter in the United States. Supporters initiate the Uniting for Ukraine process by filing the Form I-134 Declaration of Financial Support and providing information about themselves and the Ukrainian beneficiary. Supporters will be vetted by the U.S. government to ensure that they are able to support Ukrainians and to mitigate against potential exploitation.

Every Ukrainian seeking authorization to travel to the United States to seek parole must be supported by a U.S.-based individual, including representatives of non-governmental organizations. Each supporter must pass security and background vetting and demonstrate sufficient financial resources to “receive, maintain, and support” the Ukrainians they commit to support.

Will I be able to work once I arrive in the United States?

Yes, individuals paroled into the United States pursuant to this process may request authorization to work by filing a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

For more information on employment authorization in the United States, visit: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765 .

How do I apply to Uniting for Ukraine?

A supporter – a U.S.-based individual, including representatives of non-government organizations – must first file a Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) through the myUSCIS online portal. Supporters need to also include specific information on the Ukrainian beneficiary they intend to support. Once a supporter has been confirmed by USCIS, Ukrainian beneficiaries will receive notification from USCIS about next steps in the process to obtain authorization to travel to the United States and seek parole.

Will Ukrainians be vetted prior to arriving to the United States?

As part of the process, individuals will submit biographic and biometric information to the U.S. government for the purposes of security vetting. Individuals will be checked against a range of interagency intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism holdings. Anyone who does not pass security checks conducted overseas will not be authorized to travel the United States.

Upon their arrival at a port of entry, each individual will be inspected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and undergo additional screening and vetting, to include biometric vetting. Anyone determined to pose a national security or public safety threat will be referred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Are vaccines required?

Individuals who seek authorization to travel to the United States via the Uniting for Ukraine process will need to confirm prior vaccination against measles, polio, and COVID-19. If not previously vaccinated, individuals will need to receive a first dose of required vaccines prior to obtaining authorization to travel to the United States. In addition, all individuals two years of age or older will need to complete a medical screening for tuberculosis, including an Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) test, within 90 days of arrival to the United States. Ukrainian citizens will need to meet other travel requirements as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including pre-departure testing for COVID-19.

Do Ukrainians have to be in a certain location to apply for Uniting for Ukraine ?

This process is aimed to support Ukrainians who have been recently displaced by Russia’s invasion and who fled Ukraine after February 11, 2022. We anticipate that most eligible Ukrainians will be in neighboring countries or other EU states. However, Ukrainian citizens in other locations are also eligible for Uniting for Ukraine .

How many Ukrainians will be eligible for Uniting for Ukraine ?

The number of Ukrainians potentially eligible for Uniting for Ukraine will be driven by the breadth of welcome U.S.-based supporters are willing and able to provide. Therefore, we cannot estimate a specific number of potential Ukrainian beneficiaries.

In support of President Biden’s commitment to providing legal pathways to displaced Ukrainians as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government will welcome 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Russia’s aggression. We will deliver on this commitment through the full range of legal pathways, including humanitarian parole, immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and new processes such as Uniting for Ukraine .

How long will the process take?

We anticipate that the process will be fairly quick, but DHS cannot say definitively how long the process will take.

Are Ukrainian children seeking to come to the United States without their parent or legal guardian eligible for Uniting for Ukraine ?

Not at this time. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), any child under the age of 18 who is not accompanied by their parent or legal guardian generally must be turned over to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and vetted to protect against exploitation and abuse. Sponsors must be vetted before that child can be released and reunified. As a result, children traveling on their own, or with a non-parent or non-legal guardian adult, are not currently eligible for this process. We are working towards establishing other mechanisms to permit travel of vulnerable children and caregivers with appropriate safeguards.

What will happen to Ukrainians who arrive at the Southwest border?

From April 25, 2022, Ukrainian nationals who present at U.S. Southwest border land ports of entry without a valid visa or without pre-authorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine may be denied entry and referred to apply through this process.

Can U.S.-based individuals support more than one individual beneficiary?

Yes. The supporter must file a separate Form I-134 for each beneficiary (including each member of a family). Additionally, multiple supporters may join together to demonstrate the financial ability to support one or more Ukrainian beneficiaries. In this case, a primary supporter should file a Form I-134 and include in the filing supplementary evidence demonstrating the identity of, and resources to be provided by, the additional supporters and attach a statement explaining the intent to share responsibility. These supporters’ ability to support Ukrainian beneficiaries will be assessed collectively.

Can U.S.-based organizations support Ukrainian beneficiaries?

Yes, they may provide the financial or in-kind support, but the Form I-134 still requires an individual to sign the form. Organizations may not serve as the named supporter on a Form I-134. However, if an organization or other entity is providing financial or other services to the named individual for the purpose of facilitating support, this information should be provided as part of the evidence submitted with the Form I-134 and will be taken into account in determining the supporter’s ability to support the named beneficiary.

How much money do prospective supporters need to have in their bank accounts?

There is no specific threshold prospective supporters must meet. The prospective supporter must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient income or financial resources to support the beneficiary for the period of parole. Generally, individuals granted parole under the Uniting for Ukraine process will be paroled for a period of up to two years. USCIS will review the form and supporting evidence to ensure the supporter has sufficient financial resources to support the beneficiary and any other dependents of the supporter.

How long does the travel authorization last?

Ukrainians who receive advance authorization to travel to the United States to seek parole at a port of entry will have a specified period of 90 days during which the authorization is valid.  Individuals who do not travel within the 90-day period will be required to begin the process again with their supporter filing Form I-134 with USCIS.

Will the U.S. Government stop accepting Uniting for Ukraine applications once 100,000 Ukrainians have been admitted through the U.S. Refugee Assistance Program or with a visa or have been paroled?

President Biden committed to providing refuge to 100,000 displaced Ukrainians and others fleeing Russian aggression in the United States. This figure is not a cap. The design of Uniting for Ukraine relies on the generosity of supporters in the United States who primarily will drive demand for this pathway and whether we meet or exceed this goal. The U.S. Government will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine, the situation for Ukrainians in other host countries, and how Ukrainians access a variety of pathways to the United States.

Where can those interested go with additional questions?

Anyone interested in the Uniting for Ukraine process is strongly encouraged to first review the information provided on the DHS and USCIS websites, including the Form I-134, Declaration of Financial Support, and the form instructions at uscis.gov/i-134 . Additional information and new FAQs will continue to be posted to those platforms. If additional questions remain after reviewing this information, inquiries may be made through the USCIS live chat feature at https://www.uscis.gov/tools/meet-emma-our-virtual-assistant  or the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS is working to provide additional support at the USCIS Contact Center for those requesting assistance related to Uniting for Ukraine .

Press Releases and Statements

• February 27, 2024:  Eligible Ukrainians Can Now Apply for Re-Parole | USCIS.gov
• November 17, 2023: Statement from NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson Announcing U.S.-Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Conference | WhiteHouse.gov
• September 6, 2023:  DHS Supports Interior Cities by Educating Qualified Noncitizens on Work Permit Eligibility
• August 18, 2023:  Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine
• April 21, 2023:  Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Anniversary of the Establishment of Uniting for Ukraine
• March 1, 2023:  Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Ukraine | WhiteHouse.gov
• February 21, 2023: Fact Sheet: One Year of Supporting Ukraine  | WhiteHouse.gov
• December 21, 2022: Remarks by President Biden and President Zelenskyy of Ukraine in Joint Press Conference  | WhiteHouse.gov
• April 28, 2022: Fact Sheet: White House Calls on Congress to Provide Additional Support for Ukraine | WhiteHouse.gov
• April 21, 2022: President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine
• April 21, 2022: Remarks By President Biden Providing an Update on Russia and Ukraine | WhiteHouse.gov

Information for Ukrainians Paroled before Uniting for Ukraine

Extension for certain ukrainians paroled into the united states following russia’s invasion.

Certain Ukrainian nationals and immediate family members were paroled into the United States last year, on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons, during an approximate eight-week period after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and before the Uniting for Ukraine process was available. Such individuals were generally paroled for a period of one year, while participants in Uniting for Ukraine received a two-year period of parole.

With hostilities in Ukraine entering their second year, DHS assesses that there remain urgent humanitarian reasons, as well as a significant public benefit, for extending the parole of certain Ukrainians who arrived prior to Uniting for Ukraine . DHS will consider Ukrainian nationals and immediate family members who were paroled, on a case-by-case basis, before Uniting for Ukraine for an extension of the parole period and employment authorization, if applicable.

Specifically, individuals paroled into the United States at a port of entry between February 24, 2022 and April 25, 2022 will be considered for an extension. DHS is in the process of considering these individuals, on a case-by-case basis, for a one-year extension of their period of parole to align with the two-year parole period provided under Uniting for Ukraine . DHS estimates it will take approximately four weeks to consider and vet all the individuals in the group and will review cases based on the date of parole.

If an individual’s parole period is extended, DHS will proactively make available online an updated Form I-94 with the extended parole period. The period of parole will be extended from the current expiration date without a gap. Individuals can retrieve and download an updated Form I-94 as evidence of their extended parole period by visiting CBP’s  Form I-94 website .

Those who have their period of parole extended will also be eligible to receive employment authorization for the additional year. Individuals who have Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) based on their parole and whose parole period is extended for an additional year will receive a Form I-797C from USCIS that can be used to demonstrate continued employment authorization through the extended parole period.  The Form I-797C will be mailed to the address on file with USCIS.  If you need to change your address, please change your address online through your existing USCIS online account or using the Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card, online using the Change of Address page.

• Please select Topic: Traveler Compliance then the subtopic: Ukrainians Paroled U.S. - Russia Invasion
• If you are part of this group and hold a valid EAD based on your parole but do not receive Form I-797C by the end of April, please reach out to [email protected] .
• If you do not currently have an EAD but would like to apply for one based on your parole, you may file a Form I-765 , Application for Employment Authorization, with USCIS. Ukrainian parolees are exempt from fees for first time applicants.

Ukrainian parolees may pursue multiple immigration pathways at the same time and this process does not impact other benefit requests including those who have applied for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), been granted TPS, or applied for asylum. However, parole will terminate automatically upon departure from the United States. Individuals with parole who plan to depart the United States and wish to return must first apply for advance parole in order to be considered for reentry into the United States.

Additional Resources

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• U.S. Department of State
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Benefits for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (HHS)
• Citizenship and Immigration Services
• International Engagement
• International
• Russia-Ukraine Crisis

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Ukrainians fleeing war try different ways to enter the US

Ukrainians are coming to the US on tourist visas, through the southern border or under a new sponsorship programme.

Around 14,500 Ukrainians have filed for applications as of last week to come to the United States under a humanitarian parole programme that allows Ukrainians to stay with American sponsors .

The administration of US President Joe Biden expects most Ukrainians whose lives have been upended by Russia’s invasion of their country to stay in Europe . But in March, his administration announced that it would expect up to 100,000 to stay and work in the US for up to two years.

The “Uniting for Ukraine” programme was unrolled on April 25 and potential sponsors must upload details about their employment and assets. Applicants must pass identity and security checks before they can travel to the US and be considered for enrollment.

