Re-parole for Ukrainians in 2026: how to apply, how much it costs, and what to do while you wait

Re-parole means a new period of humanitarian parole for people who are already in the US on parole and want to stay longer.

Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) was a program through which Ukrainians came to the US with a sponsor and received parole, usually for 2 years. Parole is not a visa or a status: it is permission to stay in the country for a set period. The end date is on your I-94.

To stay legally after that date, people file Form I-131 for re-parole. USCIS reviews applications from Ukrainians and their family members who were paroled in on or after 02/11/2022 and who are now in the US. Official rules: USCIS page on re-parole for Ukrainians.

Yes, re-parole applications are being reviewed, but no new people are accepted through U4U.

• USCIS paused new sponsor applications (I-134A) in late January 2025.
• Re-parole processing resumed in June 2025 after a court ruling in Svitlana Doe v. Noem.
• The simplified portal no longer exists. On 10/07/2026 a USCIS spokesperson said applications are reviewed "case by case", meaning with individual vetting (according to press reports).
• Approvals are few. According to StateNews, about 16,000 applications came in April–June 2026, and about 2,000 were approved. We have not seen official USCIS statistics.

As of 10/15/2026, there are no official plans to reopen U4U for new applicants. So it makes sense to apply for re-parole, but be ready for a long wait and stricter review of your evidence.

You can apply for both, and many people do. But they are different things, and each has its own risks.

• Re-parole gives you a new parole period, and after it you can get a work permit (C11). People paroled in on or after 02/11/2022 can apply, no matter when they arrived.
• TPS is only available to people who have been in the US since 08/16/2023. The official TPS period for Ukraine ends on 10/19/2026. Lawyers believe that by law it has been automatically extended to 04/19/2027, but DHS has not confirmed this (as of 10/15/2026).
• If you travel abroad on TPS with an I-512T and come back, you will be admitted in TPS status. After that, according to USCIS, you lose eligibility for a new parole.

For details on TPS, see TPS for Ukrainians.

The approval fee is paid by everyone USCIS is ready to grant parole to, including children. From 10/16/2026 it is $1,050.

• I-131 fee (re-parole for Ukrainians, Part 1, item 10.C): $580 online or $630 by mail.
• If you request a work permit in Part 9: $1,050 online or $1,150 by mail for the I-131 together with the EAD, plus a separate $280. This $280 is paid at the time of filing, and it cannot be waived.
• Parole fee (Immigration Parole Fee): $1,000 through the end of 2025, $1,020 from 01/01/2026, $1,050 from 10/16/2026. You do not pay it with the I-131: USCIS sends a conditional approval notice with instructions and a payment deadline.

Total, online, with a work permit: 1,050 + 280 + 1,050 = about $2,380 per person. Check the amounts against the USCIS fee schedule (G-1055) on the day you file. USCIS rejects applications with the wrong amount.

It cannot be completely free. With I-912 you can only ask to waive the USCIS fee for the I-131 itself ($630 by mail); the fees set by law H.R. 1 ($280 for the EAD and $1,050 for parole) cannot be waived.

You are eligible for a fee waiver if one of three conditions is met (I-912 instructions):

• you or a family member you live with receive a means-tested benefit (a benefit based on income);
• your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines;
• financial hardship: illness, job loss, eviction, etc., with evidence.

For re-parole, a fee waiver is filed by mail only: it is not accepted online. Form and rules: uscis.gov/i-912. Americanization helps with filing both with and without a fee waiver.

The fee is paid online using the link in the USCIS conditional approval notice. Payment page: my.uscis.gov/accounts/parole-fee.

1. Wait for the status "conditionally approved" or a letter. According to Nova Ukraine volunteers, notices may arrive late, so check the status of each family member every week.
2. Pay separately for each person who received conditional approval.
3. The payment deadline is in the notice. According to Nova Ukraine, it is usually 33 days.
4. Save the payment confirmation (screenshot and email).

