Ukrainian Community Support & How You Can Respond

Together, we can make a difference.

Millions have been forced to leave their homes and families in Ukraine due to the Russian invasion. While many hope to return, that might not be possible. They need a safe place of welcome during this time.

Through the Uniting for Ukraine program, over 19,000 Ukrainians have been approved to come to Illinois, almost all of which will arrive in the Chicagoland area. This requires a collaborative community response from organizations, individuals, churches, and ministries in the region especially as we continue to serve and welcome those fleeing other conflicts around the world.

Join us in praying for the people of Ukraine.

We grieve for our Ukrainian neighbors and pray for their safety.

As the situation in Ukraine continues to unfold, World Relief Chicagoland invites you to pause and pray for those affected right now — for refugees, the displaced, those left behind and their families. You can use all or part of this prayer to help guide you as, together, we lift up Ukraine.

Will you join us in praying for peace?

Below you will find information on how to help and on the services being offered to Ukrainians who have arrived here in Chicagoland.

Ukrainian Sponsor Support Hub

The Ukrainian Sponsor Support Hub of Chicagoland (and greater Illinois) is a consortium of partners across the Chicagoland region, with primary responsibilities being given to the Self Reliance Association and World Relief Chicagoland. The primary goal of the hub is to recruit and support individuals and groups sponsoring Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees through the Uniting for Ukraine program in collaboration with Welcome.US.

The Self Reliance Association, as a key stakeholder in the Ukrainian community across Chicagoland, will function as the lead convener and coordinator of programming and partnerships. In many ways they will operate as the lead recruiter of new sponsors and assisting sponsors to navigate and understand the Welcome.US process.

World Relief will serve as the main service provider for sponsors once they have been matched to a Ukrainian. As an expert resource in supportive community engagement through similar volunteer models, World Relief’s focus will be on volunteer sponsor equipping, engagement, support, and retention.

If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring Ukrainians, please contact Fred Stupen at freds@welcomeukraine.us or by phone at 773.698.0013

If you are already a sponsor of Ukrainians, please contact Seth Miller at smiller@wr.org or by phone at 630.580.5069

Ukrainian Community Support

We are ready to continue receiving those who arrive in the U.S. as refugees and are providing assistance to those already in the U.S. who are desperately seeking help for their families. We’re also working with partners in Ukraine and surrounding regions to provide assistance on the ground.

If you are a Ukrainian in the United States seeking information about services available to you, please find answers to frequently asked questions below.

To contact our staff about what services you are eligible for please fill out this form or call one of our offices at the phone number at the bottom of the page.

Last updated: November 15, 2022

A Prayer for the People of Ukraine

God, you are near to us. As a crisis continues in Ukraine, we feel heartbroken. Thank you for this opportunity to pause and pray in stillness for the people of Ukraine. We do not take this moment for granted. Allow us the courage to feel, pay attention, and wait on you.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord, hear us.

God, we bring before you the people of Ukraine. We ask that each person may be safe and secure. We know that you are a God of perfect peace even when peace is far from the present reality. We ask that you meet the needs of those most deeply affected by this crisis.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord hear us.

God, we ask you to be present with Ukrainian people scattered across the globe, including those in our communities, churches, and workplaces. We know that some are far from loved ones and fear greatly for friends and family. We believe you are with them. We ask that you help us to care for our Ukrainian neighbors well and that you would show them your love through us.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord hear us.

God, we pray for families who are hurting. We pray for your love to be poured out and for families to experience unity in a tangible way that supersedes the problems between Ukraine and Russia. We pray for those who have already lost loved ones. We ask that you would be near to the brokenhearted and comfort those in need.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord, hear us.

God, we pray for your peace and reconciliation to overcome conflict. You are actively involved in our cares and burdens. We ask that you move in a miraculous way and guide the minds of those who are making decisions that have an impact on countless lives. Help us to be agents of peace in our own communities.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord, hear us.

God, we confess that we are limited in our ability to comprehend and understand fully what is going on in Ukraine. We ask that through your Holy Spirit you would call to mind particular ways we can pray for the people of Ukraine in the coming days and months. Grant us wisdom and discernment to call upon your name as we intercede.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord, hear us.

God, you are a compassionate Father. Give us the courage to be people of compassion who do not give up on praying and caring for the people of Ukraine and all those affected. Above all, we pray for your peace to reign in Ukraine.

We lift our prayer to you,

Lord hear us.

Amen.

Ukrainians already within the U.S.

Does World Relief help Ukrainian parolees resettle?

Can I renew my visa within the U.S.?

Am I eligible for Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine?

Temporary Protected Status - The Department of Homeland Securityhas announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.The Temporary Protected Status designation for nationals of Ukraine is effective today, April 19, 2022 through October 19, 2023, an 18- month period. Registration is open for the entire TPS period.To be eligible for TPS, Ukrainian nationals must have continuously resided in the U.S. since April 11, 2022 and have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since April 19, 2022.TPS for Ukraine was originally designated March 1, 2022. With this publication in the Federal Register, DHS is amending the date required for Ukrainians to have continuously resided. Ukrainians who arrived after March 1, 2022 through April 11, 2022 are now eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status.Ukrainians arriving in the U.S. after April 11, 2022 will not be eligible for TPS. A number of practitioners have had Ukrainians in for consultations who arrived after March 1, 2022 and would not be eligible according to the initial designation date. These potential clients would now be eligible to apply for TPS as long as they entered the U.S. by April 11, 2022.
Diversity Visa: The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes visas available, drawn from a random selection among all entries, to individuals who apply through the Department of State. Applications are usually accepted in October and November of each year. To learn more, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.
Seeking refugee status in third countries:
- Displaced people from Ukraine can register with UNHCR to get help. Processes will vary by country. Visit the UNHCR page for the country you are in to learn more.
  - Hungary
  - Poland
  - Romania
  - Slovakia
  - Other countries

Seeking asylum at the U.S. border: For those who are outside the U.S. and are wishing to seek asylum at a U.S. Port of Entry, there are some restrictions which may prevent access to entry to the U.S. Please get advice from an immigration attorney before approaching a Port of Entry to seek asylum

If you are currently present in the United States and wish to seek asylum, if you are filing more than 1 year after your entry to the U.S. you must demonstrate the changed circumstances that presented a well founded fear of persecution in your home country.

