U.S. Grants Ukrainians in the U.S. Temporary Protected Status

Dallas immigration lawyers – Rabinowitz & Rabinowitz, P.C.

Dallas, TX (Law Firm Newswire) April 21, 2016 – The Biden Administration has announced that Ukrainian nationals in the United States will be granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) amid the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The designation will last for 18 months.

TPS will be granted to Ukrainian nationals who have lived continuously in the United States since March 1, 2022. Individuals who enter the country after that date will not be eligible for the designation.

“It is heartwarming that the Administration acted quickly to help those Ukrainians lucky enough to be in the U.S. at the right time,” commented Stewart Rabinowitz of the Dallas and Frisco law firm of Rabinowitz & Rabinowitz, P.C. “More complicated is helping Ukrainians outside of Ukraine who may want to join family members in the U.S. And more difficult yet is relief for Ukrainians abroad with no family connections in the U.S. beyond humanitarian parole on a case-by-case basis, as the horror of the Russian slaughter of Ukrainians continues.”

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Ukrainian nationals qualify for the designation because of the ongoing conflict and “the extraordinary and temporary conditions” in the country. The Russian military attack has caused a humanitarian crisis, causing millions of Ukrainians to flee and seek refuge in other countries.

TPS is offered when a person who is in the U.S. is unable to safely return to their home country because of ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters or other extreme and temporary conditions. The designation provides protection from deportation. Ukrainian nationals who are living in the United States temporarily are also allowed to apply for a work authorization for the duration of their TPS designation.

The 18-month designation will take effect on the publication date of the forthcoming Federal Register notice. The notice will also provide guidance for applying for TPS and an Employment Authorization Document. TPS applicants are required to meet all eligibility conditions and submit to security and background checks.