Traveler101

Yes, hopefully it's faster this way. Thanks

Just an update about our beneficiaries. Didn't have time to update it here but here it is:
A young couple traveled from Eastern Ukraine to Warsaw and then to NYC JFK through Milan. They got delayed in Milan for 6 hrs, so that was a bit annoying. They landed in JFK at 8 pm and we're out at 10 pm. The whole immigration process took 2 hrs, basic questions such as where and to whom you are going, married or not married. Overall the whole process from the beginning to the end is pretty smooth. Thanks to everyone for the help on this forum!

Our beneficiaries arrived in Boston yesterday from Warsaw via Munich and Frankfurt. Process was very smooth and efficient for all of them. The total time from from deplane to terminal exit was less than 90 minutes.
-Kineo

just as an update on this, we have received our 2nd email from USCIS and have submitted our beneficiaries application. 
 
Now we wait for Travel Authorization Documents

Thanks. We bought tickets from Warsaw through Milan to NYC. Our beneficiaries will be leaving next week. Good luck to everyone and easy and safe trip!

Just wanted to write about my experience. 
 
June 23 in the evening - applied for 2 people and the same day got the notice that they received the form( not in email, just online in USCIS account)
 
June 29 - beneficiaries received an email with instructions about creating a USCIS account. We did attestations together at around 4 pm 
 
June 29 at 9 pm- in my account I see the notice that a travel authorization was posted by CBP on beneficiaries account.
 
And on my USCIS home page it says that both cases are closed. The beneficiaries are sleeping right now, so I'm not sure if they got the travel notice. Also, I never received any emails about any updates; I was just nervously checking account every day for any updates.
 
Also, will beneficiaries need a paper travel authorization notice or just show on the phone? I'm not sure if their postal service works and if mail gets delivered.
 
Thank you all for the useful information here!
 
 
 
 
 

Oh that's good to know. Thanks!

They need to print it and hand it over to the boarder patrol officer. He will then put the stamp on it as in a passport. Keep it safe. Also remember that all beneficiaries need a tuberculosis screening. They have 2 weeks after entering US to complete it. I called state department of health and got it done for free. Otherwise price ranges $150-$300 per person. 

Hi!
They should check their USCIS accounts. Approved Travel Authorizations will appear there. They should download and print the Travel Authorizations to show the airline when boarding + at the US port of entry.

Sounds like everything so far has gone absolutely as is should. As long as your beneficiaries travel authorization post to their USCIS accounts it will be perfect. As far as the the travel authorizations, they are not mailed. But I would trying to make sure they get a printed copy. Not real sure I would want to depend on trying to use it from the phone.
-Kineo

Just wanted to write about my experience. 
 
June 23 in the evening - applied for 2 people and the same day got the notice that they received the form( not in email, just online in USCIS account)
 
June 29 - beneficiaries received an email with instructions about creating a USCIS account. We did attestations together at around 4 pm 
 
June 29 at 9 pm- in my account I see the notice that a travel authorization was posted by CBP on beneficiaries account.
 
And on my USCIS home page it says that both cases are closed. The beneficiaries are sleeping right now, so I'm not sure if they got the travel notice. Also, I never received any emails about any updates; I was just nervously checking account every day for any updates.
 
Also, will beneficiaries need a paper travel authorization notice or just show on the phone? I'm not sure if their postal service works and if mail gets delivered.
 
Thank you all for the useful information here!
 
 
 
 
 

Just wanted to write about my experience. 
 
June 23 in the evening - applied for 2 people and the same day got the notice that they received the form( not in email, just online in USCIS account)
 
June 29 - beneficiaries received an email with instructions about creating a USCIS account. We did attestations together at around 4 pm 
 
June 29 at 9 pm- in my account I see the notice that a travel authorization was posted by CBP on beneficiaries account.
 
And on my USCIS home page it says that both cases are closed. The beneficiaries are sleeping right now, so I'm not sure if they got the travel notice. Also, I never received any emails about any updates; I was just nervously checking account every day for any updates.
 
Also, will beneficiaries need a paper travel authorization notice or just show on the phone? I'm not sure if their postal service works and if mail gets delivered.
 
Thank you all for the useful information here!
 
 
 
 
 

Just wanted to write about my experience. 
 
June 23 in the evening - applied for 2 people and the same day got the notice that they received the form( not in email, just online in USCIS account)
 
June 29 - beneficiaries received an email with instructions about creating a USCIS account. We did attestations together at around 4 pm 
 
June 29 at 9 pm- in my account I see the notice that a travel authorization was posted by CBP on beneficiaries account.
 
