There were 1,739 students from Ukraine in the U.S. for the 2020–21 academic year, according to the Open Doors Report. Some of them may be close to the end of their program of study or OPT, and they are not able to return to their home country during the Russian invasion.
According to the Inside Higher Ed, there was a coalition of more than 500 college presidents calling for the government to issue a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation and announce Special Student Relief (SSR) for Ukrainian nationals residing and/or studying in the USA. TPS provides work permits and protection from deportation and SSR would provide additional flexibility and relief for Ukrainian international students, preventing them from losing their F-1 status.
We received the latest news on March 3, 2022 that Ukraine has been added to the list of TPS (temporary protected status) countries. “Ukrainians who are in the United States as of March 1, 2022, can apply for TPS which, if approved, gives them protection from deportation and a work permit,” according to Fiona McEntee, J.D., our guest mentor in Meet the Mentor Podcast Episode 20.
Here are a few helpful resources you can use to support Ukrainian International Students:
- McEntee Law Group: a Q&A on TPS and filing process
- NAFSA’s Immigration Resources – a list of immigration information resources relevant to Ukrainian students and scholars and others impacted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- IIE Statement on the War in Ukraine and Current Funding Efforts (recommended by Dr. Michael Elliott, ICAway advisory board member/ Director of ISSS at University at Albany)
Humanitarian aid is urgently needed for Ukraine at this time. Dr. Svetlana Filiatreau, ICAway advisory board member/ Director of Cybersecurity Management and Analytics Program at Virginia Tech Pamplin College of Business, whose doctoral dissertation was on higher education in Ukraine, has put together a list of U.S. foundations and organizations (501 C (3)) that are vetted by Ukrainians and U.S. Charity Navigator as below.
- Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (Please indicate: “Humanitarian Relief” in the Gift Description note)
- Mennonite Central Committee
- US-Ukraine Foundation
Additional Charities – 501 C(3)
- Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), donate to Humanitarian Effort
- United Help Ukraine, Donate to the Life-saving medical supplies to Ukraine’s front lines
- Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Donate to Treatment of the wounded and the provision of hospitals
- Razom for Ukraine, Donate to Tactical medical training and emergency response in Ukraine
- Nova Ukraine, Donate to Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine
- Sunflower of Peace, Donate to Tactical medicine
ICAway is praying for the good of all citizens of the world. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
