With the war in Ukraine now passing its sixth month, many Ukrainian nationals have fled and entered Florida and other areas in the United States. There are different visa processing options for people to remain in the country.
Visas
As of March 2, 2022, the U.S. the State Department is allowing Ukrainians to seek otherwise eligible non-immigrant visas from other U.S. consulates because of the war and the closure of the Kyiv consulate. Since the war in Ukraine, U.S. embassies closed in the country. Ukrainians who are stationed in Germany or Poland can apply for a visa. It’s also possible to enter countries such as Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, but the wait times are longer in those nations.
Standard nonimmigrant visas
Ukrainian nationals also have the option of applying for a standard nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis. This could be to visit, work or gain an education. To obtain a visitor, student or employment-based visa, the individual would have to file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). That petition must first be approved before the person can apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate in a country other than Ukraine. However, eligibility can be challenging and approval can take a long time.
People from Ukraine can also qualify for refugee status while they are outside of the U.S. while aiming for immigration into the country. It’s possible to gain a referral from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program to be considered a refugee to enter the U.S. However, processing and approval often take a few years to complete.
A homeless visa may be a good option for Ukrainian nationals looking to enter the United States.
