August 10, 2022

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has updated the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for beneficiaries paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine.

Is COVID-19 surfacing again?

It is at least six months since COVID-19 dominated the international news. Most countries had alleviated COVID-19 protocols. In many countries, vaccination proof or a negative COVID-19 test is no longer required from travelers.

People hardly wear face masks and hand washing facilities are no longer filled with water in most offices and public places. Many think COVID is already gone and life had come back to normal. For those paroled into the U.S. under Uniting for Ukraine though, the COVID-19 vaccine had become a requirement since August 10th, 2022.

COVID-19 Vaccine: A Requirement for Uniting for Ukraine Recipients

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as of August 10th, 2022, any person entering the United States under Uniting for Ukraine should have taken their vaccine before they come. Unless physicians state otherwise, in which case they are exempted, any person above six months of age entering the country under that program can’t help but show proof of vaccination of COVID-19. U.S. officials are strict on the kind of vaccine required.

Anyone who gets a vaccine other than one of the approved COVID-19 vaccines by the American Food and Drugs Administration or COVID-19 vaccines considered for emergency use by the World Health Organization will see their vaccination attestation rejected.

At least one dose of COVID vaccine has to be taken before they pretend to enter the country.  It is a requirement for them before they can get any travel authorization to the United States under Uniting for Ukraine.

It is not enough for those people to have taken at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine before they enter the U.S. They are also required to submit an attestation that they have completed their COVID-19 vaccine or will complete it within 90 days of their arrival in the country.

This means that after having spent eighty days in the country they must have completed their COVID-19 vaccination series. That requirement is also for any individual paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine who is not under 6 months old.

The attestation is part of the paperwork they have to submit on the United States Center for Immigration Services’ platform online. It is each such immigrant’s responsibility to arrange their vaccine.  More information is available on the USCIS webpage on Uniting for Ukraine Vaccine Attestation.

What is uniting for Ukraine?

Uniting for Ukraine is a program by the U.S. Government which allows Ukrainian Citizens who are not on the U.S. territory and their families to come to the U.S. for a period of two years of parole for their security. It is part of the government’s effort to help such people affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict navigate through this difficult time of their lives.

However, to be accepted into the program, aspiring Ukrainian citizens must have a supporter in the United States who agree to back them up financially throughout their whole stay in the country.

Need for help?

Schedule a personal consultation with Attorney Richard Herman by calling 1-216-696-6170, or by booking online.  Consultations can be conducted by zoom, skype, WhatsApp, facetime, or in-office.