If you do not pay on time, parole will not be granted (USCIS). The amount depends on the date: through 10/15/2026 it is $1,020, from 10/16/2026 it is $1,050. Check which amount is listed in your notice.

Apply no earlier than 180 days (6 months) before your parole end date. The closer to the start of this window, the better; do not delay.

• Check your end date on your I-94 at i94.cbp.dhs.gov (the "Get Most Recent I-94" button).
• If you apply more than 180 days in advance, USCIS may reject or deny the application without refunding the fee. According to the Ukraine Immigration Task Force, such denials have already happened.
• Applying early does not speed up the decision. USCIS says so.
• If your parole has already expired, you can and should still apply as soon as possible, because re-parole is considered for people who are in the US.

You apply online in your my.uscis.gov account using Form I-131. Each person applies separately.

1. Create a USCIS account (for each person, including each child).
2. Choose I-131, the option "outside the United States", and answer "Yes" to the question about re-parole. This is a USCIS technical instruction, not a mistake.
3. Select the category: re-parole for Ukrainians. On the paper form this is Part 1, item 10.C.
4. If you need a work permit, check Part 9 (the fee is higher then).
5. Add an explanation of why you need parole, and evidence (see below).
6. Pay $580 (with EAD: $1,050 + $280).

Official instructions: USCIS re-parole for Ukrainians. If you do not want to risk a mistake, Americanization can file your re-parole for you from start to finish.

The paper I-131 is filled out by hand or on a computer, signed with a pen, and mailed to the address in the "Where to File" section on the form's page.

• At the top of the first page, handwrite "Ukraine RE-PAROLE"; USCIS requires this.
• Select Part 1, item 10.C.
• Work permit: Part 9, item 1. Then you do not need to file a separate I-765. You cannot file both Part 9 and an I-765: the duplicate may be rejected.
• Payment: bank card (Form G-1450) or bank account withdrawal (G-1650). The $280 for the EAD is paid as a separate payment.
• If you are asking for a fee waiver, include I-912. Filing with a fee waiver is possible only on paper.

Check the address at uscis.gov/i-131 on the day you mail it, because addresses change.

There is no guaranteed set of documents that will surely get you approved: the decision is discretionary. But there are required documents and things that really help.

Required (per USCIS):

• I-94;
• EAD, both sides (if you have one);
• driver's license or ID, both sides;
• passport photo page and all entry and parole stamps;
• English translations with a signed translator's certificate.

What makes an application stronger (Ukraine Immigration Task Force recommendations): a cover letter explaining why it is dangerous to return and why you need parole; medical documents on letterhead signed by a doctor; evidence of ties to the US (job, lease, taxes, children's schooling); evidence that you support yourself. You can send additional evidence through "Unsolicited Evidence" in your online account.

Write briefly, in the first person, in English, with specific facts and dates, and sign it.

• Who you are, when and how you entered (date, class on I-94), your parole end date.
• Why you need a new period: war in your region, destroyed home, medical treatment, children in school, etc. Add evidence for each point.
• What you do in the US: work, taxes, lease, insurance, no criminal cases.
• Why a visa or another status is not available to you right now.
• How long a parole period you are asking for.
• At the end, add a list of the attached documents.

Do not write anything you cannot prove. Do not copy a template word for word: each application is reviewed individually. Inaccuracies or contradictions with your earlier forms can be a reason for denial.

A separate I-131 is filed for a child, with the same fees as for an adult. The USCIS fee schedule has no discount for children.

• Online: list the child as the applicant on the form. Each child needs their own USCIS account.
• Signature: for a child under 14, one parent or a guardian signs with their own name, "on behalf of" the child. From age 14, the child usually signs themselves.
• Documents: birth certificate with a translation (proof that you are the parents), the child's I-94, passport. If the child is listed in a parent's passport, they may not be on the photo page: add the page where the child is listed.
• The parole fee ($1,050) after conditional approval is paid separately for each child.

