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How Refugees Come to America
Less than 80,000 refugees participated in the US Resettlement Program last year. It is a lengthy, difficult process. Click links below to view the steps a refugee must go through to resettle in the U.S.
| I. | Becoming a Refugee |
| II. | Seeking Admission to the U.S. Resettlement Program |
| III. | Refugee Resettlement in the U.S. |
| IV. | Becoming a Full Member of the Community |
I.Becoming a Refugee
Fleeing
Refugees flee their homes, businesses, farms, and communities in order to escape war and persecution. Often a refugee flees to save his or her own life or that of a family member. He or she rarely knows how long it might be before he or she might be able to return home and often has no time to plan the departure or pack appropriately. Family records, professional documents, diplomas, photographs and other precious items are often left behind.
Seeking Legal Refugee Status
A legal refugee is someone who has fled his or her country because of a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, social group or political opinion. A refugee has to have left his or her home country and been granted refugee status in a country of asylum. The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is usually charged with responsibility for awarding legal refugee status.
UNHCR not only confers legal refugee status, but often offers refugees protection, assistance, and alternative legal and travel documents.
Seeking Resettlement
UNHCR refers only about 1% of all refugees for resettlement in a third country. Only when all efforts to either help refugees return home or settle permanently in the country of asylum have failed does third country resettlement become the option of last resort.
The following countries have resettlement programs: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. Other countries accept individual refugees on an ad hoc basis.
Family ties, trade skills, professional abilities, language facility and various other factors are considered by UNHCR when matching a refugee with a resettlement country.
II. Seeking Admission to the U.S. Resettlement Program
Referral to the US Program
Only refugees who have been referred by UNHCR or by the US embassy in the country of asylum are eligible for the US Refugee Resettlement Program. Usually refugees with family are referred together as a single group.
The Department of State's Bureau for Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) oversees this program. The State Department develops application criteria, refugee admission ceilings and presents eligible cases to the Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) for adjudication.
The State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) describes the process of application for admission to the United States as a refugee in 9 FAM Part IV Appendix O
Adjudication
Refugees, who meet the criteria for application to the US program, are interviewed by an INS officer who travels to the country of asylum.
A refugee may receive assistance in preparing his or her resettlement application from a resettlement organization or non-governmental organization contracted by the Department of State for this purpose. The application typically consists of INS form I-590, family tree and biographical information.
The INS officer decides whether the applicant is a refugee as defined under US law. An individual designation as a refugee by UNHCR is not guaranteed admission to the US. Refugees must also pass an INS interview.
Approval
If the INS officer approves the refugee's application for US resettlement, he or she will be matched with an American resettlement organization. Most of these nonprofit organizations rely on professional and volunteer staff to assist refugees in the resettlement process.
If rejected, the applicant has thirty days to file a motion to reconsider the denial with the nearest INS district office. Generally, a motion is considered only if it contains new information not available at the original interview.
III. Refugee Resettlement in the U.S.
Being Matched with an American Resettlement Organization
Detailed information on all refugees approved for US resettlement is sent to the Refugee Data Center (RDC) in New York. RDC matches refugees with one of ten voluntary agencies that provide reception and placement services for refugees coming to the US.
Pre-Travel Activities
In order to insure that a refugee understands that everyone living in America is expected to be self-sufficient and that no refugee should be an undue burden to American society, he or she must complete several additional steps before traveling to the US. These activities are undertaken concurrently and can take from 2 months to 2 years to complete.
- Assurance Process
The American resettlement organization must "assure" the Department of State that it is prepared to receive each matched refugee. This "assurance" is a written guarantee that various basic services will be provided to the refugee and any accompanying family members in the initial resettlement phase.
At this time the resettlement organization determines where in the US the refugee will be resettled. The availability of housing, employment, needed services, readiness of host community and a variety of other factors determine exact placement. However, if a refugee has a relative in the US, every effort is made to resettle the refugee near that relative.
Refugees do not have to have US sponsors to be resettled in the US.
- Medical Clearance
All refugees are medically screened by a health care professional working for the US government prior to coming to the US. The screening identifies medical conditions that require follow up or constitute a public health concern. A few serious conditions may render a refugee ineligible for entry into the US. A waiver is sometimes available to the refugee. After being "medically cleared," a refugee must enter the US within one year.
- Security Clearance
All refugees must undergo a security clearance procedure prior to coming to the US. The level of clearance needed depends on the refugee's country of origin. Most refugees submit to a "name check" process whereby the refugee's name is checked against the FBI's database of known terrorists and undesirables and the State Department's database of people who have been denied visas to enter the US in the past.
- Cultural Orientation
All refugees receive some American culture orientation prior to coming to the US. Most programs emphasize the importance of self-sufficiency in American culture as well as what to expect in the initial resettlement phase. Most refugees attend classes ranging in length from 3 hours to several days.
Travel to the US
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) arranges air travel for most refugees coming to the US. Before a refugee leaves the country of asylum, he or she signs a promissory note and agrees to repay the US government for travel costs. IOM relays detailed travel information to the US resettlement organization, so that it can make arrangements for the refugee's arrival.
US Arrival and Reception
The resettlement organization will make arrangements for the refugee to be met, welcomed, and assisted at the airport and begin the process of helping the refugee become settled in his or her new community.
First Steps in US Resettlement
The resettlement organization that assured a refugee's case is responsible for assisting the refugee in the initial resettlement phase. Each resettlement organization provides a variety of services to promote early self-sufficiency and cultural adjustment. The following activities take place within the first thirty days of arrival.
- Application for Social Security Number
Most newly arrived refugees desperately want a permanent home. Resettlement organizations work hard to find housing for refugees that is safe, sanitary, of a sufficient size, affordable, and accessible to public transportation. Some US cities and towns offer more housing options than others. Refugees need social security numbers in order to seek employment or enroll in school. All refugees register with the Social Security Administration as soon as possible.
- School Registration
All refugee children are enrolled in school upon arrival in the US.
- Medical Evaluation
Even though refugees are medically screened prior to entering the US, each is examined again by medical professionals in their new communities. At this time, the refugee is familiarized with the local American health care system. He or she also receives needed inoculations and any other necessary treatments.
- English Language Training
Refugees often do not speak any English when they arrive. Learning English is an essential step to becoming self-sufficient. Voluntary agencies often provide English as a Second Language (ESL) classes or help refugees find classes offered in their community.
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IV. Becoming a Full Member of the Community
Finding Employment
Refugees enter the US with authorization to work. The US government expects a working-age refugee to find a job within six months of
arrival. Resettlement organizations often have employment specialists who help refugees with their job search. Many states have a designated agency that receives state funds to help refugees find work. This function is usually coordinated by the State Refugee Coordinator.
Gaining Permanent Residency
Refugees can apply for Permanent Resident Alien (PRA) status - a green card - after they have been in the US for one year.
Becoming a Citizen
Refugees can apply for US citizenship after residing in the US for five years. Many resettlement organizations have citizenship programs that assist and encourage refugees as they go through the naturalization process.
Building a New Life
Refugees spend many years overcoming past trauma, locating family members, adjusting to American culture, building careers, raising families, finding their first dream home, and creating a new life for themselves in the US.
More details on particular aspects of this process can be obtained from these agencies below:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Social Security Administration
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Pubic Health Service