The "Uniting for Ukraine" program provides a streamlined process for displaced Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily for up to two years. https://t.co/ivatxwIgaA — Baker Donelson (@Baker_Donelson) May 9, 2022

The programme to assist Ukrainians fleeing war comes amid continued pressure on the Biden administration to allocate more military aid to Ukraine, and issue more sanctions against Russia. According to the United Nations, more than 5.8 million Ukrainians have fled their country since the February 24 invasion.

On March 3, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would be extending temporary protected status to Ukrainians already in the country for 18 months.

The Uniting for Ukraine programme has given Iryna Bashynskyy of Portland, Oregon, hope. Since February, Bashynskyy has been looking for ways to get her niece, Yana, out of Ukraine. Now, Bashynskyy is gathering documents, including her tax returns and bank statements.

“It’s a hustle,” Bashynskyy told Reuters. “But I’ll try to accomplish it.”

Yana asked to only be identified by her first name due to safety concerns.

“It is necessary to somehow escape from here,” Yana, 23, said through a translator from her apartment in Kyiv. “I’m scared about my life, about my future. Because you don’t know where a bomb will drop, at what time, and what will happen.”

New York-based attorney Marina Shepelsky has been receiving hundreds of calls from people with relatives in Ukraine. For the first month and a half of the Russian invasion, Shepelsky – a Ukrainian refugee herself whose family fled the Soviet Union in 1989 – was advising them to apply for tourist visas.

“Now I’m kind of discouraging it,” Shepelsky said, saying Uniting for Ukraine offers “a better status”.

Nearly 3,500 Ukrainians were issued temporary US visas for tourism or business in March, up sharply from about 900 in February, according to US Department of State statistics.

Many Ukrainians had also been flying to Mexico and claiming asylum at the US-Mexico border by land.

Despite a coronavirus pandemic-era restriction in place, the US allowed hundreds of Ukrainians to apply for asylum at the border, drawing rebuke from rights groups who denounced the fact that asylum seekers from other nationalities were being turned away, and shining a light on what Ukrainians said was a complicated legal process to bring people into the US.

DHS said that as of April 25, when Uniting for Ukraine went live, Ukrainians at the southwest border who did not have valid visas or pre-authorisation to travel to the US through Uniting for Ukraine could be denied entry.

The Associated Press reported last week that some refugees who arrived at the US border in Tijuana were told they would no longer be admitted.

Leonard Mogul is seeking a spousal immigration visa for the woman he married in a non-denominational, 30-minute Zoom wedding in early March. Her wedding band was a ring he had bought her during a New Year’s vacation in Cancun. He had tried earlier for a tourist visa, and was given a visa interview appointment in late September.

“I didn’t want her to be alone in Europe by herself for that long,” said Mogul, who is pursuing the spousal visa and does not plan to apply for Uniting for Ukraine.

Artem Plakhotnyi, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based dance teacher, had been trying for weeks to book an emergency visa appointment for his sister-in-law and her four-year-old twins. Four days after Russian soldiers invaded Ukraine, his cousin and his cousin’s nine-year-old daughter died trying to flee Kharkiv, he said. After repeated attempts, he boarded a flight to Warsaw and then flew with his relatives to Tijuana, where they requested and received humanitarian parole last month.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Ukrainian refugees are camping out in Mexico City while they wait for the US government to allow them into the country.

About 500 evacuees were waiting as of last week in large tents under a searing sun on a dusty field on the east side of Mexico’s sprawling capital. The camp has been open only a week and from 50 to 100 people are arriving every day.

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Tens of thousands of Ukrainians can stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation

An American flag unfurls off a pedicab as it glides past the Denver City/County Building, which is illuminated in yellow and blue in support of Ukraine on Monday. Colorado's State Capitol will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in support of Ukraine. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

An American flag unfurls off a pedicab as it glides past the Denver City/County Building, which is illuminated in yellow and blue in support of Ukraine on Monday. Colorado's State Capitol will also be illuminated in blue and yellow in support of Ukraine.

The Biden administration will grant temporary protection from deportation to tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are already living in the U.S.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that it has designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. That will allow an estimated 30,000 Ukrainians who are temporarily living or studying in the U.S. to stay and work legally for 18 months.

"Russia's premeditated and unprovoked attack on Ukraine has resulted in an ongoing war, senseless violence, and Ukrainians forced to seek refuge in other countries," said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a statement. "In these extraordinary times, we will continue to offer our support and protection to Ukrainian nationals in the United States."

The White House had been under growing pressure from immigrant advocates and lawmakers not to deport Ukranians back to a war-torn country. Earlier this week, dozens of senators signed a letter urging the Biden administration to designate Ukraine for TPS — and asking the administration not to force Ukranians to "return to a war zone."

Senator Robert Menendez,D-N.J., the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised the move.

"Ensuring approximately 30,000 Ukrainians in the United States can receive the protection they deserve, and have the opportunity to work and live in the United States without fear of returning to a country under siege, is absolutely the right and moral thing to do," Menendez said in a statement.

TPS will only be granted to Ukrainians who were already present in the U.S. on March 1, according to DHS. That means it will not apply to more than a million Ukrainians who've left to seek refugee in neighboring European countries since the Russian invasion began.

TPS is intended to protect citizens from countries where armed conflict or natural disasters make it unsafe. It does not provide a pathway to permanent residency.

But critics say the program has allowed hundreds of thousands of people to stay in the U.S. indefinitely while TPS is extended — and warned that this time would be no different.

<Narrator: It will actually be permanent, and none of the beneficiaries will ever move back home.> https://t.co/3gU6yyN015 — Mark Krikorian (@MarkSKrikorian) March 3, 2022

Immigrant advocates hailed the move — while also calling on the U.S. to do more for Ukrainian refugees.

"Protecting Ukrainian families from deportation is the least we can do amid a Russian onslaught that has targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure," said Krish O'Mara Vignarajah, the president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, in a statement.

The decision to grant TPS to Ukrainians is "an important move that speaks to our history as a safe haven for those facing oppression," said Ali Noorani, the head of the National Immigration Forum, in a statement. But at the same time, Noorani urged the administration to "prioritize rebuilding our refugee resettlement infrastructure and capacity, to continue our legacy as a welcoming beacon of democracy."

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Frequently Asked Questions About Uniting for Ukraine

• Is Uniting for Ukraine limited to the first 100,000 applications? No. There are no numerical limits on requests for travel authorization or parole under Uniting for Ukraine. The U.S. government is committed to providing Ukrainians displaced as a result of Russia’s invasion a full range of legal pathways, including parole, immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, in accordance with U.S. laws.
• Is Uniting for Ukraine limited to only Ukrainian citizens? Uniting for Ukraine is available to eligible Ukrainian citizens and their non-Ukrainian immediate family members with a valid passport. Non-Ukrainian immediate family members must be traveling to the United States with the Ukrainian citizen. For purposes of Uniting for Ukraine, immediate family members include:

The spouse or common-law partner of a Ukrainian citizen; and

The unmarried children under age 21 of a Ukrainian citizen.

NOTE: If a child is under 18, they must travel with a parent or legal guardian to seek parole through the Uniting for Ukraine process.

• Is Uniting for Ukraine available to Ukrainian citizens who are currently in the United State s? No. Ukrainian citizens who are present in the United States are not eligible for parole under Uniting for Ukraine. However, Ukrainian citizens who have continuously resided in the United States since April 11, 2022, and who have been continuously physically present in the United States since April 19, 2022, may be eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). For more information about TPS, visit our  Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine  page. Individuals who are physically present in the United States also may be eligible to apply for asylum. USCIS considers each request for asylum on a case-by-case basis according to the circumstances of the applicant. Visit  uscis.gov/asylum  for more information.
• What is the length of parole for Ukrainians entering the United States at a port of entry after traveling under Uniting for Ukraine? Generally, Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members granted travel authorization under Uniting for Ukraine will be paroled into the United States for up to two years.
• If a Ukrainian citizen’s request for travel authorization under Uniting for Ukraine is denied overseas, will this count against them if they later come to the United States and apply for asylum? USCIS considers request for asylum on a case-by-case basis according to the particular circumstances of the applicant. The Uniting for Ukraine process involves different eligibility criteria than asylum and does not, on its own, impact an individual’s eligibility for asylum. It is possible, however, that we may consider the reasons a travel authorization was denied under Uniting for Ukraine as part of our assessment of whether someone is eligible for asylum. Visit  uscis.gov/asylum  for more information.

Ukrainian nationals who present themselves for inspection at a land port of entry along the Southwest border without a valid visa or without preauthorization to travel to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine may be denied entry.

• Please explain what ‘legal guardian’ means. A legal guardian is an individual who:

Has been granted legal custody of an individual or minor, by a court of law or competent jurisdiction, or by the state or recognized governmental entity; and

Can lawfully exercise and assume legal obligations on an individual’s or minor’s behalf.

If the document is provided in a foreign language, an accompanying certified translation into English is required.

A family member or other person who has written authorization from a parent to travel with a minor child is not a legal guardian for Uniting for Ukraine purposes.

• Can you provide more information about the fees associated with Uniting for Ukraine? There is no fee for a supporter to file Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, and no fee for the beneficiary to request travel authorization. However, the beneficiary must pay for any required pretravel vaccinations. Additionally, if the beneficiary’s travel authorization request is approved, the beneficiary will need to arrange and fund their own travel to the United States and pay any applicable fees for any required medical screenings and vaccinations after arrival in the United States.
• Do supporters have to be U.S. citizens? No. Supporters must hold lawful status in the United States or be a parolee or recipient of deferred action or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) as of the date they file Form I-134A. Individuals who may serve as supporters include:

U.S. citizens and nationals;

Lawful permanent residents, lawful temporary residents, and conditional permanent residents;

Nonimmigrants in lawful status (that is, individuals who have maintained their nonimmigrant status and have not violated any of the terms or conditions of such status);

Asylees, refugees, and parolees;

Temporary Protected Status holders; and

Recipients of deferred action (including DACA) or DED.

Note: Individuals who have a pending application or request, such as a pending asylum application or pending initial TPS application, but who do not otherwise hold a lawful status in the United States or have not been granted parole, deferred action, or DED, are not eligible to be supporters.

• Can a nongovernmental organization (NGO) file a Form I-134A as a supporter? An NGO may not serve as the named supporter on a Form I-134A. However, if an organization or other entity is providing financial or other services to the beneficiary for the purpose of facilitating support, the supporter should provide this information as part of the evidence they submit with Form I-134A. We will consider this information when determining the supporter’s ability to support the named beneficiary.
• Does USCIS conduct background vetting on supporters? Yes. In addition to determining a potential supporter’s financial ability to support their beneficiary during the duration of the parole period, we also conduct security and background vetting on supporters, including for serious public safety or national security concerns or red flags for exploitation or human trafficking risks.
• Does the supporter have to state that they will provide general support, or do they have to provide specific information about their support and contributions? When they file Form I-134A, supporters must provide evidence that they have sufficient income or immediate access to sufficient financial resources to support the beneficiary listed on Form I-134A for the duration of the beneficiary’s anticipated period of parole.