According to volunteers, USCIS may not require biometrics for children under 14.

There is no official timeframe. Right now re-parole takes anywhere from a few months to more than a year.

• In 2025, the Ukraine Immigration Task Force reported 2–12 months on average.
• On 03/24/2026, nine members of Congress complained to the USCIS director that applications filed in early and mid-2025 were effectively not being processed.
• According to StateNews (10/07/2026), about 16,000 applications came in April–June 2026, and about 2,000 were approved. Processing takes up to 16 months. USCIS explains this by "enhanced vetting".

Plan as if the decision will come after your parole has already expired. Apply as soon as the 180-day window opens, and prepare documents for an expedite request.

You can check your status in your my.uscis.gov online account or with your receipt number on the Case Status Online page at uscis.gov.

• The receipt number starts with three letters (for example, IOE for online filing) and is on your I-797C notice.
• Check the status of each family member separately, because decisions come at different times.
• The status "conditionally approved" means you need to pay the parole fee. Do not miss the deadline.
• USCIS sends paper letters to the address on the application. If you moved, change your address (AR-11) within 10 days.

An RFE (Request for Evidence) means USCIS is asking for additional documents. You must respond fully and by the deadline in the letter.

1. Read carefully what exactly they are asking for, and answer point by point.
2. Include a copy of the first page of the RFE, as the letter requires.
3. Include foreign-language documents with a translation and a translator's certificate.
4. If you filed online, upload your response in your account. If by mail, send it to the address in the letter, with tracking.
5. If you do not have a document, explain why and provide alternative evidence.

If you do not respond by the deadline, USCIS usually decides based on the documents it already has, and often that means a denial. If the RFE is complicated, consult an attorney or an accredited representative.

Yes, you can submit an expedite request, but USCIS approves it at its own discretion, and the bar is high.

• Reasons USCIS accepts: severe financial loss (for example, losing a job because of an expired EAD), an urgent humanitarian situation, medical reasons.
• The Ukraine Immigration Task Force advises requesting an expedite if your parole has already expired or your application has been pending for more than 10 months.
• Always include evidence with the request: an employer letter, medical documents, bills.
• Additional channels: your congressperson's office and the CIS Ombudsman.

More details: Expediting your case. Americanization prepares expedite packages ($100 service).

After payment, the final approval may not come right away. If several weeks have passed, act step by step.

1. Check that the payment went through: you have a receipt, the money was charged, the amount is correct (through 10/15/2026 it is $1,020, from 10/16/2026 it is $1,050).
2. Check the status of each family member in the account and on Case Status Online.
3. If you paid and the status does not change, contact the USCIS Contact Center and save the inquiry number.
4. If your parole has already expired and you are losing your job, submit an expedite request or write to your congressperson, with proof of payment.

Do not pay again unless USCIS directly asks you to. The payment deadlines in the notice are important, but there is no clear official timeframe for the decision after payment.

Because each I-131 is a separate application, and USCIS reviews it "case by case", based on the circumstances of that specific person.

Members of the same family get different decisions at different times. This is a widespread complaint recorded by the Ukraine Immigration Task Force. Reasons may include different officers, different background check results, the biometrics date, or incomplete evidence in one of the applications.

What to do: in each application, mention the other family members and their receipt numbers. If one person was approved and another was not, use this in an expedite request: family separation is a strong humanitarian reason. If you received a denial, read the reason in the letter before reapplying.

No, you do not automatically stay in legal status. Parole ends on the date on your I-94, and a filed re-parole application does not extend it.

• Under 8 CFR 212.5(e), parole ends automatically when its period expires.
• The Ukraine Immigration Task Force and Nova Ukraine volunteers say it directly: a pending re-parole application by itself does not make your stay lawful. Only an approved new parole does.
• We have not found an official USCIS explanation that waiting for re-parole counts as a "period of stay authorized". Do not rely on it.
• If you have a pending TPS, asylum, or green card application, your situation may be different. Lawyers say this does not always protect against detention.