And on my USCIS home page it says that both cases are closed. The beneficiaries are sleeping right now, so I'm not sure if they got the travel notice. Also, I never received any emails about any updates; I was just nervously checking account every day for any updates.
 
Also, will beneficiaries need a paper travel authorization notice or just show on the phone? I'm not sure if their postal service works and if mail gets delivered.
 
Thank you all for the useful information here!
 
 
 
 
 

Thank you. And thanks for putting confusing info in lament terms.

When you say “according to uscis rules” , are you talking about some sort of reasoning requirements for expedite being these “rules”? Or what rules?  (Humanitarian reasons is a reason for expedite btw and that’s what it sounds like from your brief description.) The inability to expedite an F4 case whose priority date is not current is nothing to do with “uscis rules”, it is to do with actual US immigration law that says you cannot legally issue a visa when a visa number is not available (as is the case for a family preference case where the priority date is not yet current). Pointing this out because your comment could be inferred to give false hope to OP. There is just no way that “some rules don’t apply these days”, even if that statement is true somewhere, can help OP in reference to the sibling  visa petition. 
 
FYI: 
If a visa is not available, unfortunately there is nothing that NVC can do to expedite the petition. Immigrant visa processing is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended, which controls availability of visas. There is no provision within the law that would allow the Department of State to issue a visa to someone for whom a visa is unavailable. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/immigrant-visas-processing-general-faqs.html#ivp7
 
—
OP, sounds like unite for Ukraine is your best way forward, good luck - hope it works out, and quickly.

Thanks for explaining. I was gearing towards this program, but wasn't really sure. Thanks again!

Just an FYI. There are several threads here on VJ for Uniting for Ukraine. If you have any questions just ask. Several of us have been through the process.
-Kineo

U4U is the obvious option 
 
As far as expedites which would not apply here for maybe 15 years they are inherently discretionary and subjective so best to apply and see

OP has already filed for at least one parent in the IR5.  Visa was reissued after COVID restrictions lifted. 

When a person who filed a petition (US citizen) needs to expedite the case, the reasons for expedite are based on hardship falling on the US citizen. For example, US citizen falling ill, unable to work / provide care for themselves = reason for expedite. Petitioned alien relative under the same circumstances would not be a reason for an expedite. 
 
Ultimately USCIS would grant an expedite if bringing over an alien relative would alleviate some sort of burden on the US citizen. Not the other way around.
 
HOWEVER  
There was recently a case here of someone being granted an expedite for their Russian fiancée who was cutoff from being supported by her American fiancé due to sanctions. According to USCIS rules his request was not supposed to be approved. 
 
Now your situation is entirely different because your brother is under a completely different category of visa priority, and not an immediate relative (as per USCIS definition). But I'm just pointing out that some rules don't seem to apply these days when it comes to Ukraine / Russia specifically. 
 
With that said, I think Uniting for Ukraine is your best (and probably quickest) path forward. 

it is this way as too many countries are subject to war,  threats of war,  famine,  etc
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/immigrant-visas-processing-general-faqs.html
 
If a visa is not available, unfortunately there is nothing that NVC can do to expedite the petition. Immigrant visa processing is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, as amended, which controls availability of visas. There is no provision within the law that would allow the Department of State to issue a visa to someone for whom a visa is unavailable.

No effect at all.  Good luck.

Not at all. 

Thank you so much. I'm just trying to stay positive and thinking that it was meant to be. It is what it is right now.

DOS FAQ: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/national-visa-center/immigrant-visas-processing-general-faqs.html#NQ
Regulation (CFR): https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/22/42.72
Policy (FAM): https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM050410.html#M504_10_5
 
Since the question of a visa extension has been brought up several times in various threads now, I dove a bit deeper to see if it is technically possible...
 
Technically per the regulation above, the visa can be extended for up to the 6 month point from the date of issuance. Note that an immigrant visa validity period is constrained by that of the medical validity, so the visa should have been issued for less than 6 months initially.
If the medical was obtained considerably before visa was issued, the way I read the CFR is that the visa could be extended (with a new medical) that would expire at the 6 month point from the date of issue. This is granted on a case by case basis.
Although, I can't imagine the timeline for doing so right now, even if they agreed. There would need to be a decent chunk of time between when the medical occurred and visa was issued for this to even have a slight chance of working out.