Asylum (Refugee status) in the United States:
- The U.S. government is working closely with European allies and partners who will be at the forefront of any response, to support those displaced internally within Ukraine and those who may seek safety in neighboring countries.
- In general for registered refugees, it is the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) that determines if resettlement to a third country (such as the United States) is required due to safety concerns. For UNHCR contact information in Montenegro, please visit: https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/montenegro.html
- Parole is a program led by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that allows an individual, who may be inadmissible or otherwise ineligible for admission into the United States, to be in the United States for a temporary period for urgent humanitarian reasons. All financial support, including travel to the United States, is the responsibility of yourself or financial sponsor. Application is not made at the U.S. Embassy; those who wish to apply for humanitarian parole should contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security directly: USCIS application for Humanitarian Parole
Pending Immigrant Visa Applicants:
You may have a pending Immigrant Visa application based on:
- Immediately family in the United States who have filed a petition for you
- A U.S.-based employer who has filed a petition for you
- Your selection in the Diversity Visa program
The U.S. Government will try to expedite those cases that are ready for immediate processing. The U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany has been designated to process Immigrant Visa cases that had been scheduled at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv before its closure. If you are currently in Montenegro, unfortunately the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro is not an immigrant visa processing post. All U.S. immigrant visa applications are processed out of the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade. If you are a U.S. citizen who has not yet filed a petition for your spouse, child, or parent, but wish to do so, please contact your nearest U.S. Embassy that processes immigrant visas.
Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants:
This category is for short-term trips to the United States such as for study, business, or family visits.
- If you have already paid the visa application fee at another U.S. Embassy, please note that U.S. visa fees paid to apply in a specific country cannot be transferred to another country. You would need to pay the fee again.
- If you do not speak English or Montenegrin, you will need to provide your own interpreter.
- To request a Non-Immigrant visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica please visit: https://me.usembassy.gov/visas/ for detailed instructions.
- Before applying for a nonimmigrant visa, consider carefully whether you are qualified for the visa you intend to apply for. Nonimmigrant visas are for temporary stays in the United States and are not for refugees. There are no nonimmigrant visas available for refugees. If you apply for a nonimmigrant visa but do not intend to leave the United States, your application will be refused.
Additional Information
For the most up to date information about the U.S. State Department’s response to the situation in Ukraine please go to the following link: United with Ukraine – United States Department of State.