Supporters may provide evidence including, but not limited to:

Statements from the officer of a U.S. bank or other financial institution;

A letter of employment; and

Copies of U.S. federal tax returns.

Multiple supporters may join together to support a beneficiary. In this case, a supporter should file Form I-134A and include the following documents:

Supplementary evidence demonstrating the identity of, and the resources to be provided by, the additional supporters who will provide support to the beneficiary; and

A statement explaining the intent of the additional supporters to share financial responsibility to support the beneficiary. We will assess the supporters’ ability to support the beneficiary collectively.

The Form I-134A requires a named individual to sign the form; organizations may not serve as the named supporter on a Form I-134A. However, if an organization or other entity is providing financial or other services to the beneficiary for the purpose of facilitating support, a supporter should provide this information as part of the evidence submitted with their Form I-134A, and we will consider it when determining the supporter’s ability to support the named beneficiary.

• Does USCIS consider the beneficiary’s income and financial resources in determining whether their Form I-134A is sufficient? No. When we are determining whether a Form I-134A is sufficient, we do not consider information about the beneficiary’s income or financial resources.
• Is a bank officer’s statement required, or are monthly bank statements sufficient? Every supporter’s circumstances are different. We review information provided by the supporter on Form I-134A about all assets and financial resources to demonstrate their ability to support the beneficiary.
• How much money should a supporter have to ensure they are able to financially support a beneficiary? Every potential supporter’s circumstances are different. We review financial information provided by the supporter on Form I-134A about all assets and resources. We use the Federal  Poverty Guidelines , as outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services, as a general guide in determining the supporter’s ability to support the beneficiary for the duration of the beneficiary’s anticipated period of parole. When we use the Federal poverty guidelines, we consider a supporter’s household size to include the beneficiary listed on the supporter’s Form I-134A, even if they do not intend to live with the supporter.
• What types of support should supporters expect to provide to a beneficiary they agree to support? Supporters agree to provide financial support and other resources to the beneficiary for the duration of the parole period. Before committing to be a supporter, supporters should keep the following types of support in mind when deciding whether to support a beneficiary. Support for beneficiaries includes:

Receiving the beneficiary when they arrive in the United States and transporting them to initial housing;

Ensuring that the beneficiary has safe and appropriate housing for the duration of their parole, as well as initial basic necessities;

As appropriate, helping the beneficiary complete necessary paperwork such as for employment authorization, a Social Security card, and other services for which they may be eligible;

Ensuring that the beneficiary’s health care and medical needs are met for the duration of the parole; and

As appropriate, assisting the beneficiary with accessing education, learning English, securing employment, and enrolling children in school.

• Is there any mandatory training or orientation required for supporters to make sure they are aware that they are agreeing to support the beneficiary listed on Form I-134A for the duration of the beneficiary’s stay in the United States? No. There is no mandatory training required by the government. However, the Department of State has collaborated with  Welcome.us  to ensure that both newcomers and receiving communities have helpful information to support beneficiaries after they are paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine.
• Will there be a way to match supporters who do not personally know a Ukrainian with displaced Ukrainians who do not personally have someone to support them? No. The U.S. government will not match potential supporters with beneficiaries. The Department of State has collaborated with  Welcome.us  to provide information to potential beneficiaries and supporters about Uniting for Ukraine. Please check Welcome.us for updates on their efforts to support Uniting for Ukraine.
• Will a beneficiary be eligible for consideration under Uniting for Ukraine if they are Ukrainian and have a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visitor visa but are currently outside the United States for work? Yes.  A Ukrainian citizen outside the United States who still has a valid, unexpired U.S. visitor visa may still seek parole into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine if we have confirmed the Form I-134A filed on their behalf is sufficient, and if they meet other requirements. Being paroled into the United States does not automatically terminate the validity of a U.S. nonimmigrant visitor visa.
• Are Ukrainian children seeking to come to the United States without their parent or legal guardian eligible for Uniting for Ukraine? No. Children under age 18 who are traveling without their parent or legal guardian are not eligible for Uniting for Ukraine. Children who are not traveling with a parent or legal guardian but are coming to the United States to meet a parent or legal guardian may instead seek parole through the standard  Form I-131, Application for Travel Document , parole process. Some parents or legal guardians may be able to leave the United States and reenter with their child. (See question 4.)
• If I am residing outside of the United States, do I have to be in the same country as my child to participate in Uniting for Ukraine? No. Parents and children do not need to be in the same country to participate in this process. However, children under the age of 18 must be traveling to a U.S. port of entry in the care and custody of their parent or legal guardian with the consent of all parents or legal guardians.
• Can a parent or legal guardian currently residing in the United States travel out of the United States to accompany their Ukrainian child under age 18 to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine? A child’s parents or legal guardians may be eligible to leave the United States to accompany their child under age 18 to the United States if the child is otherwise eligible for parole under Uniting for Ukraine and the parent or legal guardian:

Has lawful status in the United States, is a parolee (including a parolee under Uniting for Ukraine), or is a beneficiary of deferred action or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED); and

Has documentation or authorization to reenter the United States, which may include proof of U.S. citizenship, a Green Card, or advance parole for parolees (Application for Travel Document, Form I-131).

For a child under age 18 to be considered for parole under this process, a supporter must file Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support , for the child who seeks to reunite with their parent or legal guardian in the United States. The parent or legal guardian may serve as a supporter and file Form I-134A on behalf of their child if they meet the eligibility requirements. However, the U.S.-based supporter does not need to be related to the beneficiary they have filed Form I-134A for.

After USCIS has confirmed the Form I-134A, the supporter should follow these steps:

Step 1: Log in to their online account.

Step 2: From the top of the webpage, select the My Account drop-down menu and select Inbox.

Step 3: Click on the New Message button.

Step 4: For the subject, select “Other” from the drop-down menu, and for the case receipt number, select the receipt number for Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support.

Step 5: In the message field, write “U4U Child Reunification” and state that they are contacting USCIS on behalf of a child under age 18 who is eligible for the Uniting for Ukraine process, and who has a parent or legal guardian who can depart and reenter the United States to accompany their child to use the Uniting for Ukraine process.

In addition, the supporter should upload the following supporting documentation in their online account:

Evidence that the parent or legal guardian has documentation or authorization to reenter the United States. This documentation may include proof of U.S. citizenship, a Green Card, or an Advance Parole Document (Application for Travel Document, Form I-131).

Evidence of the parental relationship or legal guardianship of the child. (Evidence may include a birth certificate for the child and identity documents for the parent or legal guardian. Generally, evidence of legal guardianship requires a legal or administrative process involving the courts or other recognized government entity. A power of attorney or written or notarized statement is not a formally recognized arrangement.)

A signed statement affirming that the parent or legal guardian will accompany the child to the United States and provide care and physical custody of that child in the United States.

• Can prospective adoptive parents use the standard parole process to seek travel authorization for a Ukrainian child whose adoption is not yet complete? Prospective adoptive parents may not use this process to circumvent any adoption processes. For information about adoption from Ukraine, visit the Department of State’s  Ukraine Adoption Information Page .
• Will beneficiaries who have been paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine be able to obtain an advance parole document? Yes. If a beneficiary who has been paroled into the United States wants to apply for an advance parole document, which will allow them to seek parole into the United States at a port of entry when they return from a trip outside the United States, they should file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document . For more information about advance parole documents, including about fees and fee waivers, visit  Form I-131, Application for Travel Document .

Please note that having an advance parole document does not guarantee an individual will be paroled into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will make a separate discretionary decision on your request for parole when you arrive at a port of entry.

• Are beneficiaries vetted before obtaining travel documentation? All Uniting for Ukraine beneficiaries are subject to biographic and biometric security checks conducted by CBP before they are granted travel authorization or paroled into the United States.
• How long will it take between the time a supporter submits Form I-134A and when a beneficiary is granted travel authorization under Uniting for Ukraine ? USCIS’ goal is to review and provide responses to the supporter’s Form I-134A as efficiently as possible. Once the Form I-134A review is complete and the Form I-134A is confirmed, USCIS will contact and invite the beneficiary to set up a USCIS online account to verify their biographic information, attest to their vaccination status and, if applicable, attest to the relationships between family members traveling together. This will also allow USCIS and CBP to communicate with the beneficiary through their account. Once the beneficiary has verified their information, USCIS will submit the beneficiary’s biographic information to CBP for review and processing for travel authorization. CBP will then send the travel authorization determination back to USCIS to be posted to the beneficiary’s USCIS account. It is up to the beneficiary to make appropriate travel arrangements and decide the timing of their departure for the United States. The CBP travel authorization remains valid for 90 days.
• Can a Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, be filed online with Form I-134A or will this be an anticipated add on to the process? No. There is no option at this time to submit a Form G-28 with the online filing of a Form I-134A or for an attorney or legal representative to use an online representative account to file a Form I-13A on behalf of a supporter or submit travel authorization information on behalf of a beneficiary after confirmation of the Form I-134A.

The Uniting for Ukraine process is a newly developed electronic process. Our priority focus is ensuring that U.S.-based supporters and beneficiaries can access and use the USCIS online account.

• Supporters have not been able to select ‘self’ in the dropdown menu. Is there a glitch in the system? The “self” option has been disabled for the online filing of Form I-134A, as there is no option for an individual to represent that they are financially capable of supporting themselves or to submit a Form I-134A as a supporter on their own behalf for the purposes of Uniting for Ukraine . While beneficiaries for benefits other than Uniting for Ukraine may file a Form I-134A on their own behalf, this is not available under Uniting for Ukraine , which requires a U.S.-based individual (not the beneficiary) to act as a supporter and file the Form I-134A on behalf of a beneficiary.
• 1. My travel authorization will expire soon, and I have been unable to arrange travel to the United States. Can I request an extension? CBP approves travel authorization for beneficiaries of Uniting for Ukraine. The travel authorization is valid for 90 days. However, if a beneficiary is unable to travel within the 90-day time frame, they will need to receive an extension of their travel authorization.

If, for reasons beyond their control, a beneficiary cannot travel within the 90-day time frame, the supporter may submit a one-time request for a travel authorization extension that will give their beneficiary an additional 90 days to arrange travel to the United States. Only supporters who have filed Form I-134A on behalf of a Ukrainian may request an extension of a previously approved travel authorization. Beneficiaries may not request an extension of their travel authorization.   

Supporters must submit the extension request no more than 30 days before the original approved travel authorization period expires and no more than 30 days after the original approved travel authorization period expires. Supporters must request a separate extension for each beneficiary by submitting a secure message to USCIS through their online account .

To submit the request:

Step 1: Log in to your online account .

Step 4: For the subject, select A case already filed online from the drop-down menu, and for your case receipt number, select your receipt number for Form I-134A (Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support).

Step 5: In the message field, state your continued interest in supporting your named beneficiary who has not yet traveled to the United States and that you are requesting an extension of the beneficiary’s travel authorization, then click Send.

