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Helpful Information for Texans in Ukraine

Senator Cruz’s office is sharing this information as a resource to Texans in Ukraine or for those who have family there. 

Please encourage any U.S. citizen in Ukraine to complete this online form https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake to help us communicate with them and to review our Ukraine Travel Advisory:                                                                                               https://ua.usembassy.gov/travel-advisory-ukraine-level-4-do-not-travel-2/. 

· Hungary

· Moldova

· Poland

· Romania

· Slovakia

Since January 24, 2022, the United States has been urging American citizens to leave Ukraine immediately, due to the threat of Russian military action.  For those seeking to depart Ukraine by land to Poland, the U.S. government has established a 24-hour Welcome Center in Przemysl, Poland, near the Poland/Ukraine border.  See our Security Alert of February 14 for detailed information on the Welcome Center and contact information.  On February 12, the U.S. Embassy issued a Security Alert informing U.S. citizens of the opening of the Poland/Ukraine land border for U.S. citizens and providing border crossing information.  For land border crossing information please see our February 14 Security Alert - Overland Border Crossing for Departing Ukraine.

Q. Is the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine, open? What is the status of services at Lviv?

The Department of State is not able to offer in-person consular services in Ukraine at this time. We continue to encourage U.S. citizens in Ukraine to fill out our online formhttps://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake and we will respond.

The U.S. Embassy has a Welcome Center for U.S. citizens in Poland near major border crossing points from Ukraine. U.S. citizens who need assistance can visit our Welcome Center in the SPA Gloria Hotel, Sybiraków 31, 37-700 Przemy?l, Poland: https://ua.usembassy.gov/security-alert-welcome-center-for-u-s-citizens-entering-poland-from-ukraine/ . U.S. citizens may seek consular services at U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries.

For information from the Polish government for Ukrainians and others entering Poland see:https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en  

Q. How can I find information about potential risks to U.S. citizens in Ukraine?

As the President and Secretary of State have said, any U.S. citizens in Ukraine should depart immediately using commercial or other privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so. Please review the latest Ukraine Travel Advisory and security alerts at https://ua.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/.  

U.S. citizens in Ukraine should fill out this online form: https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) 

Q: How should U.S. citizens evacuate now since Russian military action in Ukraine has started?

On February 24, 2022, the Government of Ukraine closed its airspace to all commercial flights due to Russian military actions. U.S. citizens should not travel to Ukraine and those in Ukraine should depart immediately using commercial or other privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so.

Land border crossings are open for private vehicle travel. For more information on exiting Ukraine, visit the list of Alerts for U.S. citizens in Ukraine at https://ua.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/.  Careful consideration should be given to routes and the risks of travel because Ukraine’s roads are in many cases crowded and exposed to combat operations, and infrastructure such as bridges in some locations have been destroyed. Sheltering in place may remain the best option for some. For more information on exiting Ukraine, visit the list of Alerts for U.S. citizens in Ukraine at https://ua.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-and-travel-information/. The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has issued specific Alerts with information on crossing land borders. 

U.S. citizens in Ukraine should fill out this online form: https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake and enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) https://step.state.gov/.  

Q: Can U.S. citizens cross into Poland from Ukraine at this time?

U.S. citizens may enter Poland across the land border with Ukraine. No advanced approval is required. The U.S. Embassy has opened a Welcome Center to provide assistance to U.S. citizens entering Poland from Ukraine. 

For information from the Polish government for Ukrainians and others entering Poland see: https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en

For information from the Polish government for Ukrainians and others entering Poland see:https://www.gov.pl/web/udsc/ukraina-en.  

For information on other border crossings in Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, and Romania, please see information at: https://ua.usembassy.gov/security-alert-ukraine-land-border-crossing-options-march-9-2022/ .

Q: I am a U.S. citizen and need a passport to depart Ukraine. What should I do?

The Department of State is not able to offer in-person emergency consular services in Ukraine at this time. U.S. citizens in Ukraine should fill out the online assistance form at: cacms.state.gov and the Department of State will respond.

Q. Is the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv still open for visa applications?

The Department of State is not able to offer in-person emergency consular services in Ukraine at this time.

U.S. embassies and consulates in neighboring countries can accept visa applications from Ukrainians. Please find a list of embassy websites

here: 

Poland (Warsaw or Krakow): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en 

Slovakia (Bratislava): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/sk/ 

Hungary (Budapest): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/hu/ 

Romania (Bucharest): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ro/ 

Moldova (Chisinau): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/md/ 

Q: We are hearing from our constituents that their friends and relatives who departed from Ukraine are now facing very long wait times to apply for U.S. visas. What are you doing to solve this? 

Because of the temporary suspension of visa services in Kyiv, the Department has designated Consulate General Frankfurt as the primary processing location for immigrant visas for residents of Ukraine. 

Individuals seeking IR-3 or 4 adoption visas or A or G visas should apply at Embassy Warsaw, where we are expediting these categories. 

Nonimmigrant visas may be processed wherever a Ukrainian applicant is physically located and can schedule an appointment. While we are aware that some embassies and consulates face extended visa interview wait times due to increased demand and COVID impacts, embassies and consulates neighboring Ukraine do continue to schedule urgent and routine visa appointments for Ukrainian nationals. They are prioritizing, to the extent possible, Ukrainian applicants with U.S. citizen immediate family members and emergency travel needs. 

Information about appointment wait times is available on the visa wait time tool: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html 

Q: Is the Department doing anything to assist families that are in the process of adopting children from Ukraine or have surrogacy agreements in place? Can anything be done to help expedite these processes? 

We understand how difficult this situation is for families pursuing parenthood through adoption or surrogacy in Ukraine. 

We strongly encourage prospective adoptive parents and those pursuing parenthood through surrogacy to defer travel to Ukraine at this time and for those currently in Ukraine to depart immediately if it is safe to do so. U.S. citizens currently in Ukraine should complete the online form at https://cacms.state.gov/s/crisis-intake, and we will respond directly. 

We recommend prospective adoptive parents remain in regular contact with their adoption service providers in the United States. 

Q: Can American families who previously hosted a child through a temporary hosting program bring these children to the U.S? 

The government of Ukraine has informed us it is not authorizing children to travel abroad for hosting programs at this time. 

The Department doesn’t have a role in hosting programs, which are coordinated by private organizations with the permission of the Ukrainian authorities. While many families that host a child through a hosting program subsequently decide to pursue intercountry adoption, not all of the participating children are orphans under Ukrainian or U.S. laws, and therefore may not be eligible for intercountry adoption. 

Q. Are dual national U.S. citizens not being allowed to depart due to Ukrainian conscription?

U.S. citizens holding dual nationality may be subject to mandatory military service in a foreign country. This obligation may be imposed immediately upon arrival or when attempting to depart the country.

Q: What provisions are being made for Ukrainians fleeing abroad from the Russian invasion? 

The Department is closely coordinating with international partners to monitor the situation in Ukraine and engaging diplomatically to ensure neighboring countries continue to keep their borders open to those seeking international protection. 

Almost all refugee cases in countries abroad are processed by local authorities. Ukrainians should contact local authorities for assistance. Additional information is available from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR): https://www.usaid.gov/usaid-response-ukraine/resources-refugees-asylum-seekers.