Update from the IRC: Safe Pathway for Ukrainian Refugees

On April 25, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security created a pathway for US residents and institutions to sponsor Ukrainian refugees and allow them to enter the US, under what is known as "parole". This has created a safe pathway that will allow Ukrainians to seek asylum in the US without having to make the journey to the US-Mexico Border, which was the only pathway available previously for Ukrainians who did not already have access to a visa. The IRC has already assisted with the review of one application for parole and has seen it granted this Monday! The process to receive parole is so far proving to be incredibly quick, taking less than a week to receive a decision.

Applying for the program is straightforward - an online application is filled out and financial documents are uploaded. There are no published guidelines for what constitutes the minimum amount of financial assets needed to be a sponsor, but generally, the US government would like the sponsor to be able to meet the Ukrainian refugee at the airport, transport them, and assist them with settling in the US through housing and work opportunities.

If you are interested in supporting Ukrainians who would like to come to the US, please see the following website for additional details: https://www.dhs.gov/ukraine. To support the work of the IRC, go to ircsgv.org/donate. Thank you!

-Jonathan Fung, Director of Legal Services