The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status for citizens of Ukraine until April 19, 2025, due to Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion.
“Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an 18-month extension of Ukraine’s Temporary Protected Status (TPS), from October 20, 2023, to April 19, 2025, due to the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent safe return,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement on its website Friday.
The program will also be expanded to allow Ukrainians who were living in the U.S. as of Aug. 16, 2023, to apply for temporary protection.
In addition, students from Ukraine who study in the U.S. and are in the country on an F-1 visa will be able to apply for work authorization and workload reduction without losing their visa for the duration of temporary protection.
Reportedly, approximately 26,000 Ukrainians now enjoy temporary protection in the U.S., and another 166,700 may be eligible. “Current beneficiaries who wish to extend their temporary protected status must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from August 21, 2023 to October 20, 2023,” the report said.
“Russia’s ongoing military incursion into Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis require the United States to continue to provide security and protection to Ukrainians who may not be able to return to their country,” said U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, who is quoted in the report.
More than 244,000 people applied for asylum in Germany last year, with citizens of Syria topping the list, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
The agency notes that according to German statistics, citizens of Afghanistan, Turkey and Iraq followed the Syrians in the list.
In addition, more than a million citizens of Ukraine arrived in the country, but they do not have to apply for asylum, because they immediately receive a temporary residence permit.
Berlin notes that in 2022 the number of refugees increased by 27.9% compared to 2021, especially in the last three months of 2022.
German Interior Minister Nancy Feser said the government is trying to integrate refugees as quickly as possible in the life of the new place, for this purpose, German language lessons are held, and many other measures are taken. At the same time, she noted that German authorities are trying to do everything possible to deport from the country as soon as possible those who have been denied asylum.
Since the start of the full-scale war, 140-150 thousand Ukrainians have come to the UK, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Vadym Pristayko said.
“About 200 thousand visas have been issued. Reached British shores about 140-150 thousand. This figure fluctuates: someone has to go back to Ukraine, someone settled for a longer period, children went to school. All the Ukrainians who came here received financial assistance, they are connected to free programs, to the health care system. I am sure Ukrainians feel protected. There are many opportunities for employment,” Prystayko said at a briefing at the Ukraine Media Center.
According to some estimates, as the ambassador noted, “already half of all adult Ukrainians who have moved here have some kind of job.
Minister of Social Policy Oksana Zholnovich hopes that it will be possible to avoid dual residency for Ukrainian citizens abroad.
“There are risks, but I think that it will be possible to avoid dual residency. During the last conversation, when we had the Minister of Social Policy and Labor of Germany, I asked him this question. In particular, that we have problems, since Germany is very many of our people who continue to work in Ukraine remotely or as FOPs and pay taxes here, and is there a need for them to register? He could not answer, because this is also a challenge for them. This is a new tool that has yet to be developed in Europe” , – Zholnovich said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine, commenting on the situation with negotiations with international partners regarding tax residency for Ukrainian citizens abroad.
As for the prospect of introducing general pension payments for displaced Ukrainians who received the status of temporary protection and worked in the countries of the European Union, the minister said that this can only be under bilateral agreements that Ukraine has already signed on the mutual recognition of insurance experience.
Answering a clarifying question whether any new global projects on this topic are being considered in connection with the current circumstances, Zholnovich noted that Ukraine is in the process of European integration, and there are relevant EU directives that allow something like this.
“But this will be a movement in both directions. That is, if we conclude an agreement that our citizens working in Poland are counted for insurance experience, then we must also credit and pay pensions to Poles working in Ukraine. This is painstaking work, which involves the synchronization of two pension systems of each individual country. Obviously, it will continue, but we must also take into account our economic situation. If the Ukrainian pension in the UK is very easy to pay, then the UK pension in Ukraine is not quite,” she stated.
ABROAD, dual residence, Minister Social Policy, UKRAINIAN CITIZENS
The Polish railway company PKP Intercity is canceling free travel for Ukrainian citizens from July 1, the company’s press service said.
“The current rules for issuing free tickets for refugees from Ukraine will be valid until Thursday, June 30. From Friday, July 1, these trips will be carried out according to the general rules included in the PKP Intercity regulations.
It is noted that free travel for citizens of Ukraine in the 2nd class of economy class trains TLK and IC was introduced on February 26. Until the last days of June, more than 2.3 million citizens of Ukraine used the services of PKP Intercity.
