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Ask HN: Perspectives for Ukrainian programmer coming to US as a war refugee?

25 points by arifmeticus ↗ HN
Hello,

I'm from Ukraine and my town Mariupol has been destroyed. I escaped to Russia and now I'm looking for a place to live and rebuild my life. A good friend agreed to sponsor me and my parents via a Uniting for Ukraine program, so that we can come and stay in US for 2 years that the program covers. I don't have wife or kids, and my brother is currently in a different city. I'm 34.

Considering that USA has huge tech market, it seems like a great proposition career wise, plus I know English already. But I worry about perspectives of such move. Will companies want to hire me knowing that my status is temporary and quite short at that (2 years)? Even if company likes me and is ready to propose a work visa it looks like there is a high chance that I don't get the visa. Then what, the end? I go home (to the ruins of it) at the end of 2 years? Is there a path towards longer-term US residence?

Plus, I worry about EAD work authorization with wait times around 6-9 months, which will make it difficult to sustain ourselves during that time. I'm not very clear about possible government assistance and the extend of it. Some of my friends say that going to US is not worth it in my circumstances, and some say that it's easier to figure things out being there and that 'you'll find the way', like build a case for different immigration status or marry, heh. I'm pretty sad and overwhelmed due to the war and my circumstances, I'm looking everywhere, so I wanted to ask HN opinion about perspectives of going to US to try and build new life there.

Michael

13 comments

[ 3.3 ms ] story [ 17.6 ms ] thread
csomar
You forgot to mention if you are going alone, have a wife/kids/family, your age, the status of your dependents, your current situation in Russia, etc...

If you are alone, don't worry. There are enough jobs in the US if you know what you are doing. It might be rough the first few months, but nothing worse than what you'd have already gone through.

I'd worry less about the 2-year, EAD and whatever. Just get your foot in the door and things will go from there.

arifmeticus
Hi, thanks for your reply, I'm with my parents (they are 70) and no wife or kids. I'm 34. I'm staying currently in a flat of my Russian acquaintance, but I'd like to move soon.
arifmeticus
"Just get your foot in the door and things will go from there." I've heard such argument and it is optimistic and hopeful, but immigration status needs some basis to acquire. I wonder about perspectives of legally staying and working beyond 2 years of temporary protection (I believe tech firms don't employ undocumented engineers).
csomar
It is easier to acquire such status once you are inside. Governments have a hard time getting people out than refusing their entry before they board from their destination. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but the odds are less likely.

This is really a comparison of what you have now in Russia vs. how it could be in the US. If the Russia government was about to make life bad for every Ukrainian inside the country, would you really ask this question.

The only thing that could make a US transition hard is your parents. Usually, what people do is they go first and then bring their parents/wife/etc... because nobody knows how it will turn out. I don't know if this is possible in your case, though.

heavenlyblue
Doesn’t US visa state in some way that your intended visit is only temporary? For example, if you take that visa and then decide to stay it can be used against you by immigration?
satya71
Immigration in the US is not easy, however USCIS has made some recent improvements specifically for citizens of Ukraine. The Uniting for Ukraine is a "parole" program. So you won't have any immigration status. It does come with the ability to get work authorization, and it's been made online recently. Those usually go quicker, but I don't know how long those are taking. Until then you'll probably have make do with passive income, sponsor support, or your own means.

There is no path to immigration from parole, but you can certainly try for some kind of status or immigration to another country. Hopefully at the end of the 2 years, Ukraine will once again be a safe country. In that case, you'd probably have to go back. If, God forbid, it's not, US will probably extend parole or grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the US. But there's no guarantee.

Hope this helps.

[dead] angry-1
Jensson
To me it is strange that Ukraine made the policy to ban all men from leaving the country. At least the Russians let him escape and he is now free to do whatever he wants, the Ukrainians wouldn't let him leave the country. So given that choice is it strange that many chooses Russia? Why be angry at people who makes the rational choice?
matthewiiiv
Depends whether you think what you consider to be the rational choice is the morally right choice. Clearly this guy, and a lot of other Ukrainians think the right thing to do is find a way to stay and contribute rather than fleeing to the very country that is committing such unspeakable acts. Especially since he doesn't have a family to look after / provide for.
Jensson
I doubt he had much choice though, when your home gets destroyed and is surrounded by the enemy why not just give up and go into their country as a refugee? What should he have done instead, died a meaningless death as a civilian resisting arrest? Demanding he fight his way back to Ukraine controlled areas seems very unreasonable to me.
arifmeticus
I'm sorry that you feel that way. In my opinion the 'hate the most' label is better applied to Russian troops and government, not to Ukrainian civilians that happen to suffer in the destroyed city. And, with all due respect, that's pretty rich of you to throw accusations without knowing my circumstances.
ghostwriter
> What about to serve or help your country?

did Kyivites ask citizens of Mariupol about their position on the armed coup against a democratically elected [1] president in 2014? That president was elected by a majority of Eastern Ukraine, including Mariupol. The president didn't break a law even to be impeached, yet political elites and their sympathizers around Kiyv decided the fate of the country for everyone in that year. There was no referendum, there was no impeachment process, there was no desire to preserve the right to representation of the people in Eastern Ukraine. But now you're asking a random guy from Mariupol to "serve or help your country". What for? To be tossed around once more?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Ukrainian_presidential_el...