Comment Submitted by Olha Yaroslavska

I came to the U.S. with my son two and a half years ago through the U4U program. My husband was already here under the U4U and TPS programs and served as our sponsor. We didn’t receive any government assistance; I got a job right away and paid my taxes. My hometown, Odessa, is constantly under attack from suicide bombers and missiles. Right now, it’s very scary to return to Ukraine; my son is 13 years old, he remembers the constant air raid alerts and missile strikes, and he’s afraid to go back home. Last year, in July 2025, we submitted the paperwork to renew our U4U status, paid the fee, and went to get our fingerprints taken. But a year has already passed, and we still haven’t received the renewal. I lost my job at a wonderful restaurant where I worked as a cook, and I lost health insurance for myself and my son. Right now, we’re in a very difficult financial situation; only my husband is working, and he has to pay the rent, food costs, and other living expenses. It’s unclear how we’ll manage going forward; we don’t know what tomorrow will bring—it’s complete uncertainty. It’s very scary to return home because the war is still going on, people are dying every day, and staying here without a job and without valid documents is also very difficult. We urgently ask that you extend our documents for the duration of the war and allow us to work again and provide for our family.