Sponsors
You can make a real difference for a Ukrainian family.
The federal Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) program allows displaced Ukrainians to travel to the U.S. based on an individual sponsorship offered by a person with legal status here. If you are a US citizen, resident, or other lawfully present individual on the US territory (including holders of temporary protected status or recently arrived refugees), you can make a difference by sponsoring people fleeing the war.
What does it mean to be a sponsor?
Individuals and families forced to move to unknown destinations, with children or elder family members, often fear the possibility of future risks of abuse and violence.
Helping individuals and families start a new life in a completely unfamiliar place “takes a whole village.” This is why we want to thank you for your generosity and courage to embark on this journey and for your willingness to understand the needs of these refugees. Your kindness, openness, and solidarity will be the most important factors of the refugees’ adaptation success, and then, the capacity to achieve self-reliance and independence will be crucial for the guests’ ability to use their skills, and potential, so that they may achieve their aspirations in the long term.
By connecting vulnerable individuals with reliable sponsors, Connecticut for Ukraine is trying to ensure that as a sponsor, you are safe from experiencing adverse, unpleasant situations by allowing you to get prepared for what this role demands and also by understanding the needs of refugees in general, and the family you are about to receive in your home in particular.
Step 1 - Get Informed
Sponsors often have a lot of questions about the program and their responsibilities. We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions below that you can review. If you have any additional questions, please contact us.
Step 2 - Get Matched
Fill out the pre-screening Sponsor Form. Patiently wait for the next few weeks until you receive an email having the subject line: Intro US sponsor and Ukrainian beneficiary. Through this e-mail, you will be presented/matched with a potential beneficiary, the most suitable for you.
You will arrange your direct video/phone/Zoom meeting with your beneficiary. If the match is a good one, proceed to Step 3. If not, let us know, and we’ll match you with another family in need.
Step 3 - Become a Sponsor
First, file the USCIS online I-134A Application Form. Then, wait for approval from DHS. This can take several days to weeks, depending on their turn-around time.
Review our additional resources to see what benefits are available for you and your Ukrainian guests.
WE ONLY MAKE AN EMAIL INTRODUCTION SO THE PARTIES (SPONSOR & BENEFICIARY) CAN COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY AND CHECK THEIR OWN COMPATIBILITY AND AS SUCH THE CONSULATE, THE LAW FIRM AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES DISCLAIM ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF SUCH A MATCH OR IN ANY DAMAGES THAT MAY RESULT TO ANYONE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS REQUESTED MATCH. THE US GOVERNMENT (USCIS) IS THE ONLY ONE AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT BACKGROUND AND SECURITY VETTING OF ALL INVOLVED, FINANCIAL VIABILITY VETTING OF THE SPONSOR AND PUBLIC HEALTH VETTING (INCLUDING VACCINATION VETTING) OF BENEFICIARIES AND AS SUCH WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SUCH VETTING, ALTHOUGH WE WILL UTILIZE OUR SCREENING FORM TO VET OUT ANY CLEARLY INELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. WE DO NOT EVER MATCH UNACCOMPANIED MINORS TO SPONSORS, BUT ONLY FAMILIES WHERE THE ADULTS ARE DEMONSTRABLY RELATED TO THE CHILDREN.
NOTE: Keep in mind that registering with Connecticut for Ukraine is not analogous to an application to Uniting for Ukraine, nor are you required to apply for the program if you complete the pre-screening forms! Beneficiaries are not formally vetted by CT4U program, although they do undergo criminal, security, and public health background checks by DHS once they apply for U4U.
Sponsor and each beneficiary fill out their respective pre-screening forms. We will try our best to match according to your collective requirements, taking into consideration desire to come to CT, job prospects, number of people who could be hosted, genders, ages, schooling options for children, etc. We then notify the sponsor about the match and offer them the opportunity to speak directly to the beneficiaries in order for them to navigate personality fit directly and address any questions and concerns.
All the information you provide is strictly confidential and will not be shared with anyone outside this team.
Frequently Asked
Questions
for Sponsors
Who can be a Sponsor?
- Anyone with lawful US status/ parolee/ beneficiary of deferred action/ Deferred Enforced Departure (DED):
- Multiple supporters may join together to have the financial ability to support one or more Ukrainian beneficiaries (ex: faith communities).
- Organizations may not serve as the named supporter but evidence of their financial or services contribution may be included with the main supporter’s I-134A application and will be taken into consideration.
What are the minimum income requirements?
USCIS requires you to show that the income you and your family are making should be above 125% of the FPL (federal poverty line).
What are the responsibilities of the Sponsor?
- Receiving the beneficiary upon arrival in the US and transporting them to initial housing
- Ensuring that the beneficiary’s health care and medical needs are met for the duration of the parole
- Ensuring that the beneficiary has safe and appropriate housing for the duration of the parole and initial basic necessities
- (Optional) Assist the beneficiary in completing necessary paperwork such as that related to employment authorization, social security card, and for services for which they may be eligible
- (Optional) Assist the beneficiary with accessing education, learning English, securing employment, and enrolling children in school
NOTE: US sponsors may be understandably concerned about the cost of medical insurance in the US; please note that form I-134 affidavit of support is NOT LEGALLY BINDING in general and even less so in the context of the recently enacted federal benefits for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/fact-sheet/benefits-ukrainian-humanitarian-parolees), which confer Medicaid-like health coverage to Ukrainian parolees with low income. Additionally, sponsors would likely not be liable to hospitals and other health providers for anyone else’s medical bills, given the unenforceable nature of form I-134 and the fact that no I-134 has been signed with any third party other than the US DHS; in effect, the support is mostly a moral obligation.
What are some of the resources available to help with health care, food, and more?
Please note that besides Medicaid coverage, there are federal mainstream benefits available to low-income Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees such as TANF and SSI, food assistance through SNAP, etc: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/fact-sheet/benefits-ukrainian-humanitarian-parolees
Contact your local refugee resettlement agency to assist your Ukrainian parolees with applying for these benefits: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/map/find-resources-and-contacts-your-state
WelcomeUS put together a set of very informative materials regarding what it means to be a sponsor, which will help you decide if you want to be a sponsor and have the available financial, time, and emotional resources. Check out their informative, interactive guide at the following link: https://ukraine.welcome.us/resources