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Refugee

Refugees are migrants who are able to demonstrate that they have been persecuted, or have reason to fear persecution, on the basis of one of five “protected grounds”: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Refugees must apply for resettlement from outside the U.S. (while people requesting asylum must apply either at a U.S. border or from within the United States.)

Eligibility Requirements

You must receive a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for consideration as a refugee.

If you receive a referral, you will receive help filling out your application and then be interviewed abroad by a USCIS officer who will determine whether you are eligible for refugee resettlement. The USCIS will evaluate whether you meet the definition of a refugee according to section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Under United States law, a refugee is someone who:

  • Is located outside of the United States
  • Is of special humanitarian concern to the United States
  • Demonstrates that they were persecuted or fear persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
  • Is not firmly resettled in another country
  • Is admissible to the United States

Application and Authorization Process

Contact the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to receive a referral.

Fill Out and submit Form I-590 (and its attachment forms) with USCIS.

USCIS officers then conduct extensive in-person, overseas interviews with all refugee applicants on each case to elicit information about eligibility for refugee status.

Forms required to be submitted for this application

  1. Form I-590, Registration for Classification as Refugee

Information that you will have to provide

  1. Once you’ve been selected by USRAP, you’ll be asked to provide proof of your persecution and a detailed affidavit explaining what happened and why you are afraid to return to your home country.
  2. You need to prove your identity, by any means possible.

How we can help

Our attorneys are available for consultation to discuss your options and responsibilities. To start the process:

Contact Us Schedule an Appointment (Audio/Video Conference) Start Online Application Browse Blog

Useful Links about this VISA

https://www.uscis.gov
https://www.uscis.gov/refugeescreening
https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/registration.html