My husband Vlad and I came to the United States under the U4U program, determined to contribute and build a future here for ourselves and our daughter, Mariia, and our beloved cat Milka. We have always followed every law and respected every process, doing everything by the book. Recently, Vlad’s I-140 (Extraordinary Ability – EB1A) petition was approved—a major step toward permanent residency and a hopeful future for our family. However, while we wait for the next step, we are in a state of legal limbo. Both of our Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) have expired, and we are waiting for renewals for more than a year by now. Until those are approved, we are not legally allowed to work, and the wait could be longer than we can manage.

This situation has left us with no income and no way to support ourselves, even as we care for Vlad’s elderly parents. His mother, Liudmyla, is currently undergoing cancer treatment, and he is unable to renew his driver’s license without a USCIS receipt notice. We’re both still waiting for that notice—a document that should have arrived long ago, but never did due to an unresolved USCIS processing issue. Without it, we can’t legally drive her to the hospital or even manage daily needs. Every part of this process feels like a wall we can’t get around, no matter how hard we try. We are doing our best to remain strong and lawful, but it’s becoming impossible to survive without outside help.

Vlad’s background is in cybersecurity and AI, and he was recently invited as a Research Fellow at MIT—a position he had to leave when his EAD expired and all Ukrainian cases were on hold. We have always worked hard and taken pride in supporting ourselves and others. Right now, our most urgent need is to apply for our Green Card, which is a significant financial burden. Any support you are able to give—no matter how small—will make a real difference in our lives. If we are blessed to receive more than we need for the application, that support will help us get through a longer waiting period and cover any unexpected expenses along the way. Sharing our story also means so much to us.

Thank you for reading, caring, and for any kindness you’re able to offer.

Sincerely,

Liliia