Since Russian troops crossed through the border of Ukraine on Feb 24th, more than 2.7 million people have fled Ukraine. Refugees have flooded into neighboring countries seeking safety and humanitarian relief from Russian attacks.
As of March 11, most Ukrainian refugees have fled to neighboring countries, 1.5 million of them to Poland, 225,000 to Hungary, and 176,000 to Slovakia. Tens of thousands have also crossed into Russia, Romania, and Moldova. Another 282,000 have left for other European countries, including Germany.
Humanitarian Relief for Ukraine Refugees in The United States
The United States has provided nearly $54 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by Russia’s invasion. This funding includes nearly $26 million from the Department of State and roughly $28 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development.
This money assists with food, safe drinking water, shelter, health care, and protection. This money assists with maintaining contact with those who have been separated due to this conflict with hopes to soon be reunited.
Seeking Asylum
Recently, The Biden administration granted temporary protection from deportation to tens of thousands of Ukrainians who are already living in the U.S. prior to March 1st.
The Department of Homeland Security announced that it has designated Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS. This 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.
Currently, for Ukrainians looking to flee Russia’s attack and come to the U.S., they would need a visa to enter legally and the pathways are limited to obtaining one.
The State Department announced last week that Ukrainians can apply for a temporary visa at any American consulate. Due to the current situation, the U.S. consulate for Ukrainian immigrant visa applications has also been designated in Frankfurt, Germany. While the temporary visa option is open to many, there will be long wait times that come along with the process.
Contact Us
At Schehr Law PLLC we offer free consultations and affordable payment plans. The immigration process can be long and stressful, reach out to an attorney who has experience in this area. Please do not hesitate to reach out for more information or if you have any questions at all.