USCIS will review the supporter’s request for a travel authorization extension and submit it, along with the named beneficiary’s information, to CBP to conduct additional vetting. If CBP approves your request, your beneficiary will receive an email notification when the extended travel authorization notice has been posted to their account. Please note that for privacy reasons, only the beneficiary will be able to view their extended travel authorization notice in their online account. The beneficiary should notify you when they receive their extended travel authorization notice.

If the beneficiary's original approved travel authorization expired more than 30 days before the submission of the extension request, or if the beneficiary cannot travel to the United States during the one-time 90-day extension, the supporter must submit a new Form I-134A on their behalf to obtain a new travel authorization.

• Does a child under the age of 18 traveling with a parent need a travel authorization notice? Yes. Every individual must have a Form I-134A filed on their behalf and every individual must have their own travel authorization to travel. This includes children. Once the Form I-134A is confirmed for an individual, each beneficiary, regardless of age, is assigned an A-Number and receives an online access code.
• Is it possible to appeal a denied travel authorization notice? No. At this time, there is no administrative appeal process for the Uniting for Ukraine process. If a supporter believes they were mistakenly non-confirmed by USCIS or that CBP mistakenly denied their beneficiary’s travel authorization, they should refile Form I-134A and submit additional information.
• Do beneficiaries need to submit vaccination records and other medical documentation to USCIS once they arrive in the United States? Beneficiaries must complete the required vaccination attestations but will not need to upload documentation.
• Do they have to use USCIS-designated civil surgeons, or can they use any doctor? Beneficiaries may receive the required vaccinations from any licensed physician or public health department. The medical screening for tuberculosis, including an Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) test, may be conducted by a qualified laboratory or state public health department.

The International Organization for Migration’s UA Health Access webpage has information about access to immunizations and vaccines in Europe.

• Will beneficiaries under Uniting for Ukraine need to receive a full immigration medical examination as a condition of parole? No. When they are paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine, beneficiaries will need to attest that they received a medical screening for tuberculosis, including an IGRA test, within 90 days of arrival. This attestation is a condition of parole, and the beneficiary must complete it in their USCIS online account . Beneficiaries are responsible for arranging their own vaccinations and medical screening for tuberculosis, including an IGRA blood test. Beneficiaries must also complete the tuberculosis screening attestation for their minor children within 90 days of arrival to the United States, even if the child is under two years old and qualifies for an exception to the tuberculosis test screening.
• How can a beneficiary under Uniting for Ukraine obtain their vaccination record if those records were destroyed or currently unobtainable due to ongoing military actions? We cannot advise beneficiaries how they may obtain their vaccination records. Individuals seeking parole under Uniting for Ukraine will need to confirm prior vaccination against measles, polio, and COVID-19. Individuals provide this confirmation by attesting that they have completed vaccine requirements or are eligible for an exception to vaccine requirements for measles, polio, and the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine approved or authorized by the FDA or a WHO Emergency Use Listed COVID-19 vaccine .

Upon arrival to the United States, the beneficiary will need to attest that they received a medical screening for tuberculosis, including an IGRA test, within 90 days. Find more information on vaccine requirements on the preview of the vaccine attestation page .

• When a child is listed on their parent's passport, how exactly should that information be entered into the Form I-134A filed on behalf of the child under Uniting for Ukraine? Supporters should provide the relevant information from the parent’s passport (passport number, expiration date, country of issuance) on Form I-134A; there is no need to specifically note that the child is listed on their parent’s passport.

1.  Are parolees under Uniting for Ukraine allowed to work before USCIS approves their  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization ?

Yes. Individuals paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine are employment authorized incident to parole. This means that if you are paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine, we do not need to approve your application for employment authorization before you can work in the United States. Your unexpired Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, is an acceptable List A receipt that shows your identity and employment authorization for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, if your unexpired class of admission contains:

• A class of admission code of “UHP” and a “Most Recent Date of Entry” on or before Sept. 30, 2024; or
• A class of admission code of “DT” issued between Feb. 24, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024, and indicates Ukraine as the country of citizenship.

Within 90 days of hire (or in the case of reverification, the date employment authorization expires), you must provide your employer either:

• Your unexpired Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD); or
• Your unrestricted Social Security card and a List B identity document from the Form I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents. (Note: A Social Security card that contains no employment restrictions is issued to individuals who are  admitted to the United States on a permanent basis so it would not be available to an individual who is paroled. See the Social Security Administration’s  Types of Social Security Cards  webpage.)

Individuals who received their Form I-94 when they entered the United States should visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP)  Form I-94 website  to view and print a copy of their Form I-94.

For more information, please see  Employee Rights and Resources .

2. Can parolees under Uniting for Ukraine still apply for an EAD? Yes. Effective Nov. 21, 2022, USCIS is exempting the Form I-765 filing fee for initial EADs for individuals paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine who file by mail. Effective Dec. 5, 2022, this fee exemption will also be available for online filings of Form I-765. To apply for an EAD, submit  Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , using the (c)(11) category code

To obtain the fee exemption when filing Form I-765 online to request an EAD:

In the basis of eligibility section, provide your “eligibility category”;

For the category under which you are applying, select “c(11) Ukraine Parole” from the drop-down;

Select your reason for applying as “Initial permission to accept employment”; and

Review and submit application to receive $0 fee.

To obtain the fee exemption when mailing a paper Form I-765 to USCIS to request an initial EAD:

Select “Initial permission to accept employment” (Part 1, Item 1.a.);

Enter “Ukraine” in:

Country of Citizenship (Part 2, Items 18.a. and 18.b.), and/or

Country of Birth (Part 2, Item 19.c.);

Enter “C11” in the Eligibility Category (Part 2, Item 27); and

Submit no payment.

Note: For the fee exemption to apply, applications must be postmarked on or after Nov. 21, 2022, or submitted online on or after Dec. 5, 2022.

3. After a parolee files Form I-765, how long will it take to receive their EAD? Generally, we process applications for employment authorization in the order we receive them. For more information on Form I-765 processing times, visit our  Check Case Processing Times  page.

If a beneficiary of Uniting for Ukraine needs to submit an inquiry on their case or has a general question about their account, how can they contact USCIS?

The best way to contact us depends on the type of inquiry.

Technical Assistance with Online Account Access or a Password Reset If you have an issue with account access or need a password reset, use our  online need help form .

Case Status Inquiries You can monitor the status of your Form I-134A in your  USCIS online account  or check your most recent status in  Case Status Online . Please note that the USCIS Contact Center cannot provide any additional information on the status of your case.

USCIS will only accept a case status inquiry if the Form I-134A filed on your behalf has been pending more than six months. This includes inquiries submitted through the secure mailbox in your USCIS online account. Please note this is a default timeframe for inquiring and you should not necessarily expect a decision on your Form I-134A in that timeframe.

If a supporter entered an incorrect email address for the beneficiary on Form I-134A, what is the fastest way to submit the correction and get USCIS to resend the Account Access email to the beneficiary? The supporter should log in to their USCIS online account, go to the Notices tab, and use the Unsolicited Evidence feature to upload a letter they have signed by hand (not electronically). The letter should:

Explain that the email address for the beneficiary they entered on Form I-134A was incorrect; and

Request that USCIS update the beneficiary’s email address and send the USCIS Account Notice to the beneficiary’s correct email address.

Note: The supporter’s letter should list both the original, incorrect email address provided on the Form I-134A and the updated, correct email address for the beneficiary. The supporter also must keep the original signed letter in case we ask for it later.

The supporter should then send a secure message from their USCIS online account:

• Log in to your online account, select the MyAccount dropdown, then select Inbox;
• Select “New message,” then “A case already filed online”;
• Select your receipt number for Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support from the drop-down menu; and
• State in your message that the beneficiary’s email address needs to be changed and that you have uploaded unsolicited evidence. Your message should include both the original, incorrect email address and the updated, correct email address for the beneficiary.

We will review the request, make appropriate updates, and issue the beneficiary a copy of the USCIS Account Notice using the updated, correct email address. We will also notify the supporter by email that the issue has been resolved.

• All Forms I-134A I submitted are showing as confirmed in my account. However, the head of the household did not receive confirmation instructions for opening their online portal from USCIS, even though their spouse and children did. To ensure you have not missed a notification from USCIS, please check your spam and junk mail folders. While we cannot address case-specific questions, in general, in situations where the beneficiary has not received their Account Notice, call the USCIS Contact Center . The number for those outside the United States is 212-620-3418. Alternatively, the beneficiary’s supporter can send USCIS a secure message regarding the issue through their own USCIS online account, and after we complete the verification process, we can email the Account Notice to the beneficiary's email that we have on file.

How can I correct my passport information on Form I-134A? If the Form I-134A submitted by your supporter has already been confirmed and your passport information is incorrect, you will need to use your online account to:

Upload a copy of your valid, unexpired passport as Unsolicited Evidence in your Notices tab; and

Send USCIS a message from your Inbox . In the message, you must indicate that you have submitted evidence to correct passport information.

You will receive a response in your inbox. Do not submit your attestations to CBP until we respond to the request to update your passport information. Submitting the attestations before you receive a response from USCIS could affect the travel authorization and request for parole.

My Form I-134A has been confirmed, but you have not contacted my beneficiary yet. What should I do?

If your beneficiary has not received the emailed notices, you should review the Form I-134A and ensure you provided the correct email address. If the email address is incorrect, log in to your USCIS online account, go to the Notices tab, and use the Unsolicited Evidence feature to upload a letter you have signed by hand (not electronically). The letter should:

Explain that the email address for the beneficiary you entered on Form I-134A was incorrect; and

Note: Your letter should list both the original, incorrect email address provided on the Form I-134A and the updated, correct email address for the beneficiary. You must also keep the original signed letter in case we ask for it later.

If a beneficiary still cannot find the notices, they should call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. The number for those outside the United States is 212-620-3418.

• Are parolees who came to the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine eligible for REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses or identification cards?

Ukrainian nationals and their immediate family members paroled into the U.S. through Uniting for Ukraine are not eligible for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card because parole is not included in the  REAL ID Act (PDF)  as a category authorized to receive a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. This does not apply to Afghan parolees who fall within the scope of section 2502(b)(3) of the  Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act . However, parolees with another eligible category covered under the REAL ID Act, such as an approved or pending application for Temporary Protected Status or asylum, can potentially qualify for a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card. In addition, many driver license issuing authorities allow parolees to apply for a driver’s license or ID card that is not REAL ID-compliant. For more information, please see  REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions  and guidance from the Department of Motor Vehicles for the jurisdiction where you live.

Ukrainians fleeing war face onerous process to enter U.S.

Svitlana Rogers had been trying for weeks to bring her sister’s family — who had escaped Ukraine and was now living in Warsaw — to live with her and her family in Princeton, New Jersey.

Her congressional representatives all told her their hands were tied. Then came news from the White House: President Joe Biden announced a new process for Ukrainians to enter the U.S. via sponsorship by Americans.

“I immediately texted my sister when I heard the news,” Rogers said. “She was very happy.”

