Refugee Admission — United States

Refugee resettlement allows you to seek protection in the United States if you face persecution and remain outside the country.

The process requires a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) and review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

What this process is

Refugee resettlement is a formal process for people who are outside the United States and cannot return to their home country due to persecution.

You must be considered under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

You do not apply directly on your own.

You first need a referral to USRAP before USCIS will review your case.

USCIS conducts eligibility determinations as part of this process.

If you qualify, you may receive humanitarian relief through admission to the United States as a refugee.

Refugee resettlement is different from filing an application inside the United States.

It applies only to individuals who are abroad at the time of consideration.

Who it’s for

This process serves individuals who have experienced persecution and remain outside the United States.

You must fall within the categories considered for refugee protection under USRAP.

You may qualify if:

• You are outside the United States.
• You have faced persecution.
• You receive a referral to USRAP for consideration.

Family members may also seek protection in certain situations.

Form Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, allows qualifying relatives to request follow-to-join benefits through USCIS.

USCIS reviews each case individually.

You must meet the specific eligibility standards applied during the refugee determination process.

How consideration begins

Your case begins with a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.

Without a referral, USCIS will not evaluate you for refugee resettlement.

The basic sequence works as follows:

1. You receive a referral to USRAP.

2. You apply through the refugee admissions process.

3. USCIS conducts an eligibility determination outside the United States.

USCIS officers review your information and decide whether you meet refugee criteria.

This determination occurs before you enter the United States.

You face strict filing rules and evidence standards in refugee resettlement and related humanitarian relief cases.

Careful timing, complete forms, and organized proof often determine whether U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) accepts or rejects your case.

When to get expert help

You should seek legal help when primary documents are missing or incomplete.

If you cannot obtain official records, you must address the gap with other credible evidence and explain the absence clearly.

Derivative filings require close attention to deadlines.

If you plan to file Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, you must submit it within 2 years of your asylum or refugee approval.

This deadline is strict for qualifying relatives abroad.

Consider legal guidance if:

• You lack primary or secondary civil documents.
• You need to prepare affidavits to support missing records.
• You are unsure which supplements apply to your eligibility category.
• You are filing under a humanitarian relief category with detailed instructions.

An attorney can review your timeline, confirm eligibility, and ensure you include every required supplement with the main petition to avoid rejection.

Filing tips and common errors

USCIS rejects filings that omit required supplements or supporting forms.

Submit all required supplements together with your main petition.

Review the specific instructions for your eligibility category before you start.

Do not assume requirements are the same across humanitarian relief options.

Common errors include:

• Filing Form I-730 after the 2-year deadline.
• Sending the main form without required supplements.
• Failing to address missing primary evidence.
• Ignoring category-specific instructions.

Follow a clear sequence:

1. Confirm your eligibility category.

2. Read the full USCIS form instructions.

3. Gather required evidence and supplements.

4. Assemble and review the entire package before filing.

If you are unsure about current fees or procedural updates, check directly with USCIS.

Do not rely on outdated versions of forms or prior guidance.

Reviewing instructions and evidence strategy

Start with the official form instructions issued by USCIS.

Each eligibility category lists required evidence and any mandatory supplements.

If primary and secondary documents are unavailable, you must overcome that gap with credible affidavits and a clear explanation.

Organize affidavits logically and tie each one to the missing document.

Focus your evidence strategy on:

• Proving eligibility under your specific humanitarian relief category.
• Demonstrating family relationship for Form I-730, if applicable.
• Explaining any absence of standard records.

Create a checklist based directly on the form instructions.

Match each requirement to a document in your packet.

A structured review reduces rejections and helps USCIS evaluate your case efficiently.

To qualify for refugee resettlement, you must prove persecution tied to a protected ground and meet specific family and documentation rules.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews your status, your claimed harm, and any qualifying relatives you seek to include.

Protected grounds and qualifying harms

You must show that you experienced past persecution or have a well‑founded fear of future persecution based on at least one protected ground:

• Race
• Religion
• Nationality
• Political opinion
• Membership in a particular social group

The harm must connect directly to one of these grounds.

Personal disputes or generalized hardship do not meet this standard unless they relate to a protected category.

You should provide detailed facts about what happened to you or what you reasonably fear will happen.

Include dates, locations, and who caused the harm.

If you served in the military or police, disclose that service fully and explain your role.

USCIS evaluates whether your fear is tied to one of the listed grounds and whether the harm rises to the level of persecution.

Who may be included as derivatives

Certain family members can be included in your case, but there are strict limits.

You may include:

• Your spouse
• Your unmarried children under 21

If you're a principal refugee admitted to the United States within the past two years, or a principal asylee granted asylum within the past two years, you may file Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition with USCIS.

