Ukrainian Adjustment Act Offers Fee-Free Green Cards to Post-2014 Parolees, Streamlining Path to Residency

This new legislation, officially the Ukrainian Adjustment Act of 2025, sets up a direct path for certain Ukrainian nationals to apply for lawful permanent residency (a Green Card) right here in the U.S. Essentially, if you’re a Ukrainian citizen or national who was paroled into the country after February 20, 2014, and you pass the required security checks, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must adjust your status to permanent resident upon application. This benefit also extends to certain immediate family members, like spouses, children, and parents.

The Fast Track to Stability: What Gets Waived?

For anyone who has navigated the immigration system, the paperwork and hurdles can be brutal. This bill cuts through some major roadblocks. For eligible applicants, certain standard reasons for being denied a Green Card—like the “public charge” rule (which assesses whether someone might rely on government assistance), certain medical issues, and specific documentation problems—simply won't apply. This is a huge relief, especially for people who arrived quickly under humanitarian parole and may not have all the typical documentation.

DHS also gets broad authority to waive almost all other grounds for inadmissibility, provided it’s for humanitarian reasons, to keep families together, or if it’s in the public interest. However, there’s a hard line: if you committed serious criminal activity inside the United States on or after February 20, 2014, the Secretary cannot waive that inadmissibility. This ensures that while the process is streamlined, essential public safety concerns remain paramount.

No Fees, No Waiting in Limbo

One of the most impactful provisions for people trying to rebuild their lives is the fee waiver. The bill explicitly states that DHS cannot charge any fees for the Green Card application, for employment authorization, or for issuing the actual Green Card or work permit to eligible Ukrainian nationals. This removes a significant financial barrier that often prevents people from moving from temporary status to permanent residency.

Furthermore, once an eligible person files a legitimate application, they are protected from deportation (removal) while DHS processes the case. This means stability for families and workers; they won't be counted as “unlawfully present,” which is key to avoiding future immigration penalties. For someone working construction or managing a small business, this protection offers essential security, allowing them to focus on their life without the constant fear of removal.

The Clock Is Ticking: Deadlines and Details

While this is a clear benefit, it comes with a strict deadline. Eligible applicants must submit their Green Card application within one year of when DHS publishes its final guidance on the process. If you miss that one-year window, you generally lose the ability to use this specific law to adjust your status. Since DHS has 180 days after the law passes to issue initial guidance, this means applicants need to stay sharp and ready to file once the rules are finalized.

Finally, the bill includes specific protections for victims of abuse. If a principal Ukrainian national qualified for this status, but the marriage ended due to battering or extreme cruelty inflicted by that person, the victimized spouse can still apply for the Green Card for up to two years after the marriage ends. This ensures that humanitarian relief isn't weaponized against vulnerable individuals.