But when the website launched on April 25, they both realized how much work lay ahead and worried they wouldn’t be able to provide all the documentation that the government required. Not only did Rogers have to prove her own income, she had to show her sister’s family was healthy and on good financial footing as well. 

For 10 days they called friends on the ground in their hometown of Mykolaiv, Ukraine, playing a long game of telephone to get what they needed: Vaccination records from doctors’ offices that have since shuttered, a deed on the house they fled when Russia invaded, evidence of how much income the family could earn in the United States. 

“It took a lot for my sister to call Ukrainian friends and see who has stayed and who could help find their doctors, their vaccination records and their deed,” Rogers said.

The web portal, known as Uniting for Ukraine, is now the only viable path for Ukrainians fleeing war to come to the United States. 

The instructions from the Department of Homeland Security tell applicants they may list the home of the Ukrainian they’re sponsoring as an asset in order to prove their worth “if it can be converted into cash within 12 months” and if they can provide “documentation demonstrating that the beneficiary owns the home, a recent appraisal by a licensed appraiser, and evidence of the amount of all loans secured by a mortgage, trust deed, or other lien on the home.”

Considering her sister had left her home in a war zone, Rogers was incredulous. Still, she somehow tracked down a copy of the deed by calling friends on the ground.

Rogers isn’t the only one disappointed by the web portal. Nonprofits and religious organizations, which were assured by Biden that they too would be able to sponsor Ukrainians, have found that only individuals are able to sponsor the refugees. 

Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, which resettled 25 percent of Ukrainians who were admitted through the U.S. refugee program in the past, now does not qualify to sponsor Ukrainians. And the group’s president and CEO, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, said they have heard from individuals that “the evidentiary burden is considerable.”

“Vulnerable people who have been displaced through no fault of their own should not be denied safety on financial grounds,” said Vignarajah. 

The website’s FAQ section says organizations may offer support to sponsors, but individuals are still required to sign forms for sponsorship.

Rogers said she worked on the application for her sister every day since the April 25 launch, but she’s lost track of the number of hours she spent on it. When she had questions about the requirements, she waited on hold with a hotline for nearly an hour each time. 

Proving her own financial readiness was complicated, too.

The website’s instructions read: “As the person who agrees to financially support the beneficiary, you must show you have sufficient income or financial resources to support the beneficiary. Failure to provide evidence of sufficient income or financial resources may result in the denial of the foreign national’s application for a visa or his or her removal from the United States.”

But, as Rogers points out, nowhere does the website give a minimum income requirement for sponsoring Ukrainians. 

“They don’t clarify. What is ‘sufficient income?’ If you are providing free housing, food, clothes, what counts?” Rogers said.

Meanwhile, her sister and brother-in-law were growing desperate to leave their small apartment in Poland, a country that has borne the brunt of Ukraine’s refugee crisis, and find a place where they could work and send their daughter to school. 

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the agency “has worked to make the process as streamlined as possible to ensure Ukrainians who fled Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression and who qualify are able to expeditiously come to the United States.”

“As part of this process, DHS thoroughly screens and vets Ukrainian citizens and their U.S.-based supporters to identify and screen out individuals who may pose a threat to the American public, protect against exploitation and abuse, and ensure that supporters are able to financially provide for the individuals they have agreed to help.”

The spokesperson also said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is working on adding more employees to field questions on a hotline for applicants. Since the portal went live, the agency has received approximately 13,000 applications, the agency said, though it cannot specify how long the process will take. 

Finally, on Wednesday, Rogers said she submitted the forms to bring her sister to the United States, but now she needs to repeat the process two more times for her niece and her brother-in-law.  She has to sponsor each of them individually, and worries that if only one or two are approved, they may be faced with the decision of separating. 

Now she wonders if she may have made mistakes that could keep one or all of her family members from coming to live with her. She also worries about others trying to use the same system to bring their families to safety. 

“I have experience with immigration paperwork and visa forms and even for me, it takes a while. What about a regular person with no experience?” Rogers said.

Unlike the traditional route for bringing refugees to the United States, where taxpayer money partially offsets living cost for the first few months, the Biden administration chose a model for Ukrainians fleeing the country’s war with Russia that only allows those who can be supported financially to come to enter the country.

Since the website launched, it became the only pathway for Ukrainians to come to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is now turning around Ukrainians at the U.S.-Mexico border by subjecting them to the same Covid-19 restrictions, known as Title 42, that other nationalities face. For much of March and April, Ukrainians were not subject to Title 42 and were given humanitarian parole at the U.S. southwest border. 

As thousands began to come through that circuitous and often dangerous route, the Biden administration moved to shut it down and offer the website as the only option.

The Department of Homeland Security said it would vet potential sponsors of Ukrainians to be sure they would not seek to exploit or traffic the vulnerable population as they escape war. 

But Rogers said the process seems designed to limit the number who will pass the test.

Now that she has submitted her sister's application, she's left to wait for a response.

“I’m nervous as there are lots of unknowns: If my income will be enough, if I submitted the application correctly. What if someone doesn’t like my answers? How long will it take to process?”

Julia Ainsley is the homeland security correspondent for NBC News and covers the Department of Homeland Security for the NBC News Investigative Unit.

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Presidential debate replay: Harris puts Trump on defensive over Jan. 6, race relations, abortion

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris met for the first time on Tuesday − facing off in a heated showdown on the 2024 debate stage.

The Democratic and Republican nominees laid out their visions for the country, discussing issues ranging from inflation and the economy to abortion rights and the southern border. They walked through their proposals − and criticized their opponent − all while trying to win over pivotal swing voters who could ultimately decide the election.

While Trump and Harris went back and forth on the issues, they also took personal jabs. Harris zeroed in on the crowd sizes at Trump's rallies , and the former president joked that he was going to send the vice president one of his well-known red hats based on her current stances.

Catch up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the Trump-Harris debate.

What's true? What's false? Sign up for USA TODAY's Checking the Facts newsletter.

Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.

Who won the debate? Harris' aggressive performance rattles a defensive Trump.

Donald Trump knocked Joe Biden out of the 2024 presidential race in the last debate, but the Republican found himself repeatedly knocked on his heels Tuesday night when squaring off against his new opponent: Kamala Harris.

Trump was on the defensive over his legal problems, election denialism, opposition from former allies and incitement of an attack on the U.S. Capitol. Even his beloved rallies become debate fodder, with Harris mocking them as full of odd digressions and so boring his supporters often leave early.

Harris came in trying to rattle and bait Trump, and often succeeded, leading to defensive, angry and rambling responses as the vice president had the upper hand throughout much of the contest. Trump repeatedly turned to immigration, his signature issue, but struggled to sustain a consistent line of attack and often leaned on familiar and false claims that drew corrections from the moderators.

− Zac Anderson

Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president: 'She is a steady-handed, gifted leader'

Taylor Swift  is endorsing  Kamala Harris  in the upcoming presidential election, the pop star revealed Tuesday night following the  presidential debate  between Harris and  former President Donald Trump .

In an Instagram post shared following the debate, Swift wrote in a caption of a photo of her with her cat that she "will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz."

"Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight. If you haven’t already, now is a great time to do your research on the issues at hand and the stances these candidates take on the topics that matter to you the most. As a voter, I make sure to watch and read everything I can about their proposed policies and plans for this country," Swift wrote.

− Anika Reed and Bryan West

Trump's closing statement: 'Why hasn't she done it?'

Trump, who got to go last because he won a coin flip before the debate, used his closing statement to attack Harris for not already accomplishing her goals during the three-and-a-half years of the Biden-Harris administration.

"Why hasn't she done it?" Trump said at one point.

He continued in a negative vein, saying the U.S. is "a failing nation" that is in "decline" because of Biden and Harris.He didn't delve deeply into his own policy proposals.

−David Jackson

Will there be a second Trump-Harris debate? Harris campaign calls for second showdown

It's not clear whether Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will debate again, but the vice president's campaign called for a second debate against Trump moments after Tuesday's showdown ended.

“Under the bright lights, the American people got to see the choice they will face this fall at the ballot box: between moving forward with Kamala Harris, or going backwards with Trump. That’s what they saw tonight and what they should see at a second debate in October. Vice President Harris is ready for a second debate. Is Donald Trump?” Harris-Walz Campaign Chair Jen O’Malley Dillon said in a statement.

− Rebecca Morin and Marina Pitofsky

Harris’ closing message: I’ll be a president for all Americans

Harris’ final message to viewers of the debate: we can chart “a new way forward” for the country together. In her closing remarks, Harris argued that she is focused on the future, and Trump is focused on the past.

Her vision for the country includes an economy that helps families, small businesses, seniors and working-class Americans, Harris said. Harris added that she would protect Americans' rights and freedoms and be a president for everyone, regardless of their political affiliation.

“And that’s the kind of president we need right now. Someone who cares about you and is not putting themselves first,” Harris said. 

– Francesca Chambers

Harris to Trump: 'Clearly, I’m not Joe Biden '

Trump sought to drag down Harris by arguing that she and President Joe Biden are one in the same.

“She is Biden,” he said. “She’s trying to get away from Biden. I don’t know the gentleman, she says.”

Harris has never claimed that she does not know Biden.  But she stressed in a rebuttal that they have different approaches. “Clearly I am not Joe Biden. And I am certainly not Donald Trump.

“And what I do offer is a new generation of leadership for our country, one who believes in what is possible, one who brings a sense of optimism about what we can do, instead of always disparaging the American people,” she said, turning to Trump.

Trump pressed on his comments about Harris' biracial identity

When questioned about why he thought it was appropriate to question Harris' biracial identity , Trump said he doesn't care.

"I don't care. You make a big deal out of something, I couldn't care less. Whatever she wants to be is okay with me."

The former president's July appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention sparked backlash after he accused Harris of becoming Black after he claimed she had only identified as Indian-American up until recently. Harris' father is Black and her mother was Indian-American.

"I mean all I can say is, I read when she was not Black, that she put out, and, I'll say that, and then I read that she was Black, and that's okay, either one was okay with me," he said. "That's up to her, that's up to her." In response, Harris called Trump's comments a "tragedy."

− Sam Woodward

Kamala Harris says she's a gun owner

After Donald Trump criticized Kamala Harris' stance on gun control, she noted that she and her running mate, Tim Walz, are both gun owners.

− Marina Pitofsky

Trump and Harris argue about Afghanistan withdrawal

Trump sought to tag Harris with the botched 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, during which 13 American service members were killed in a bombing.

"They never fired one person," Trump said, calling it "the most embarrassing moment" in the nation's history.

Harris wasn't having it, saying the problems with the withdrawal resulted from a weak deal with the Taliban negotiated by President Donald Trump.

Trump says Harris 'hates Israel'; VP says it’s 'not true'

Harris said the war between Israel and Hamas “must end immediately” with a cease-fire deal and hostage release. She recommitted to giving Israel the ability to defend itself – especially from Iran – but she said there must be a solution that establishes an independent Palestinian state.

