Ukrainian Refugees in the U.S. Lose Work Rights, Face Uncertain Future

(UNITED STATES) Thousands of Ukrainian refugees and parolees across the United States 🇺🇸 are hitting hard walls in late 2025 as expiring parole, narrow eligibility for Temporary Protected Status, and long processing delays cut off their legal right to work. The steepest drop is among Ukrainians who came in 2022–2023 under Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and are now reaching the end of their two‑year parole. Once parole ends, so does work authorization unless they secure a new status.

At the same time, stricter federal policies, a months‑long USCIS processing pause earlier in 2025, and a closed TPS re‑registration window have left many families unsure how they will pay rent or keep jobs they have held for years.

Current TPS timeline and who it helps

• The current TPS designation for Ukraine runs through October 19, 2026.
• TPS protection only reaches people who have been in the country since October 20, 2023 (continuous presence requirement).
• Many who arrived after that date cannot use TPS and face losing work authorization as their parole clocks run out in 2024–2025.

According to VisaVerge.com, the mismatch between parole timelines and TPS cut‑off dates created a large at‑risk group. Employers are cautious because of penalties for accepting expired documents, even when workers have pending relief and are waiting in long queues.

Re‑registration and automatic EAD extensions

• Ukrainians who re‑registered during January 17–March 18, 2025 keep TPS status through October 19, 2026.
• Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) were automatically extended through April 19, 2026 if their EADs carried earlier TPS end dates.
• That automatic extension helps prevent job loss for timely filers.

Many missed the re‑registration window because of the USCIS pause (February 14–June 9, 2025), court uncertainty, or confusion. Late re‑registration is still possible with a showing of “good cause,” but approval is not guaranteed, and delays leave families in limbo while bills pile up.

Parole and re‑parole: blunt rules, tighter limits

• For U4U parolees, work authorization is tied directly to the parole period; when parole ends, work authorization ends.
• Re‑parole is now harder to secure under the administration of President Trump, which has set tighter limits and made renewals more selective.
• Those who cannot obtain re‑parole must qualify for a different status (TPS if they meet the presence date, asylum, or family‑/employment‑based routes) to keep working legally.

Lawyers and community groups report disruptions in local labor markets—particularly in construction, manufacturing, health support, and logistics—where Ukrainians filled urgent staffing needs since 2022.

Broader refugee system and public benefits changes

• New rules in 2025 sharply restricted refugee admissions and suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for review.
• A new travel ban announced on June 5, 2025 further narrowed entry pathways.
• Even though the prior year’s ceiling was set at 125,000 by President Biden, actual arrivals plunged after the suspension.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on July 4, 2025 removed SNAP eligibility for resettled refugees and cut access to health support and other services for refugees and asylees. Local agencies report rising food insecurity and untreated health conditions among newcomers who recently lost jobs because of expired work authorization.

“We had to choose between asthma medication and rent,” said a mother of two in Ohio admitted under U4U in 2023 after her parole ended this summer. Her employer let her go. Her story echoes across communities where churches and volunteers now fill service gaps.

USCIS pause, backlogs, and employer obligations

• USCIS resumed case processing on June 9, 2025 after a litigation‑driven pause that began on February 14, 2025, but the backlog remains heavy.
• Applications for work permits, TPS, asylum, and green cards face months‑long waits.
• Receipt notices may exist, but receipt alone does not restore work authorization if parole/EAD has expired and no automatic extension applies.

Employers must follow I‑9 rules and verify exact end dates on parole or EAD cards. Mistakes can bring fines, so HR teams often separate workers whose documents expire, even when a new EAD is likely to arrive.

Asylum: option but slow and uncertain

• Asylum is an option for those fearing persecution, but it is neither quick nor certain.
• Applicants must generally file within one year of arrival unless an exception applies.
• After filing Form I‑589, they must wait 150 days before applying for a work permit; processing often takes much longer.

Those considering asylum should file Form I‑589 (Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal) at Form I-589 (Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal) and seek legal help to build strong country‑conditions evidence and personal testimony.

Practical steps for families and employers

For families still eligible for TPS:
1. Confirm continuous presence in the U.S. since October 20, 2023.
2. Check whether you re‑registered between January 17 and March 18, 2025. If not, file late re‑registration now with a detailed “good cause” statement and evidence.
3. If your TPS EAD shows an earlier end date tied to a prior period, rely on the automatic extension through April 19, 2026 and carry the Federal Register notice for I‑9 reviews.
4. Keep your address current with USCIS to avoid missed notices.

For U4U parolees nearing expiration:
– File for TPS if eligible—don’t wait until the last week.
– If TPS is not available, consider timely asylum filing on Form I‑589 and track the 150‑day clock for an initial work permit.
– If you sought re‑parole during the processing pause, keep checking case status and expect delays even after June resumption.
– Do not work after parole or EAD expiration; unauthorized employment can harm future cases.

Legal aid providers emphasize keeping thorough records:
– Copies of I‑94s, parole documents, marriage/birth certificates, leases, and utility bills can help prove continuous presence.
– When filing late re‑registration for TPS, include a concise statement of reasons (illness, mail problems, confusion during the USCIS pause) and supporting documents.

Economic and community impacts

• More than 200,000 Ukrainians entered under U4U between 2022 and 2024; many are now at or past the two‑year mark.
• Tens of thousands hold TPS today, but a wide gap remains for those dependent on parole or in long asylum queues.
• Employers—manufacturing plants, home health and elder care agencies—report unexpected turnover, staffing gaps, and higher training costs.
• Schools, churches, and community groups are responding with food drives, medical clinics, and other supports as families lose income and benefits.

A welder in Pennsylvania who arrived late in 2023 under U4U fell outside TPS eligibility because of the October 20, 2023 presence rule. His parole expired this summer; despite a pending asylum case, he must wait to apply for an EAD. The factory wants him back, but production runs with fewer staff while the case sits in queue.

Policy debates and possible fixes

• The administration defends changes as necessary for border control and resource management. Officials argue that limiting re‑parole reduces incentives for irregular migration and that the USRAP pause was needed for review.
• Lawsuits are ongoing and could change parts of these policies, but court timelines are slow.
• Advocates push for targeted re‑parole programs for Ukrainians with clean records, expanded TPS use for those who narrowly missed the presence date, and clearer employer guidance on automatic EAD extensions.

Even limited policy moves could keep people working while cases move through backlogged systems.

Quick checklist and recommendations

• Double‑check eligibility for TPS based on continuous presence since October 20, 2023; if eligible, file or re‑file now.
• Use the automatic EAD extension through April 19, 2026 for qualifying TPS cards and present the Federal Register notice during I‑9 reviews.
• For asylum, file Form I-589 promptly at Form I-589 and track the 150‑day mark for work authorization eligibility; keep proof of filing.
• Employers: set calendar reminders 90 days before parole or EAD expiration to allow time for updated documents or discussions.
• Families: connect with local legal aid and community groups for help with filings, translations, and short‑term support.

Bottom line

• TPS runs through October 19, 2026 for those continuously present since October 20, 2023.
• Late re‑registration is allowed with “good cause.”
• Many TPS EADs carry an automatic extension through April 19, 2026.
• Asylum remains a possible route to work authorization after the 150‑day wait following Form I‑589 filing.

The problem is not just legal complexity; it’s time. With parole clocks expiring and backlogs heavy, delays of a few weeks can determine whether a parent keeps a job, a landlord gets paid, or a student stays in sports. The most practical advice: check dates, file promptly, save records, and get help early.