BIL UkrainianPP

With the current war ensuing in Ukraine and many civilians fleeing the country, the U.S. has released information and guidelines as to how Ukrainians can process their visas through the U.S. embassy in Warsaw, Poland. 

If you are a U.S. citizen with a Ukrainian spouse or child looking to travel to the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa:

  • You may expedite an existing appointment with the Embassy via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/expedited-appointment.
  • If you have already begun a nonimmigrant visa application process in Ukraine, then you may send a request to Support-Poland@ustraveldocs.com to ask for transfer of your “profile” to the Warsaw Embassy where you may complete the process for an appointment in Warsaw.
  • If you are seeking but do not already have an appointment:
    • If you apply in Warsaw: Visit ttps://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4 and sign up for a “C1/D” (crew) appointment even though you are not a crew member. When you reach the Embassy, they will convert your appointment to the proper type.
    • If you will apply in Krakow: Visit ttps://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4 and sign up for an “F” (student) appointment, even though you are not a student. When you reach the Consulate in Krakow, they will change your appointment to the correct type.

If you are unable to schedule an appointment with these methods, you can request a group appointment via https://ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/group-appointments and put in a date that is convenient for you. Once you have submitted your request, the Embassy will get back to you in a timely manner through email and should allow for you to schedule an appointment.

If you are a Ukrainian who wants to travel to the U.S. or a U.S. citizen who has friends, business associates, or NON-IMMEDIATE family who want to travel to the U.S.:

  • If you already have an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw and wish to expedite it, you may do so with the same expedition method mentioned above.
  • If the traveler has already began a nonimmigrant visa application in Ukraine, you may send a request to the same Support-Poland@ustraveldocs.com website and have them transfer your case to the Warsaw Embassy.
  • If the traveler is seeking but doesn’t have an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw or the U.S. consulate in Krakow, then you may try and schedule one via https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/step-4. Please keep in mind that availability is extremely limited.

If you are seeking information about immediate humanitarian assistance in Poland:

  • Visit the Polish government’s webpage for information about resources: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en. The website will provide locations of official reception points for refugees on Poland’s border with Ukraine.
  • In Warsaw, anyone seeking information on support from the Polish government can direct their inquiries to the Office for Foreigners at:
    • Taborowa 33, 02-699 Warsaw, Poland
    • Koszykowa 16, 00-678 Warsaw, Poland

Utilizing these resources should help many refugees fleeing conflict in Ukraine attain temporary visa status in the United States. Availability and flexibility of the Embassy may be severely limited due to the war, applicants must be patient with the process.

Be sure to subscribe to Berardi Immigration Law’s social media channels to stay up to date on the latest immigration related news!