Moving to the USA from Ukraine: Visas, Green Cards and Where to Apply

No. Ukraine is not among the 39 countries restricted by Proclamation 10998 (effective January 1, 2026), and it was not on the 75-country immigrant visa pause from January 2026.

Changes that do affect Ukrainians:

• Since August 25, 2026, the State Department has paused immigrant visa interviews at US embassies and consulates worldwide while consular officers are trained on public charge reviews. Scheduled interviews were moved to later dates, and no restart date has been announced as of September 2026. Visitor, student, and temporary work visas are not part of this pause. Details: immigrant visa pause.
• Uniting for Ukraine (U4U). New applications from US supporters (Form I-134A) were paused in early 2025, so U4U is not a reliable route for new arrivals as of September 2026. People already paroled in should follow USCIS guidance on re-parole and work permits.
• Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS for Ukraine was most recently extended through October 19, 2026. Check the USCIS TPS page for any decision about what happens after that date, and talk to a lawyer about longer-term options.

For an overview of every route, see our guide to US immigration and how US immigration works.

Yes. Ukraine is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so you need a B-2 tourist or B-1 business visa. Because of the war, the embassy in Kyiv offers only limited nonimmigrant visa appointments. Under State Department guidance from September 2025, Ukrainian nonimmigrant visa applicants apply at the US Consulate General in Krakow or the US Embassy in Warsaw, or at a US embassy in another country where they legally live. Officers will ask about your ties and plans to return, so bring clear evidence.

E-2 investor visa. Ukraine's investment treaty with the US has been in force since 1996, so Ukrainian nationals qualify for the E-2 (but not the E-1 trader visa). You must invest a substantial amount in a real, operating US business that you develop and direct. E-2 visas for Ukrainians are issued for up to 27 months at a time under the State Department's reciprocity table.

Tech and science. Ukrainian software engineers and scientists often use the H-1B, O-1, or the EB-2 NIW. Since February 27, 2026, the H-1B lottery gives more entries to higher wage levels. A separate $100,000 fee on some new H-1B petitions (from a September 2025 proclamation) is being fought in court, with judges split as of September 2026. See H-1B $100k fee.

Students. Since September 15, 2026, new F-1 students are admitted until a fixed date instead of for "duration of status", so you may need to file for an extension if your program runs longer. See F-1 fixed admission period.

Men of military age. Ukrainian law restricts many men from leaving Ukraine during martial law. US visa rules do not change this, so check Ukrainian exit rules before planning travel.

Family. Spouses, unmarried children under 21, and parents of US citizens have no annual cap. Siblings (F4) and married children (F3) wait many years. Ukrainians use rest-of-world dates in the Visa Bulletin.

Employment. EB-2 and EB-3 use rest-of-world dates.

Diversity Visa. Ukraine has been one of the most active DV countries in Europe, and Ukrainians were eligible for DV-2026. The Diversity Visa (DV) lottery is paused: visa issuance stopped on December 23, 2025, and DV-2027 registration never opened. See DV lottery paused.

Protection. Ukrainians in the US who fear return should get advice from a licensed immigration lawyer about asylum and other options before their current status ends.

Check the embassy's website for current appointment availability, which can change with the security situation. See our consular processing guide.

For immigrant and fiance(e) visas, the State Department's Ukraine page lists:

• Police certificate: a Vytiah (extract) from the Ministry of Internal Affairs criminal records database, applied for online or at an administrative services center (TSNAP). It must be the full version, and for immigrant and K visas it must list all names you have used; ask for this specifically.
• Birth certificate: the Svidotstvo pro narodzhennya from a civil registration office. If you live abroad, you can request it through a Ukrainian consulate or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Marriage and divorce: certificates from the civil registration office, or a court decision for divorce.

The State Department does not accept notarized or certified copies in place of originals, and it does not recognize civil documents issued by authorities in occupied areas.

Large Ukrainian communities live in Chicago's Ukrainian Village in Illinois, New York City (the East Village and Brooklyn), the Philadelphia area of Pennsylvania, northern New Jersey, the Sacramento area of California, Seattle, and Cleveland and Parma in Ohio. Ukrainian churches, Saturday schools, and relief organizations have supported many new arrivals since 2022.