From U4U to O-1A visa for Ukrainian Entrepreneur
We had a client that came to us from Ukraine as an entrepreneur and founder of her own startup. Initially, she arrived under the United for Ukraine (U4U) program, which was established to help Ukrainians flee the war. However, while U4U provided temporary relief, it had some significant limitations. For example, it wasn’t a formal visa, so she had issues with travel and potential complications if she ever wanted to apply for a green card in the future.
To help her gain more stability, she transitioned to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which gave her some added security. But what she really needed was work authorization to continue growing her business and, most importantly, the freedom to travel in and out of the U.S. without restrictions. After discussing her options, our attorney decided the best path forward was applying for an O-1 visa—and later, potentially a green card.
Our client was incredibly accomplished in her field, so building the case for the O-1 visa went smoothly, same as USCIS approval.
While many Ukrainians face the risk of administrative processing during embassy interviews, the attorney recommended that she goes through the U.S. Embassy in Switzerland to finalize the visa and prepared her for all the possible questions. She attended her appointment, and everything went smoothly. She didn’t face any delays, and she came back to the U.S. with her O-1 visa officially activated—no longer relying on any temporary status like U4U or TPS.
Now that her visa is secure, we’ve started the process for her green card. Since she’s on the O-1, the adjustment of status will be much more straightforward compared to navigating the gray areas of U4U or TPS. In just a few months, she’s on track to become a permanent resident and continue growing her business here in the U.S.
Would you be interested in determining your eligibility for the O-1A category? Kindly complete this brief screening, and our team of attorneys will carefully review your accomplishments.