Best way to get Ukranian girlfriend to USA?

[Supernatural 19]

Some background: I live in USA, and I have one year of college left. My girlfriend lives in Ukraine and is done with university. She speaks English too if that matters.

 

We had planned on getting engaged this summer in Germany and then I would start the normal process for her to come here by filling i-129F for her to get a K-1 fiancé visa.

Now given the situation that seems impossible. I'd like to get her out of there as soon as possible, and she wants to also. Is there an easier and faster way to get her here?

I am pretty new to this and it's a bit overwhelming so I was hoping someone on here could give a bit of guidance.

Thanks

 

[millefleur 5,039]

A few options:

• As the USC, you can go to Germany (or any country), get married and then apply for the I-130 directly at the US Embassy. This will speed things up a lot, it's called DCF and they are allowing Ukrainians to do this. The USC has to be physically present in the country of filing though and you have to be married to start this process. There's info on it here:
• She enters via the Mexican border and is let in under Humanitarian Parole. This will allow her to stay in the US for up to 1 year, you can get married and file for AOS during that time. Some people here have opted for this and shared their experiences in this thread:
• Final option is the slowest: file for the K-1 and wait everything out. You can apply for an expedite due to the war in Ukraine but it will still be slower than the first 2 options as you'll have to go through all the same steps and vetting, I don't have numbers on how long the actual wait is. She will go via Frankfurt as that is the designated embassy for Ukrainians now. There are many, many people here in the RUB forum who are in this exact situation (expedited a K-1) so hopefully they can chime in.

 

[JeanneAdil 6,278]

Are u a LPR or USC? 

or here on a student visa?

 

saying "living in the US"  doesn't give us much info

[Supernatural 19]

Wow thanks millefleur! That's super helpful, and I will research those options. 

[Supernatural 19]

2 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Are u a LPR or USC? 

or here on a student visa?

 

saying "living in the US"  doesn't give us much info

Oh yeah sorry. I am a US born citizen. I had to google those acronyms. Not use to this terminology yet, and google brought up some unrelated results at first haha but I got it figured out.

[Family 3,560]

18 minutes ago, millefleur said:

so hopefully they can chime in.

President Biden ‘ s Uniting for Ukraine starts 04/25/2022. US citizens can sponsor Ukrainians to come. Program will go live on that day and Mexico border will no longer be given Humanitarian Parole ..Link

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/04/21/president-biden-announce-uniting-ukraine-new-streamlined-process-welcome-ukrainians

[JeanneAdil 6,278]

wishing u the best success to get here safely

[millefleur 5,039]

12 minutes ago, Family said:

President Biden ‘ s Uniting for Ukraine starts 04/25/2022. US citizens can sponsor Ukrainians to come. Program will go live on that day and Mexico border will no longer be given Humanitarian Parole ..Link

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/04/21/president-biden-announce-uniting-ukraine-new-streamlined-process-welcome-ukrainians

Wasn't aware that they were stopping the Mexican border thing. Good to know.

 

In that case, I'm not sure what the difference between this new program and applying for an expedited K-1 is. Until we hear someone with first hand experience with it, the wait times are a bit of a mystery.

[Supernatural 19]

With this new Uniting for Ukraine program does anyone have an idea how much money you need to have saved to be eligible to sponsor a “refuge”?

Edited April 21, 2022 by Supernatural

[Family 3,560]

10 minutes ago, Supernatural said:

this new Uniting

I think it’s safe to assume an I-134 Affidavit of Support and current poverty guidelines ( 100%) https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

 

So if you have a job , make around $19k  a year and can show  Current Paystub, Job Letter then you should be ok. Anything extra ( savings ) will be a bonus. 

[Family 3,560]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

In that case, I'm not sure what the difference between this new program and applying for an expedited K-1 is. Until we hear someone with first hand experience with it, the wait times are a bit of a mystery.

Should save a bit of money on filing K-1 and trip ( and time in Europe) for filing DCF I-130…

[Supernatural 19]

For the new Uniting for Ukraine sponsorship portal that opens Monday I'm trying to figure out what the forms will entail. Would it be I-864 that I submit?

It seems the assumption and the wording on this form is for sponsoring a relative. So, would they accept girlfriend as a relative? Or could I say fiancé even?

[Boiler 43,791]

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/humanitarian-parole

 

It seems a version of Humanitarian Parole, now this portal may just be a way of applying for HP. Be aware that HP takes a very long time, they processed 1,000 Afghans in 6 months and most were refused.

 

So the question is how does this differ, if it does, will be be quicker, more inclusive, nobody knows and could be a long time before anybody does.

[millefleur 5,039]

1 hour ago, Supernatural said:

So, would they accept girlfriend as a relative? Or could I say fiancé even?

I think in your case, if it were me, I'd go the K-1 fiance visa route and then file an expedite. We've seen people here on VJ get expedites successfully and I do not think it would be any slower than applying the other way (HP.)

[Boiler 43,791]

Presumably you can do both