What benefits and resources are Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHPs) eligible for?

Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees are eligible for:

Intake, assessment, referral and follow-up to determine individual and family needs and make referrals to community service providers
Volunteer support such as mentoring, tutoring and other individualized support
Direct Financial Assistance to facilitate access to housing, food, healthcare and other urgent needs (not eligible when a UHP is served by a sponsor)
Services that help foster integration such as field trips, workshops with community experts and community referrals.

Ukrainians outside the U.S.

Does World Relief help Ukrainians resettle?

World Relief only resettles Ukrainian refugees that have entered the U.S. via the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program as P2 Lautenberg refugees. See more under “Is the U.S. accepting refugees from Ukraine?” above.

World Relief can also serve Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees who enter the U.S. through the U4U program, or who independently enter the U.S. via a U.S. border crossing between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023.

World Relief cannot independently sponsor Ukrainians outside of the U.S. to enter the country.

What are other legal immigration options?

Temporary Protected Status - The Department of Homeland Securityhas announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.The Temporary Protected Status designation for nationals of Ukraine is effective today, April 19, 2022 through October 19, 2023, an 18- month period. Registration is open for the entire TPS period.To be eligible for TPS, Ukrainian nationals must have continuously resided in the U.S. since April 11, 2022 and have been continuously physically present in the U.S. since April 19, 2022.TPS for Ukraine was originally designated March 1, 2022. With this publication in the Federal Register, DHS is amending the date required for Ukrainians to have continuously resided. Ukrainians who arrived after March 1, 2022 through April 11, 2022 are now eligible to apply for Temporary Protected Status.Ukrainians arriving in the U.S. after April 11, 2022 will not be eligible for TPS. A number of practitioners have had Ukrainians in for consultations who arrived after March 1, 2022 and would not be eligible according to the initial designation date. These potential clients would now be eligible to apply for TPS as long as they entered the U.S. by April 11, 2022.
Diversity Visa: The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program makes visas available, drawn from a random selection among all entries, to individuals who apply through the Department of State. Applications are usually accepted in October and November of each year. To learn more, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.
Seeking refugee status in third countries:
- Displaced people from Ukraine can register with UNHCR to get help. Processes will vary by country. Visit the UNHCR page for the country you are in to learn more.
  - Hungary
  - Poland
  - Romania
  - Slovakia
  - Other countries

Reuniting with Ukrainian family members who are outside the U.S.

What are my family reunification options through World Relief?

Please note that there is not currently an immediate way to bring family members out of Ukraine to the United States. Current wait times for immigration processes vary and most immigration avenues and processes take many months to complete. However, World Relief will update the impacted community on any information here related to an expedited process if that becomes an option.

For those who are seeking to bring family to the United States, World Relief may assist in two ways:

The Lautenberg program is a family reunification program that allows local resettlement offices to assist certain individuals to apply for family members in former Soviet Union countries to come to the United States. Please see the chart here for who can apply and who are the recipients. This process is not an immediate avenue for relocation to the U.S. and beneficiaries will need to process through an embassy or consulate. If you are eligible to apply for this avenue for your impacted family members, please contact Carol Ruda at cruda@wr.org.
1. NOTE: For Lautenberg applications already in progress, applicants may contact IOM with any changes in contact information or questions about your case via ICC@iom.int.
U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents may have the option to apply for some family members through the immigrant visa options that are available for immediate relatives and other limited categories of family members. Again this is not an immediate avenue to come to the United States. If you are eligible to apply for this avenue for your impacted family members, please call World Relief Chicagoland's Immigration Legal Services department.

- Aurora: (630) 906-9546
- Carol Stream: (630) 462-7660
- Chicago: (773) 583-9191

Can I travel or bring others to the U.S.?

Options for U.S. citizens with a Ukrainian spouse or child seeking to travel to the United States on a nonimmigrant visa:

If you already have a pending application or appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, you must apply in any country where the applicants are physically present and where there are appointments available. As each U.S. Embassy and Consulate has specific application procedures, you should contact the U.S Embassy where you wish to apply or reschedule directly.

Other Resources

Immigration Updates for Ukrainians - February 25, 2023

Public Charge/Ukrainians Immigration Info Session - September 2, 2022

What is Uniting for Ukraine?

Uniting for Ukraine: Under the Uniting for Ukraine program, the Department of Homeland Security may grant humanitarian parole to eligible individuals who have a sponsor in the United States.

Humanitarian parole is a lawful entry to the United States for a temporary period of time. Ukrainians already present in the U.S. cannot apply for humanitarian parole under this program, nor can children who are not accompanied by a parent or a legal guardian.

To begin the application process, a U.S.-based sponsor must complete Form I-134 Affidavit of Support online: Uniting for Ukraine | USCIS.

World Relief Chicagoland's Immigration Legal Services Team can assist sponsors with this application if the sponsoring individual or group has a specific person they wish to sponsor.

For Frequently Asked Questions: U4U FAQs

Statement from World Relief in Response to Situation in Ukraine

How You Can Help Ukrainians Arriving in Chicagoland

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