Information for beneficiaries
All Ukrainians who will be beneficiaries in Uniting For Ukraine program, are recognized under Humanitarian Parole rule. They are not officialy "refugees" however receive all the same benefits. Most often, they will be called beneficiaries or parolees.
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Information on benefits: https://www.usa.gov/benefits
Social Security information: https://www.usa.gov/about-social-security
Find your state information: https://www.usa.gov/states-and-territories
Transfer cash or using Ukrainian bank cards in U.S.
You can use your credit/debit cards in USA in most ATMs or bank branches. However your Ukrainian bank might set restrictions on geographic locations you can use cards in. It is important to check with your bank before departure either online or via phone that you will be able to access your online account and your cards abroad.
It might make sense to convert money while being in Ukraine or in neighboring countries, before flying in (make sure to declare all above-limit cash).
Keep in mind that cash withdrawal will likely incur a fee in most american ATMs. In addittion to that, your bank might charge extra fee for international withdrawals, as well as set a floating exchange rate from Hryvnas to U.S. dollars. Most newcomers were able to withdraw a limited amount of money (Ukrainian National Bank limits) each week and then deposit it into US account.
Most of operations in U.S. will be reported to IRS so be prepared to pay taxes if needed. (tax brackets for 2022)U.S. bank accounts
When you arrive in USA you will need to open an US bank account for various purposes (employment, transfers within US, some benefits). We encourage you to research what bank will work best for your situation. Among the popular ones are Bank of America, Capital One, American Express.
The above banks could open a checking (debit) and credit account for you with higher chances of approval, and will report your debt to credit bureaus to help you build your Credit Score.
If you have a person of trust, you could ask them to be your co-signor on credit card or add you to their credit card in case you cannot receive an approval.
Other helpful resources
| Find housing to rent or buy. | Shipping courier services. | Budgeting and financial tools that work well with U.S. companies. | Some of the biggest online retailers to shop on with fast delivery. | Online marketplaces to find used or new car, some with delivery to your city and quotes for loans. |
| www.zillow.com/ www.trulia.com/ www.apartments.com/ www.redfin.com/ | www.usps.com/ www.fedex.com/ us.meest.com/ It is useful to signup for an USPS account and opt in for Informed Delivery. | mint.intuit.com/ www.creditkarma.com/ www.experian.com/ It's helpful to have Experian app in addition to CreditKarma to see your Experian Credit Score. | www.amazon.com/ www.target.com/ www.walmart.com/ | www.carvana.com/ www.cars.com/ www.carfax.com/ |