U4U suspended: thousands of Ukrainians may remain in the US illegally

Tens of thousands of Ukrainians in the US may lose their legal status after the U4U program is suspended. Find out more about who is at risk, what will change, and what chances there are to remain in the country

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Today, tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees in the US are at real risk of losing their legal status. If the Trump administration does not take effective measures, these people could become vulnerable to arrest and deportation. This is reported by wsj.com.

Who will be affected and why?

We are talking about approximately 120,000 Ukrainians who arrived in the US under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program. Under the previous Biden administration, this initiative was launched as a quick alternative to the traditional refugee system to grant humanitarian status for two years, provided that an American sponsor was available.

However, the current Trump administration stopped accepting new applications in January 2025 and is not renewing residence and work permits.

As a result, those who arrived after August 16, 2023, will find themselves in the country illegally as soon as their humanitarian permit expires.

Only Ukrainians who arrived before August 16, 2023, are protected by another program — Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which continues to apply to them.

Consequences and reaction

Vira Serova, a volunteer lawyer with Nova Ukraine, warns that these people find themselves in a “double hostage situation”: “with nowhere to return to and no resources to start a new life in a new country.”

Fear and uncertainty are also growing among refugees. Myroslava Voitsekh, who arrived in the US in September 2023, says that her former status will expire on September 2, and for her, “it's a choice between fear there and fear here.”

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Current situation

The U4U program has been officially suspended: as of January 2025, no new applications are being accepted, and no decisions or travel permits are being issued.

In February 2025, USCIS suspended the review of all petitions filed by U4U beneficiaries (open cases for work permits, TPS status, asylum, etc.).

However, in May 2025, a federal court (in the case of Doe v. Noem) ordered the resumption of processing applications for immigration benefits for U4U migrants.

As of June 2025, USCIS issued a new memorandum allowing the resumption of consideration of U4U beneficiaries' applications for other immigration benefits, such as work permits, TPS status, asylum, re-parole, etc.

Earlier, Trump said he might let Ukrainians stay in the US until the war ends, but the program wasn't ended and there wasn't a move to more transparent ways to extend it.

Answers to frequently asked questions

How many people are at risk?

Approximately 120,000 who arrived after August 16, 2023.

When was U4U suspended?

January 2025.

Can new applications be submitted?

No — the program has been suspended and new applications are not being accepted.

Are previously submitted applications being processed?

Partially resumed after a court decision.

What options do refugees have now?

Apply for TPS or asylum if justified — on the advice of a lawyer.

Thus, without active action on the part of the government, tens of thousands of people remain in a vulnerable situation, as their status is set to expire in the near future. Court decisions have partially restored their ability to remain in the country, but clients must urgently consult with lawyers to find alternative protective statuses or other legal avenues.

If you are not sure about your situation or do not know where to start - contact the migration lawyers of Visit Ukraine. Our legal assistance for Ukrainians includes consulting, situation analysis and preparation of documents - we will help you stay in the USA legally.

Reminder! In 2025, many Ukrainians are asking: does the U4U programme work, how to apply for Uniting for Ukraine, are there any alternatives, and what support is available to Ukrainians in the United States? We explained what has what has changed in the migration programme for Ukrainians in the United States, what opportunities Ukrainians in America have to stay in the country in 2025, how TPS status works, what visas are available, and how to obtain legal assistance for Ukrainians.

Photo: unsplash.com/reinf

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