Trump insisted that if he were president, Hamas would not have launched a vicious attack on Israel on Oct. 7. 

“She hates Israel,” Trump charged.

He knocked Harris for skipping Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress over the summer to deliver a speech to a historically Black sorority. He repeated a claim

“At the same time, in her own way, she hates the Arab population,” he added, “because the whole place is going to get blown up. Arabs, Jewish people, Israel, Israel will be gone.” Harris said “that’s absolutely not true” and that Trump is “trying to divide and distract” from his “weak and wrong” on national security and foreign policy.

“It is well known that he admires dictators, wants to be a dictator on day one,” she said, hammering Trump for a comment he made about Russian President Vladimir Putin doing “whatever the hell” he wants in Ukraine.

Trump fired back that Putin wants Harris to win the election.

− Francesca Chambers

Harris to disaffected Republicans: There's a place for you in our campaign

Harris leaned into her background as a prosecutor to establish a pattern of behavior from Trump that she hopes will win over disaffected Republicans.

January 6 was “not an isolated” incident, she said. His statement that there were “very fine people” on both sides of a clash with white supremacists in Charlottesville and a directive to the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by,” preceded the Capitol riot.

“If that was a bridge too far for you, well there is a place in our campaign for you, to stand for country, to stand for our democracy, to stand for rule of law, and to end the chaos and to end the approach that is about attacking the foundations of our democracy, because you don’t like the outcome,” Harris said.

Harris says ‘world leaders are laughing’ at Trump ; Trump references Viktor Orbán

Following Trump’s false claim that the 2020 election was corrupt, Harris said leaders across the world are “laughing” at the former president.

“I'm going to tell you that I have traveled the world as vice president of the United States and world leaders are laughing at Donald Trump,” she said. “I have talked with military leaders, some of whom work with you, and they say you are a disgrace.”

Trump pushed back on Harris’ claim, saying that Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán said the United States’ “need Trump back as president.”

“Viktor Orbán said, he said, ‘the most respected, most feared person is Donald Trump. We had no problems when Trump was president,’” Trump said, calling Biden a “weak, pathetic man.” 

− Rebecca Morin

Trump uses the term 'we' when discussing Jan. 6 rioters

Trump said he had nothing to do with the violence perpetrated by the insurrectionist rioters of Jan. 6, 2021.

He may have undercut his case when he used the term "we" while talking about the events surrounding the attack on the Capitol.

Trump insists he 'won' in 2020 (despite past comments to the contrary)

Trump insisted he still believes he "won" the 2020 election, even though he said in recent days that he lost by a "whisker" because of voter turnout. Trump's explanation for the "whisker" comment: "That was said sarcastically."

Harris, meanwhile, said there is not doubt he lost: "Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people."

Harris harnesses prosecutor vs. felon rhetoric

When answering a question about immigration rates and crime, Harris took a dig at Trump's own criminal record.

"I think this is so rich coming from someone who has been prosecuted for national security crimes, economic crimes, election interference, has been found liable for sexual assault, and his next big court appearance is in November at his own criminal sentencing," Harris said.

Last week, New York Judge Juan Merchan granted Trump's request for a delay in his sentencing for his 34 felony convictions regarding hush money payments paid to former porn star Stormy Daniels. 

"The former vice president called for defunding federal law enforcement, 45,000 agents, get this, on the day after he was arraigned for 34 felony counts," she said.

'Does that sound familiar?'

Both candidates are getting their pre-planned zingers. When Harris started to interrupt Trump, he shot back "I'm talking now" - similar to the line she used on Mike Pence in the 2020 vice presidential debate.

"Does that sound familiar?" Trump said to Harris.

Harris, meanwhile, has twice said that voters are sick of Trump's "tired, old playbook."

− David Jackson

Trump falsely claims he was prosecuted by Democrats, efforts fueled assassination attempt

Trump on Tuesday falsely said Harris was involved in the four criminal cases against him. There is no evidence Harris had involvement in the charges the former president faces.

Trump also claimed that he "probably took a bullet to the heat" due to Democratic lies about him. There is no evidence the man who attempted to assassinate Trump was motivated by his criminal cases.

Harris claims no flip-flop on fracking

Harris said she made it clear in 2020 that she does not support banning fracking.

“I have not banned fracking as Vice President of the United States, and in fact, I was the tie breaking vote on the inflation Reduction Act, which opened new leases for fracking,” Harris said.

In 2019 when she was first running for president, Harris said she was in favor of banning fracking, as well as sponsored the Green New Deal as Senator. But in the 2024 election, Harris’ campaign has said she is no longer in favor. 

Harris said at the debate that her position is to invest in diverse sources of energy and reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil: “We have had the largest increase in domestic oil production in history because of an approach that recognizes that we cannot over rely on foreign oil,” Harris said.

−Rebecca Morin

Trump makes false comments about people eating dogs and cats

Trump on Tuesday mentioned a false claim that there have been reports of immigrants eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio. There are no credible reports of that happening.

Harris: A lot of Republicans prefer me over Trump

Harris seized the opportunity to talk about all the Republicans who have condemned him and endorsed her, a list that runs from former Vice President Dick Cheney to members of the Trump administration.

She said people who know Trump the best don't like him.

Trump did not respond about Cheney; as for his former aides, he said: "I fired most of those people."

Harris hits Trump's rallies

Kamala Harris set out to get under Donald Trump’s skin. It appeared to work. Harris mocked Trump’s references at his rallies to Hannibal Lector and his false claims that windmills cause cancer.

Then she went in for the kill. “And what you will also notice is that people start leaving his rallies early out of exhaustion and boredom,” Harris said. Moderator David Muir sought to steer the conversation back to policy. Trump wasn’t having it.

“I’d like to respond,” Trump said. “First let me respond, as to the rallies,” he insisted. “She said people start leaving. People don’t go to her rallies. There’s no reason to go.”

He claimed without evidence that Harris is busing in attendees of her rallies and paying them to be here.

“People don’t leave my rallies,” he continued.” We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.”

Harris criticizes Trump for role in killing bipartisan immigration bill 

When asked why the Biden administration waited six months before the election to bring down border crossings at the U.S-Mexico border, Harris pointed the finger to Trump.

Harris said Trump killed a bipartisan immigration bill that would have put 1,500 more border agents and resources to the border.

“Donald Trump got on the phone, called up some folks in Congress and said, ‘kill the bill,’” Harris said. “And you know why? Because he preferred a run on a problem instead of fixing a problem.”

Are the mics muted? Not always  

It doesn't sound like the other candidate's microphone is being muted, at least not all the time.

Both Trump and Harris could be heard arguing with each other on the abortion issue.

Trump brags about overturning Roe v. Wade

Trump’s recent contortions on the abortion issue were addressed early in the debate, with the moderators asking about his position on Florida’s abortion rights ballot measure.

Trump came out against the constitutional amendment a day after indicating he might support it. In explaining his position Tuesday, Trump said “the reason I’m doing that vote” and then alleged that Democrats want extreme late-term abortion policies, including “probably after birth.” The moderator interjected, noting no state allows a baby to be killed after birth.

Trump bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision guaranteeing a constitutional right to an abortion.

Roe v. Wade was overturned “through the genius and heart and strength of six Supreme Court justices,” he said.

“I did a great service in doing it, it took courage to do it,” Trump said.

−Zac Anderson

'Insulting to the women of America'

Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump for falsely claiming that there are states that allow people to give birth to children and then have an abortion, killing a child that has already been born.

It's "insulting to the women of America," Harris said. She also said people do not have to abandon their "faith and deeply held beliefs" to support abortion access.

Trump denies that tariffs would spike costs for Americans

Donald Trump denied Tuesday that his proposed tariffs on foreign countries would hit average Americans’ pocketbooks.

“They’re not going to have higher prices,” Trump insisted, saying that it’s China that would pay more.

He had pledged to slap a tariff of at least 10% on imported goods. He said in August that he could increase the across the board rate to as much as 20%. Trump says he’ll put a 60% tariff on China, the United States’ largest economic competitor.

Harris has repeatedly said that Trump’s plan is tantamount to a national sales tax on average Americans. At the debate, Trump said that if Harris “doesn’t like them” then she should have gotten rid of them, referring to the Biden administration’s decision to keep Trump’s previous tariffs on China in place.

Trump jabs Harris, says he almost bought her a MAGA hat

Trump on Harris accused Harris of picking up some of his economic proposals, flip-flopping on approaches to inflation and other debates. He joked that he almost bought her one of one of his signature red Make America Great Again hat.

Harris visibly laughed as Trump targeted her economic positions.

Harris quickly links Trump to Project 2025

Harris used the economy question to link Trump to Project 2025, an uber-conservative government plan filled with economic and social ideas opposed by many voters.

Trump said he knows nothing about Project 2025 - even though many of its authors are former Trump administration officials.

Harris touts ‘opportunity economy’ plan, child tax credit

Kamala Harris kicked off the debate Tuesday on an issue that’s top of mind for voters: the economy. 

Harris touted her plan that would address housing costs and give a $50,000 tax deduction to start up small businesses.

“I was raised as a middle class kid, and I am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America,” she said. “I believe in the ambition, the aspirations, the dreams of the American people, and that is why I imagine and have actually a plan to build what I call an opportunity economy.”

Harris walks over to Trump, offers handshake

Vice President Kamala Harris walked over to former President Donald Trump and extended her hand as the only scheduled debate between the candidates began.

Harris and Trump had never met before. He skipped her inauguration on his final morning at the White House.

In the election in which Trump has hurled personal insults at Harris, and Harris has characterized him as a threat to American democracy it was an unexpected and intentional sign of respect for the former president.

−Francesca Chambers

Attending and 'spinning' for Vice President Kamala Harris

Several prominent Democrats are expected to attend the debate and boast about their presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The Harris-Walz campaign announced a list of several Democratic governors, senators and representatives who will be in the "spin room" addressing the media.

Those include:

• North Carolina Gov.  Roy Cooper
• Former VP shortlist contender Pennsylvania Gov.  Josh Shapiro
• California Gov.  Gavin Newsom
• U.S. Senator from Illinois  Tammy Duckworth
• Former Congressman  Cedric Richmond
• Gold Star father  Khizr Khan

President Joe Biden and running mate Tim Walz are not in Philadelphia for the debate.

− Kinsey Crowley

Vibe-check: Dems in Atlanta are excited to feel excited again

More than 30 minutes before the debate, Manuels Tavern − the Democratic-leaning bar where former President Jimmy Carter announced his 1970 gubernatorial campaign − is packed with a standing room only crowd.

Most in the bar say they feel a huge difference between this debate and the one between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

Blake Bradburn, 33, watched the last one from home out of fear. This time? He wasn’t going to miss the party.

“The energy is back, that’s what makes this fun.”

− Karissa Waddick

How to watch Trump, Harris debate 

ABC News will host the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Tuesday. However, multiple channels, including NBC and CNN, will broadcast the event as well. 

– Savannah Kuchar

JD Vance, RFK Jr. will be spinning for Donald Trump at the debate

Trump running mate JD Vance is in Philadelphia, part of a large group of debate "spinners" who will promote the former president's cause with the media. The Trump spinner list also includes Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the former independent candidate who dropped out and endorsed Trump.