This does not mean automatic deportation, but the risks are real (see the next questions). Consult a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative.

No. Without a valid EAD (or other authorization) you cannot work, even if you filed for re-parole on time.

• A parole-based work permit (C11) is tied to your parole period. There is no automatic EAD extension for C11. The final rule of 10/14/2026 confirmed this.
• There is no retroactive work permit: work during the gap will be unauthorized, and this can hurt future applications.
• Your employer does not have to fire you: they can put you on unpaid leave until you get your documents.
• After re-parole is approved, a new I-94 with class UHP lets you work for up to 90 days while you wait for the card. This rule applies if the date of last entry on your I-94 is no later than 09/30/2024.

Source: Ukraine Immigration Task Force, 08/20/2026. If you have a valid TPS-based EAD, its dates are separate. Read Work permit.

Act, do not wait. Here is the order lawyers and volunteers recommend.

1. Make sure your I-131 was actually filed, and keep your I-797C receipt. If you have not filed yet, file immediately.
2. Check whether you are eligible for TPS (in the US since 08/16/2023). The official TPS period ends 10/19/2026. Follow the news on the TPS page.
3. Submit an expedite request with evidence of harm: job loss, medical treatment, children.
4. Write to your congressperson's office.
5. Do not work without a valid work permit.
6. Always carry your I-94, EAD (even if expired), and USCIS receipts. Adults 18 and older are required to carry proof of registration.
7. Do not leave the US: leaving automatically ends your parole, and re-parole is only granted to people who are in the country.

There is a risk, and it is higher than before, although we have not found widespread reports in October 2026 of detentions specifically of Ukrainians with pending re-parole.

• On 08/11/2026, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in CHIRLA v. Mullin lifted the order that protected parolees from expedited removal. The government continues to use it.
• If your parole has expired or been terminated, the risk of expedited removal without a court hearing is real.
• A pending application (re-parole, TPS) helps explain your situation, but does not guarantee full protection.

If officers come to you or you are detained, do not sign anything you do not understand, and immediately contact a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative (DOJ-accredited). Your rights: ICE and your rights.

USCIS issues the new I-94 together with the approval. You do not need to request it separately.

• After approval you receive an I-797A notice, and at the bottom of it is a new I-94 with a new parole end date.
• The new electronic I-94 usually also appears at i94.cbp.dhs.gov ("Get Most Recent I-94"), but sometimes with a delay.
• The class of admission on the new I-94 for Ukrainians is often "UHP". It matters for the 90-day work rule.
• Check your name, date of birth, and dates. If there is a mistake, contact USCIS.

With the new I-94, update your driver's license and SSN records, and tell your employer.

It depends on how you requested the EAD.

• If you checked Part 9 on the I-131, the EAD is issued after parole is approved; you do not need to file an I-765 separately. In this case there is no separate receipt number for the EAD.
• If you did not check Part 9, file an I-765 (C11) only after the I-131 is approved. USCIS warns directly: an I-765 filed earlier may be rejected without a refund.
• While you wait for the card, a new I-94 with class UHP lets you work for up to 90 days (if the date of last entry is no later than 09/30/2024). After that you need an EAD card or an unrestricted SSN card.

The new EAD is valid no longer than your parole period and no more than 1 year. More details: Work permit.

You can reapply: a new I-131 with new evidence and new fees, if you are still in the US.

• First read the reason in the denial letter: missing evidence, early filing, missed biometrics, unpaid fee, etc.
• USCIS pages do not describe a separate appeal for a parole denial. Whether to file a motion to reconsider (I-290B) is something to decide with an attorney: parole is a discretionary decision.
• Make your new application stronger: explanation, recent medical documents, evidence of danger, ties to the US.
• After a denial you most likely have no status. Look into other options (TPS, family-based immigration) and consult an attorney.

Ways to stay: Change of status.