$4.6 billion (EUR4.1 billion) grants and $5.5 billion (EUR5 billion) loans following the Stand Up for Ukraine fundraising campaign will be used to support 4.4 million Ukrainian refugees in European countries and 6.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ukraine, according to Global Citizen, one of the organizers of the action.
According to his press release, the European Commission – $1.1 billion, Canada – $80 million, Belgium – $904 million, Croatia – $111 million, Czech Republic – $222 million, Estonia – $0, in particular, announced their commitments and donations. 11 million, Finland – $778 million, Ireland – $58 million, Italy – $400 million, Malta – $0.06 million, Slovakia – $595 million, Sweden – $333 million, Qatar – $5 million.
In addition, the Development Bank of the Council of Europe made a statement on loans in the amount of $1.1 billion, and the European Investment Bank – in the amount of $4.4 billion (they still require the approval of the board of directors).
In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development confirmed that it will allocate $1.1 billion of a previously announced $2.25 billion package on March 9 specifically for projects in crisis-hit municipalities, the report said.
In a statement from the European Commission, it was previously specified that out of EUR9.1 billion, EUR1.8 billion are intended for internally displaced persons in Ukraine, and EUR7.3 billion for the accommodation of refugees in EU member states and neighboring countries.
Global Citizen points out that the Stand Up for Ukraine fundraising event was organized in partnership with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with the participation of Polish President Andrzej Duda.
The release also states that companies such as Blue Bottle Coffee, Bridgewater Associates, Cisco, The Coca-Cola Company, Continental Development Corporation, Crush Music, CSL Behring, DocuSign, Farmamundi Foundation, Google, Nestlé, Nespresso have made new corporate commitments. , Twitter, Verizon, The Foundation at Sanofi, Seadream Family Foundation and Sun Life.
In addition, the event was supported by more than a hundred artists, athletes, lawyers and citizens from around the world: Adam Lambert, Aitana, Alec Benjamin, Alejandro Sanz, Alex Len, Alexandra Stan, Andy Cohen, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Antytila , Arlo Parks, Ashlee Simpson Ross, Au/Ra, Barbra Streisand, Barenaked Ladies, Bastille, Becky Lynch, Billie Eilish, Billy Porter, Black Eyed Peas, Bobby Weir, Bridget Moynahan, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Celine Dion, Chris Isaak , Chris Tomlin, Connie Britton, Dave Matthews, Daymond John, Dead & Company, Drew McIntyre, Dwane Casey, Dylan Dunlap, Ellen DeGeneres, Ellie Goulding, Elton John and David Furnish.
They also include Evan Ross, Fall Out Boy, Finn Bälor, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, Gelila Assefa Puck, Gloria Steinem, Green Day, Herbert Grönemeyer, Hozier, Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness, Isha Sesay, Ivar and Erik, Jamala, Jenna Dewan, Jennifer Lopez, Jesse McCartney, Jewel, Jill Vedder, Jim Kyte, Johnny Orlando, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonas Brothers, Juanes, Julian Lennon, Kacey Musgraves, Katie Couric, Katy Perry, Kerry Washington, KD Lang, Lennon Stella, Leon Bridges, Lilly Singh, Liv Morgan, Lola Lennox, Luis Fonsi, Luke Steele, Madonna, MÅNESKIN, Megan Morant, Metallica.
Also on this list are Michael Bublé, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Miley Cyrus, Nicky Jam, Nigel Barker, Nikki A.S.H., Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Nuno Bettencourt, ONEREPUBLIC, Oprah Winfrey, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Padma Lakshmi, Panic! At The Disco, Pearl Jam, Pharrell Williams, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rita Ora, Rufus Wainwright, Sarsa, Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins, Shayna Baszler, Shinsuke Nakamura, SOFI TUKKER, Stevie Nicks, Sviatoslav “Svi ” Mykhailiuk, Tame Impala, Thalia, The Lumineers, Third Eye Blind, U2, Ukulele U, Usher, Vito Bambino, Weezer, Within Temptation, Young Leosia, Zucchero and 5 Seconds of Summer.
GRANTS, HELP, LOANS, STAND UP FOR UKRAINE, UKRAINIAN CITIZENS
