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How many refugees does the United States resettle?
Each year the president, in consultation with Congress, sets the number of
refugees to be accepted for U.S. resettlement. Among industrialized
countries, the United States has consistently accepted the largest number.
The current total fluctuates
between 50,000 and 70,000 per year (less than 1/2 of 1% of
refugees worldwide). The total is divided
regionally-Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Near East and East
Asia-plus the former Soviet Union. (Top of Page)
How does a refugee begin the process to come to the United States?
Access to the U.S. Resettlement Program for refugee applicants will vary
from diplomatic post to diplomatic post. Much refugee processing is
conducted in locations where the US immigration service has established
presence for this purpose. These locations include Nairobi, Vienna,
Frankfurt, Moscow, Bangkok, New Delhi, Islamabad, and Havana. Refugee
processing is also conducted in locations where the immigration service does
not have a presence but currently conducts circuit rides (e.g. African
countries other than Kenya, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Vietnam and Croatia).
Refugees who are referred by the UNHCR for resettlement in the US, or who
appear to the US government to be eligible for resettlement under US law,
are interviewed by a US immigration officer. The officer decides whether a
person qualifies as a refugee under US law.
(Top of Page)
Which refugees are eligible for resettlement in the United States?
A person who meets the definition of refugee may be eligible for US
resettlement if she or he:
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Has a particularly compelling history of persecution and/or
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Is a member of an ethnic or religious group that is considered by the US to
be of “special humanitarian concern” and/or
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If she or he is the spouse, unmarried child, or parent of a refugee who has
been resettled or is a US permanent resident or adjudicated (approved)
asylee in the US.
(Top of Page)
Which family members may accompany a refugee to the United States?
Generally, only a spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 may
accompany the principal applicant. Other relatives may qualify for US
resettlement if they themselves meet US refugee criteria.
(Top of Page)
How do I bring a relative to the United States as a refugee?
If you meet the criteria under current Priority-3 processing, you may file
an Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) with one of our local affiliates. Filing
an Affidavit of Relationship does not guarantee admittance into the U.S.
Resettlement Program; your family must still qualify for the resettlement
program.
If you are a refugee or asylee who recently entered the United States, and
you would like to bring a spouse or unmarried son or daughter under the age
of 21, you may be eligible to file an I-730 (Visa-92/93) with INS.
(Top of
Page)
What is an Affidavit of Relationship?
An affidavit of relationship or AOR is a form affirming the relationship
between a former refugee or an immigrant now living in the United States and
an individual or individuals still in a refugee camp. Completion and
notarization of this form begins the process of family reunification.(Top
of Page)
How is an Affidavit of Relationship processed?
An AOR is filed at a local affiliate office such as Lutheran Services of
Georgia and then sent to Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. At LIRS,
the affidavit is reviewed to ensure that Priority-3 processing criteria are
met. If additional information is needed, or a person is not eligible to
file an AOR, the affidavit is returned to the local office for follow-up.
Once all of the necessary information has been provided, the AOR is then
forwarded on to the appropriate processing post overseas. An LIRS affiliate
office can provide information concerning the status of an affidavit filed.
(Top of
Page)
What can I do if I want to help a refugee friend or relative, but I am not
eligible to file an Affidavit of Relationship on their behalf?
You may file an Interest on their behalf. An interest is a document filed
with the Refugee Data Center by the resettlement agency on behalf of
U.S.-based relatives or friends to indicate the agency's relationship with a
case. You may also wish to pursue other immigration avenues. Contact your
nearest affiliate office.
(Top of
Page)
If my family is denied at the INS interview, can I reapply or appeal the
decision?
In the event that your relative's case has been closed with the US
Immigration Service or UNHCR, he/she has the right to appeal (in which
he/she asks a higher authority to review a denial). No other person may
appeal on his/her behalf. He/she may file a "motion to reopen" or a "motion
to reconsider" with the office that made the unfavorable decision. By filing
these motions, the office is asked to reexamine or reconsider its decision.
A motion to reopen must state new facts not included in the initial
petition, and must be accompanied by affidavits or other documentary
evidence. A motion to reconsider must establish that the decision was based
on an incorrect application of law or US Immigration Service policy, and
further
establish that the decision was incorrect based on the evidence in the file
at
the time the decision was made. (Top of Page)
How long does it take a refugee individual or family to travel to the United
States after being approved by INS?
It can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 years, or sometimes longer, for a
case to actually travel to the United States after approval.
(Top of Page)
Who arranges for the refugee to travel to the United States and who pays for
their travel?
For most refugees, the International Organization for Migration (IOM)
arranges travel to the United States. Refugees are expected to repay the
cost of their transportation once they are established in the US. Refugees
are given a three-year, interest-free travel loan which they are expected to
repay. Loan repayments are made through the resettlement agency. If the
refugees or their relatives living in the US can afford it, they may pay the
transportation costs in advance.
(Top of
Page)
How do cases end up being resettled by LIRS?
Responsibility for the refugees approved for admission to the United States
is apportioned among LIRS and its fellow resettlement agencies at weekly
meetings. During these meetings, cases fall into one of three categories:
predestined, geographical, or free pool. The predestined cases have a
relative or a friend in the United States who filed an Interest or an
Affidavit of Relationship with an affiliate office and wishes to join them
in a particular city. Refugees in the geographical pool have relatives in
the U.S., however the relatives were not assisted by any agency in filing on
their behalf. Refugees who have no friends or family in the U.S. are
considered free cases. Both geographical and free cases are apportioned for
resettlement to LIRS and the other resettlement agencies according to
percentages approved by the Department of State. LIRS assigns cases to its
network of resettlement affiliates throughout the country.
(Top of
Page)
Where do refugees live in the United States?
The US is a land of great diversity, and refugees can be found in
communities all across the country. Refugees may be resettled in small
towns, big cities, or suburban communities. A refugee with close relatives
already in the US will probably be resettled where the relatives live.
Otherwise, a national-level resettlement agency will decide the best
placement site based on the availability of jobs, housing, and social
services.
(Top of
Page)
What is expected of refugees when they arrive in the United States?
Because Americans value hard work and initiative, they expect refugees to
begin working as quickly as possible. Many refugee families, like many
American families, find that both the husband and wife must work. Lack of
English language skills doesn’t prevent refugees from getting jobs, but it
may limit the kind of job they can get when they first arrive.
Many new arrivals study part-time to improve their English
language and job skills while they work. It is common for refugees to change
jobs once their English and job skills improve.
(Top of Page)
What other agencies do this type of work?
Besides LIRS there are nine other agencies that resettle refugees in the
United States. A list, with links, of these agencies
is available on the Other Agency page.
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