Daughter-in-law Lara Trump, a co-chair of the Republican National Committee, will also be spinning tonight.

So will at least ten more Republican governors and members of Congress.

– David Jackson

What is Project 2025?

You probably won't hear very much about policy documents during Tuesday's debate, but you're likely to hear about Project 2025.

The detailed plan to dismantle and reconstruct the government laid out by  conservative groups  known as the 2025 Presidential Transition Project has critics up in arms over its " apocalyptic " and " authoritarian " nature.

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C., led an effort to create the more than 900-page  "Mandate for Leadership,"  published in April 2023, reimagining the executive branch and presented a plan to overhaul several federal government agencies, including the FBI, for the country's next conservative president to follow.

More: What is Project 2025? Is this Trump's plan? The Presidential Transition Project explained.

– Rachel Barber and Marina Pitofsky

Trump's supporters turn to debate

Tracey Naulty of Philadelphia’s Port Richmond neighborhood watched pro-Palestinian protesters march east on Market Street.Carrying a sign supporting former President Donald Trump, Naulty said she believes “we won’t have a country” if he’s not elected.“The economy was better and there were no wars” when Trump was in office, she said. She called the protest “a distraction from the real issues” and believes Trump can bring peace to Ukraine and Gaza.Her dog, Nelley, a cocker-poodle mix, was wearing a pro-Trump outfit.“She’s a Trumper, too,” Naulty said.

– Marina Pitofsky

Pro-Palestinian protests swell to hundreds of people

Rabiul Chowdhury, a demonstrator in Philadelphia on Thursday, said Abandon Harris was officially launching Tuesday –an effort to force the Harris campaign to broker a cease-fire in Gaza or lose crucial votes in battleground states like Michigan and Pennsylvania.The Harris Campaign “doesn’t care about us,” said Chowdhury. The group is not advocating for Donald Trump, he added, and instead urging voters toward third party candidates like Jill Stein and Cornel West.Harris "acts like we owe her our votes. “ he added. Asked if they worried about a Trump presidency, he said: “We can’t blame Trump for what Biden and Harris did.”

– Phaedra Trethan

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz won't be present at debate

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz won't be in Philadelphia with his running mate, but will instead be campaigning in the Sun Belt on Tuesday night.

The VP nominee made his first solo visit to the crucial battleground state of Arizona Tuesday. He is set to speak at an event in Phoenix at 5:30 p.m. local time, just thirty minutes before Harris will take on Trump.

– Sam Woodward

Inside Trump's and Harris' starkly different visions for the economy

If the economic visions of Joe Biden  and   Donald Trump  were starkly divergent, the contrast between Trump and  Kamala Harris  is nearly blinding.

Trump’s and Harris’ blueprints for the economy are expected to be spotlighted in  their first and possibly only debate  Tuesday evening, hosted by ABC News.

What does Kamala Harris support? What about Donald Trump? Read more here.

– Paul Davidson

Protesters gather in Philadelphia, demonstrate over Israel-Hamas war

A group of about 100 protesters gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall Tuesday evening to bring attention to the situation in Gaza, with plans to march as close to the Constitution Center as they can get, given the tight security perimeter there.

Holding Palestinian flags and shouting pro-Palenstian chants, the group led by the Party for Socialism and Liberation wants people to know “Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have more in common with each other than they have with us,” said Claudia Dela, a New York-based organizer.

“Democracy is very much a sham,” said Dela. Harris and Trump “are part of the same political class, and we need more voices of working people to demand what we deserve.”

Biden isn't attending debate, says Harris is ‘going to do great’

President Joe Biden said he spoke with a “calm” Vice President Kamala Harris hours ahead of the debate. 

Speaking with reporters outside the White House, Biden said Harris seems “calm, cool and collected” in his call with the vice president.

“I think she's going to do great. And I'm not going to tell you what advice I gave her,” Biden said.

– Rebecca Morin

7 things to watch at the Kamala Harris-Donald Trump debate  

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump's showdown in Philadelphia on Tuesday will be a major test – and opportunity – in a presidential campaign that has already been defined by a debate.  

Democrats and their progressive allies are fully aware of the stakes after the last head-to-head showdown led to weeks of internal party turmoil culminating in 81-year-old President Joe Biden's dramatic exit from the race. 

Many are eager for Harris, known for her resume and reputation as a prosecutor, to take her Republican opponent to task over his unprecedented criminal record and to draw a contrast on critical issues facing the country in front of a national audience. 

Read more here  

– Phillip M. Bailey   

Where do Harris and Trump stand in the polls?    

Harris seems to have national momentum on her side heading into the presidential debate, a USA TODAY/Suffolk Poll found. The poll of 1,000 likely voters taken after the Democratic National Convention showed Harris leading Trump 48%-43%. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.   

However, a New York Times/Sienna Poll of 1,695 likely voters taken last week found Trump leading Harris, 48%-47%, within the poll’s three-percentage-point margin of error.  

The race appears tighter in key swing states that could determine the election’s outcome. Other polls show the candidates are neck and neck in crucial battlegrounds including Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Georgia.   

– Rachel Barber  

Welcome to Philly from the Harris campaign?

Electronic signs at the intersection of 12th and Market streets in Philadelphia are flashing Philly-centric signs to Donald Trump.

“Philly is Wit Harris”—a reference to how Philly natives take their cheesesteak (“wit” or “witout” onions, to the rest of youse)—and messages referencing crowd size and Project 2025 greet visitors, pedestrians and the media and dignitaries out to grab a bite at the nearby Reading Terminal Market and a Hard Rock Cafe.

Scaramucci: Harris appeals to ‘normal Republicans’

Anthony Scaramucci, who served briefly as Donald Trump’s White House communication’s director, suggested Harris’ economic agenda and national security ideas would appeal to “normal Republicans.”

“There’s nothing radical about it,” Scaramucci told reporters ahead of the debate.

Scaramucci, a Trump critic who is attending the debate as a Harris surrogate, said Harris’ endorsement by former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney “gives space and comfort to normal Republicans, not Trumpish Republicans, but normal Republicans and independent moderates” that she is the right choice in this election.

Scaramucci, who was fired from the Trump White House after less than two weeks on the job, introduced himself to reporters by joking, “I'm Anthony Scaramucci, and I lasted one Scaramucci in the White House, which is 11 days."

– Michael Collins

Debate in Philly? Cue the theme from 'Rocky'

Both campaigns are referencing one of Philadelphia's claims to fame: The setting of the 1976 Oscar-winning boxing film "Rocky," the story of scrappy underdog Rocky Balboa and his challenge to world champion Apollo Creed.

"Fight Night in Philly!" tweeted Trump aide Steven Cheung as the Republican candidate's plane took off from South Florida. The Harris campaign, meanwhile, is planning a pre-debate "drone show" above the "Rocky steps" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The odds are good that the sound system will play the musical theme from the movie, "Gonna Fly Now."   

A word of caution may be in order, however: In the first Rocky film, Balboa actually lost a split decision to Creed in the championship bout; it wasn't until the first sequel that Rocky became champion.

How to stream the debate, watch the debate without cable

On Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. EDT, USA TODAY Network will stream The ABC News Presidential Debate Simulcast on the USA TODAY channel , available on most smart televisions and devices. 

– USA TODAY Staff

Former Trump official Olivia Troye senses ‘sea change’ against ex-president

Olivia Troye, who worked as a national security adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, said she’s hearing from other Republicans who believe Donald Trump is too extreme and don’t want him to return to the White House.

Troye, who quit her job in the administration after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, is serving as a surrogate for Kamala Harris and is attending the debate as Harris’ guest.

“I think I’m seeing a sea change,” Troye told reporters ahead of the debate. “I’m hearing from Republicans across the country. I’m traveling to the swing states. I’m talking to them directly, and they’re saying, ‘I don’t identify with that.’”

Troye said her values haven’t changed and that she doesn’t agree with everything Harris and her running mate, Tim Walz, support. But, “I believe there is a better future for our country getting away from the extremism that Donald Trump and MAGA represent,” she said.

Melania Trump raises questions about attempted assassination of her husband

Donald Trump hasn't complained much about his security before the July 13 attempt on his life, but some of his allies have including former first lady Melania Trump . In a video promoting her upcoming memoir, Melania Trump called the assassination attempt "a horrible, distressing experience," and said "the silence around it feels heavy."

"I can't help but wonder, why didn't law enforcement officials arrest the shooter before the speech," the former first lady said.

She added: "There is definitely more to this story, and we need to uncover the truth," she said.

Donald Trump's son, Eric Trump , added on X: "I want answers as well. Something is being hidden."

Presidential debate bingo: Play USA TODAY's free game during the Harris-Trump showdown

It's time for another round of the  presidential debate bingo ! The game where you play along as Kamala Harris  and Donald Trump   share the stage for the first time  as they compete for the White House  this November . Grab a few friends and choose your bingo cards here .

– Saman Shafiq

Foo Fighters will donate to Kamala Harris after Trump used their song 'My Hero'

The  Foo Fighters  are fighting back.

A representative for the rock band told USA TODAY that the Donald Trump campaign did not ask them for permission to use the group's song "My Hero" at  the former president's rally  last month with  Robert F. Kennedy Jr . in Glendale, Arizona, "and if they were, they would not have granted it."

The representative added that "any royalties received as a result of this use will be donated" to Vice President  Kamala Harris ' presidential campaign.

– Brendan Morrow

Trump calls for government shutdown without voting legislation 

While preparing for the debate, Trump took time Tuesday to urge Republican lawmakers to shut down the government if Congress does not approve voting policies he wants. Trump wants to bar migrants who are in the country illegally from voting – but that is already illegal. His proposal would require new voters to submit more documentary proof of citizenship.

Still, in a Truth Social post, Trump said Republicans in Congress should not approve a new spending plan without his voting plan. Congress' deadline to keep the government's doors open is Sept. 30.

"If Republicans in the House, and Senate, don’t get absolute assurances on Election Security, THEY SHOULD, IN NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, GO FORWARD WITH A CONTINUING RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET," he said.

T wo former Trump officials, Anthony Scaramucci and Olivia Troye, will be guests of Harris campaign

Two former officials in Donald Trump’s administration will be at the presidential debate for the Harris campaign on Thursday.

Anthony Scaramucci , a former Trump White House communications director, and Olivia Troye , Homeland Security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, will serve as surrogates for the campaign and warn what a second Trump presidency would look like.

“Listen, don’t take it from us: Take it from the ones who know Donald Trump the best and who are telling the American people exactly how unfit Trump is to serve as president,” said Harris communications director Michael Tyler. 

Trump will knock Harris on immigration at debate

One of the top issues Trump will hammer Harris on is immigration. Trump and his allies have labeled Harris as a “border czar,” claiming that she was put in charge of the border and millions have crossed the border under her watch. Immigration experts previously debunked the claim , saying that Joe Biden tasked Harris with leading the administration's diplomatic efforts addressing the "root causes" of migration in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Trump will likely compare his immigration record with that of the Biden-Harris administration’s at the debate. 

