USCIS halts Ukrainian refugee applications amid policy shift
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has suspended the processing of applications under the United for Ukraine (U4U) program for Ukrainian refugees. This decision is linked to an executive order dated January 20, 2025.
USCIS announced that it is halting the acceptance of Form I-134A, which is an online support application. However, it emphasized that the agency will review all applications that have already been submitted.
The U4U program
The Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program allows Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to come to the United States and reside temporarily for two years. Under the U4U program, Ukrainian citizens must have a sponsor in the USA who agrees to provide financial support during their stay.
Authorized agencies verify the sponsor to ensure they can financially support the individual during their stay in the United States.
Suspension of USAID projects
It should be noted that the USAID office, an American government agency responsible for providing aid to countries recovering from natural disasters, combating poverty, and implementing democratic reforms, has been instructed to suspend all projects and expenditures in Ukraine at the direction of the U.S. Department of State. The suspension will last for 90 days to allow for an audit of aid programs.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an order to suspend temporary immigration programs. This decision will impact Ukrainians, Cubans, Venezuelans, and others.
Source: UNN.UA
