Ukraine Crisis Frequently Asked Questions
What is US Together doing in response to the situation in Ukraine?
As US Together is a local refugee resettlement agency based in Ohio, we do not have staff on the ground in Eastern Europe, but we frequently post updates on our Facebook and Instagram pages. For those seeking up-to-date information, please check our Columbus and Cleveland Facebook (@USTogetherIncColumbus and @USTogetherCLE) and Instagram (@USTogetherColumbus and @USTogetherCleveland) pages.
Additionally, our agency staff provide support to Ukrainian families who have already been resettled and works closely with communities to identify emerging needs.
Where can Ukrainians find information and help?
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, has provided the following help-pages and phone numbers:
Inside Ukraine: UNHCR Help Page Ukraine and the IDP hotline 0-800-307-711
Hungary: UNHCR Help Page Hungary
Poland: UNHCR Help Page Poland and the Polish government website for Ukrainians (scroll down for additional languages and government hotline number: +48477217575)
Moldova: email: hunbu@unhcr.org and phone number +373 22 271 853 for UNHCR. A government hotline for Ukrainian refugees ('the green line') has been newly established in Moldova: 0 8000 1527.
Romania: UNHCR Help Page Romania and the website of our partner, the Romanian National Council for Refugees: https://www.cnrr.ro/index.php/ro/
Slovakia: UNHCR Help Page Slovakia
For Ukrainian Jews, JDC has launched a centralized Hesed hotline in Israel, serving people in Ukraine and relatives in other countries. It is staffed by Russian, Hebrew, and English speakers. Ukraine phone number +380-947-111-104
Additional information: Ukrainian refugees fleeing to countries in the European Union can stay visa-free for 90 days in E.U. nations. Under new rules announced, Ukrainian nationals will be eligible for "temporary protection" within E.U. for up to three years. Read the full story from the Washington Post, article titled “As trains of Ukrainian refugees arrive in Berlin, E.U. offers warm but ‘temporary’ welcome”.
How can I help someone get out of Ukraine?
At the moment, there is no process to apply for refugee status in the U.S. as a result of the current crisis. We will continue to update the information.
Can I ship items to Ukraine?
US Together does not coordinate any efforts from the public to move goods to Ukraine at this point. We will continue to update the information.
Can Ukrainians be resettled as refugees in the United States? Can I sponsor a Ukrainian refugee?
On Friday, March 25th, the United States White House announced plans to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainians and others fleeing Ukraine through legal pathways, including the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. We will continue to update this information, along with application details.
On March 15th, 2022, the Lautenberg Program was reauthorized for Ukrainian religious minority groups, including Jewish, Evangelical Christians, Ukrainian Catholics, and Ukrainian Autocephalous Church (prior to 1989). To qualify, the person must be the child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or grandchild of a U.S. resident, asylee, refugee, or citizen. The U.S. resident must be 18 years or older and must be able to provide proof of legal residence in the U.S. with either a U.S. Passport, Certificate of Naturalization, Law Permanent Resident Card (front and back), I-94, or certificate confirming asylee status.
Those applying for Lautenberg Status must have the following documents: Affidavit of Relationship (AOR), preliminary Questionnaire for all applicants over 13 years of age, U.S. relative’s proof of legal status, proof of relationship, proof of identity for all beneficiaries (passport bio page/national ID card or birth certificate if neither if available), color passport-style photo of all beneficiaries, adoption certificate (if necessary), and marriage certificate to show any name changes. To start the application process, the U.S. relative must apply by September 16th, 2022. Please reach out to your local US Together office to schedule appointment.
For people in Ukraine who are already in the refugee resettlement process through the Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Eurasia/IOM (Ukrainian cases or otherwise), if the original address on file with the RSC has changed, email the RSC at icc@iom.int to provide a new location and contact details.
Can Ukrainians get visas to come to the U.S.?
On February 13, 2022, the Department of State suspended consular services at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, including interview waiver services. Applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas may apply in any country where they are physically present and where there are appointments available.
People who have an immigrant visa currently pending with the U.S. Embassy Kyiv may be able to transfer processing of an immigration case to another U.S. Embassy. They must contact the receiving U.S. Embassy in that country to authorize and initiate transfer. The Embassy will have a list of requirements that must be satisfied to begin the transfer process.
Ukrainians with close U.S. citizen family members in the U.S. may be eligible for family-based immigrant visas. Information and eligibility information is at www.uscis.gov.
As each U.S. Embassy has specific application procedures, applicants should contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where they wish to apply directly. Contact information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates is available at travel.state.gov.
What should Ukrainians in the U.S. whose non-immigrant visas are about to expire do?
Individuals from Ukraine who have continuously been in the U.S. prior or on March 1, 2022, are eligible to apply for Temporary Protection Status. Find more details at the Department of Homeland Security’s website (dhs.gov, article titled “Secretary Mayorkas Designates Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months”).
Can I provide housing to a displaced Ukrainian family?
Housing in the U.S. for Ukrainian refugees is not a priority, as resettlement to the U.S. is not part of the immediate response. US Together will report any changes.
What should I be advocating?
Currently, US Together is leading advocacy efforts with three main requests for the U.S. government:
Provide safe passage to those granted refugee status in Ukraine to the United States.
Expedite pending refugee applications in Ukraine.
Commit to bringing refugees from the current crisis to the United States.
Please find the list of local elected officials with their contact information:
United States Senators for Ohio:
Senator Rob Portman – Contact Here
Senator Sherrod Brown – Contact Here
United States House of Representatives
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty 3rd District of Ohio (Columbus) – Contact Here
Congresswoman Shontel Brown 11th District of Ohio (Cleveland) – Contact Here
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur 9th District of Ohio (Cleveland/Toledo) – Contact Here
Congressman Robert E. Latta 5th District of Ohio (Toledo) – Contact Here
Can I volunteer to help?
Email us for volunteer opportunities at the following email addresses:
Columbus: volunteers@ustogether.us
Cleveland: lcolumber@ustogether.us
Toledo: cdehabey@ustogether.us
Helpful Links:
Please get in touch by emailing ukrainehelp@ustogether.us for additional inquiries.
This document was created using the HIAS Ukraine Crisis Frequently Asked Questions as a base.