Along the U.S.-Mexico border, migrant apprehensions plunged in July from a year ago, to the lowest level of the Biden era, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection statistics provided to USA TODAY.

– Sudiksha Kochi, Andre Byik and Lauren Villagran

Trump: 'You don't know what to expect' ahead of debate

Expect Donald Trump to harp on Kamala Harris' change of position on various issues – an allegation she's repeatedly rejected.

"You don't know what to expect - she's changed all of her policies over the years," Trump told NBC News in a phone interview on Tuesday. Harris and aides, meanwhile, plan to stress Trump's personal attacks on the vice president and other prominent Democrats.

Where do Trump and Harris stand on the wars in Israel, Ukraine?

Both Trump and Harris view Israel as a pivotal U.S. ally and have supported the country in the wake of Hamas’ devastating attack on Oct. 7.

Still, both nominees have split from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at times. Trump earlier this year earlier this year called on Israel to “finish up your war.” Harris has said Israeli leaders "must do more to protect civilian life" in Gaza.

Trump has said without evidence that, if elected, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would be settled within 24 hours, though it’s not clear how he would negotiate with the countries. Harris has widely criticized Russia’s invasion. In a major shift, the Biden administration earlier this year authorized Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

Bottoms up: Drinking games for tonight's debate

Tonight’s debate is high stakes for both candidates, and millions of Americans are expected to tune in. For any viewers in need of entertainment with their politics, here are just a few drinking game ideas. 

• Spicy USA TODAY presidential debate bingo: Players will follow along with bingo cards, and each person to subsequently call bingo takes their numerically assigned shot (of alcohol, if of age and appropriate). 
• Debate foul, party foul: Essentially, if the candidates fail to follow the rules, viewers take a drink. 
• Line by line, sip by sip: Players should pick their political cliche of choice (think "my fellow Americans" or "We the People") and sip every time that line is said. 

For more game details and specifics, read here . 

– Savannah Kuchar and James Powel 

Where do Harris and Trump stand on the border?

Trump has made immigration and southern border policy a cornerstone of his political career. He has long attacked undocumented immigrants, promising wide-reaching deportations if he’s elected to a second term. The Trump administration also faced major criticism over immigration officials separating children and parents or other family at the border with Mexico.

Harris opposed the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border as a 2020 presidential candidate, but she backed bipartisan border legislation pushed by the Biden administration that would have allocated unspent dollars to continue the construction of a border wall, among a host of other measures.

– Marina Pitofsky and Joey Garrison

When is the vice presidential debate? Will Tim Walz and JD Vance debate?

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance are gearing up to take the stage for a vice presidential debate after both accepted an Oct. 1 invitation from CBS News.

The outlet also offered the candidates the chance to debate on Sept. 17, Sept. 24, and Oct. 8, but neither accepted those invitations. Vance suggested they also debate Sept. 18, but Walz has not agreed to that date.

– Rachel Barber

Harris, Trump to meet – for the first time

Harris and Trump have had much to say about one another while campaigning for president. But tonight’s debate marks the first time that the pair will actually meet face-to-face. 

While both have been in politics and the public eye for decades now, the candidates have yet to cross paths. 

Harris was present as a senator for Trump’s State of the Union addresses, but the two did not interact then. And Trump did not attend her vice presidential inauguration after refusing to accept the 2020 election results. 

– Savannah Kuchar and Phillip Bailey 

Advocates urge prioritizing abortion discussion

Abortion rights activists are calling for tonight’s debate moderators to prioritize the issue in their questions to candidates. 

A petition by the progressive advocacy group MoveOn has garnered over 40,000 signatures, including support from actress Busy Philipps, and activists Amanda Zurwaski and Kaitlyn Joshua, who shared their personal abortion stories on stage at the Democratic National Convention last month. 

Abortion is likely to come up tonight as a top concern in this year’s election. Harris, who has long been a leading voice in the Biden administration on the issue, has made reproductive rights a cornerstone of her presidential campaign. 

– Savannah Kuchar 

How long is the debate tonight?

Presidential debates are typically 90 minutes long, including the one tonight. 

The Biden-Trump debate in June hosted by CNN went from 9 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. 

In 2020, the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump was also about 90 minutes. It was moderated by former Fox News journalist Chris Wallace.

– Sudiksha Kochi

How old are the candidates?

Age was at the center of discussion about the 2024 election after the June debate between Biden and Trump.

Biden, 81, had a stumbling debate performance that night that ultimately led to him stepping aside and endorsing Harris to become the Democratic nominee.

Members of Congress, voters, and pundits wrung their hands publicly about it in the month after the debate while Trump sought to capitalize on Biden’s poor performance. He mocked the president at a rally in Virginia the day after the debate and accused Biden of being a "part-time president" at a rally in Miami in July after Biden struggled to articulate his pitch to Americans on the debate stage.

So, how old is Trump, and how old is Harris?

Trump turned 78 years old in June and would be 82 by the end of his term if he were to win in November.

Harris will turn 60 in October and would be 64 years old by the end of her term if she were to win in November.

– Elizabeth Beyer, David Jackson and Charles Trepany

Are there more presidential debates?

Tonight’s debate is currently the only face-off between Harris and Trump scheduled.  

Trump had proposed two other dates in September for additional debates, while the Harris campaign said in a statement the vice president would agree to another meeting between the candidates in October. 

– Savannah Kuchar and Marina Pitofsky 

Harris, Trump polling neck-and-neck in swing states

Harris and Trump head into debate night Tuesday essentially neck-and-neck in the 2024 swing states . 

Trump had enjoyed a lead in these seven battlegrounds earlier this year when Biden was still in the race.  

Shortly after taking over the ticket, though, Harris gained a slight advantage in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Arizona, and tied Trump in Georgia, according to a Cook Political Report survey last month. Trump continued to lead in Nevada by 5 points. 

And a Detroit Free Press survey late last month found Trump ahead again by one point in Michigan. 

Essentially, the race could not be tighter, and both candidates will be vying tonight for support from voters in these key states. 

– Savannah Kuchar, Joey Garrison, and Todd Spangler 

What are the debate rules and who are the moderators?

The debate will be 90 minutes long with two commercial breaks. There will be no props or pre-written notes allowed onstage, and candidates will be given a pen, pad of paper and a water bottle. Candidates' microphones will be live only for the candidate whose turn it is to speak and muted when the time belongs to another candidate.

The two moderators for the debate are ABC journalists Linsey Davis and David Muir. Muir is a broadcast journalist who is the host and managing editor of "ABC World News Tonight with David Muir." Muir interviewed Biden earlier this year as a part of D-Day coverage and was Trump's first White House interview as president in 2017.

Davis hosts "ABC News Live Prime," ABC News' streaming evening newscast, and weekend "World News Tonight" on Sundays. She is also a correspondent for "World News Tonight," "Good Morning America," "20/20" and "Nightline."

– Saman Shafiq, Gabe Hauari, and Sudiksha Kochi

Who won which states in 2020?

In the 2020 presidential race, Biden won 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232. Of the 538 votes in the Electoral College up for grabs, a candidate must receive 270 of those votes to win.

In 2020, Biden won six of the seven states deemed battlegrounds in this year’s election: Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Nevada. Trump won one of this year's battleground states in 2020: North Carolina.

Battleground, or swing states, are those that flipped parties in the presidential election between 2016 and 2020.

As Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump prepare to face off on the debate stage in Philadelphia later this evening, take a look at how the 2020 race shook out along with some background on the Electoral College.

– Elizabeth Beyer

Where is the debate?

The debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will take place in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center .

Pennsylvania is one of a handful of battleground states that could be key in deciding the outcome of this year’s presidential election.

How candidates are approaching the debate

Catch up on the dynamics going into the debate tonight with these USA TODAY stories:

• Trump's debate plan? Attack, attack, attack
• With a lot on the line, will Harris the prosecutor show up on the debate stage?
• 7 things to watch in the Trump, Harris debate

What time will Trump and Harris debate?

Tuesday's debate is set to begin at 9 p.m. ET.

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Ukraine Travel Advisory

Travel advisory may 22, 2023, ukraine - level 4: do not travel.

Do not travel to Ukraine due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The Department of State continues to advise that U.S. citizens not travel to Ukraine due to active armed conflict. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

All U.S. citizens should carefully monitor U.S. government notices and local and international media outlets for information about changing security conditions and alerts to shelter in place. Those choosing to remain in Ukraine should exercise caution due to the potential for military attacks, crime, civil unrest, and consult the Department’s latest security alerts.

The security situation in Ukraine remains unpredictable. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should stay vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. Know the location of your closest shelter or protected space. In the event of mortar, missile, drone, or rocket fire, follow instructions from local authorities and seek shelter immediately. If you feel your current location is no longer safe, you should carefully assess the potential risks involved in moving to a different location.

There are continued reports of Russian forces and their proxies singling out U.S. citizens in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine for detention, interrogation, or harassment because of their nationality. U.S. citizens have also been singled out when evacuating by land through Russia-occupied territory or to Russia or Belarus.

U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance should email [email protected] for assistance. Please review what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas . U.S. citizens may also seek consular services, including requests for repatriation loans, passports, and visa services, at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries .

On February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government declared a state of emergency. Each province (oblast) decides on measures to be implemented according to local conditions. Measures could include curfews, restrictions on the freedom of movement, ID verification, and increased security inspections, among other measures. Follow any oblast-specific state of emergency measures.

Many in the international community, including the United States and Ukraine, do not recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea in 2014, nor the September 2022 purported annexation of four other Ukrainian oblasts -- Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. There is extensive Russian Federation military presence in these areas. There are also abuses against foreigners and the local population by the occupation authorities in these regions, particularly against those who are seen as challenging Russia’s occupation.

Although Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine severely restricts the Embassy’s access and ability to provide services in these areas, the Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv continue to remotely provide certain emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Crimea as well as four other Ukrainian oblasts partially occupied by Russia – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia – to the extent possible given security conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) prohibiting U.S. aviation operations into, out of, within, or over Ukraine. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the FAA’s Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ukraine.

Travel to High-Risk Areas

If you choose to disregard the Travel Advisory and travel to Ukraine, you should consider taking the following steps:

• Visit our website on Travel to High-Risk areas .
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States.
• Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
• Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first and how they should share the information.
• Enroll your trip in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter .
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

If you are currently in Ukraine:

• Read the Department’s country information page on Ukraine.
• Familiarize yourself with information on what the U.S. government can and cannot do to assist you in a crisis overseas .
• Have a contingency plan in place that does not rely on U.S. government assistance.
• Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your contingency plans based on the new information.
• Avoid demonstrations and crowds.
• Ensure travel documents are valid and easily accessible.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Notices related to your travel.
• Get a COVID vaccine to facilitate your travel.
• Understand the COVID testing and vaccine requirements for all countries that you will transit through to your destination.
• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Review the Country Security Report for Ukraine.
• Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
• Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk areas .

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