This petition allows your qualifying spouse and unmarried children under 21 to join you.

In some situations, an unmarried child over 21 might qualify for following-to-join benefits, but that depends on the facts.

You may also be eligible to file an Affidavit of Relationship for:

• Your spouse
• Your unmarried child under 21
• Your parents

You must show proof of your principal refugee or asylee status when filing Form I-730.

Information the adjudicator considers

USCIS reviews your application to confirm eligibility under the refugee definition and to verify family relationships.

You need to provide:

• Proof of your refugee or asylee status in the United States
• Evidence supporting your claimed persecution or fear
• Documentation of your family relationships

The adjudicator checks that your statements are consistent and that the harm is tied to a protected ground.

In derivative cases, USCIS needs to see that the relationship existed as required and meets the age and marital status limits.

If you seek humanitarian relief for family through Form I-730, USCIS checks whether you filed within the two-year period after your admission as a refugee or grant of asylum.

Refugee resettlement cases move through several agencies. Timing depends on the form type and the agency handling your case.

You need to track your case and use official processing tools for updates.

Costs are limited in certain refugee-based filings, including Form I-730.

Typical waits and variability

processing times for refugees under the standard category currently range from 6 to 12 months as of March 2026.

This timeframe can change depending on your eligibility category and the USCIS service center.

USCIS posts case-specific estimates through its online processing times tool. You must select the correct form and service center to get an accurate range.

For Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, timing also varies.

If your case remains pending beyond the posted range, you may qualify to submit an inquiry.

If your petition involves consular processing abroad, the U.S. Department of State manages visa issuance timelines.

USCIS controls petition adjudication only.

How to check status and submit inquiries

Monitor your case directly through USCIS. Use the official case status system and the processing times tool to compare your receipt date with posted timelines.

If your Form I-730 exceeds the normal processing window, you may file an “outside normal processing times” inquiry.

This asks USCIS to review a case that appears delayed.

Follow these steps:

1. Check the posted processing time for Form I-730.

2. Confirm your receipt date falls outside the listed range.

3. Submit an online inquiry through USCIS if eligible.

If your petition is pending with the U.S. Department of State for visa issuance, review status updates through the appropriate consular channel.

USCIS can't provide updates on visa interview scheduling or issuance.

Keep copies of all receipt notices and correspondence. You will need your receipt number to request updates.

Fees and filing cost information

Certain refugee-based filings do not require a filing fee. As of February 2026, the Form I-730 filing fee is $0.

No payment is required when you file Form I-730 with USCIS.

Other humanitarian relief filings may have different fee structures.

You must review the official USCIS fee schedule or fee calculator for up-to-date amounts. Fee rules can change, and USCIS will reject filings that include incorrect payments.

Organize clear proof of your identity and your qualifying family relationships before you file.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will review these records closely with your Form I-730 for refugee or asylee family reunification under humanitarian relief.

Identity and biographical documents

Provide complete biographical details for yourself and each family member you petition for on Form I-730.

Make sure names, dates of birth, and places of birth match across all documents.

Include:

• A passport-style photograph or a recently taken clear photograph of each family member you are petitioning for
• Accurate biographical information for each beneficiary

If any document shows a different name, submit evidence of legal name changes so USCIS can connect the records.

Inconsistent spelling or missing middle names often cause delays.

Use the table below to confirm consistency:

Review every entry before filing. Small errors create requests for additional evidence.

Family and relationship proofs

You must prove that each person qualifies as your spouse or child under the Form I-730 process.

For a child, submit:

• Child’s birth certificate showing the child’s name and your name
• If applicable, a marriage certificate between you and the child’s natural parent
• Evidence of legal name changes if names differ

If you are the father and the child’s parents were not married at birth, provide proof the child was legitimated by civil authorities or evidence that a bona fide parent-child relationship exists or existed.

For a spouse, submit a marriage certificate showing a valid marriage.

Your documents must clearly connect you to the beneficiary. If the relationship is not obvious from the primary record, include additional supporting proof.

Photos, secondary evidence, and checklist items

Submit a passport-style or clear recent photograph for each family member listed in your Form I-730 package.

Photos must be current and identifiable.

If a primary document is unavailable, provide secondary evidence.

Examples include:

• Religious institution records
• School records
• Census records

Secondary evidence should confirm names, dates, and family relationships.

Use this checklist before mailing your package to USCIS:

1. Completed Form I-730 with accurate biographical information

2. Required photographs for each beneficiary

3. Birth certificates showing parent-child relationships

4. Marriage certificates where required

5. Proof of legal name changes, if applicable

6. Any necessary secondary evidence

If you are unsure about document requirements or formatting, review the official Form I-730 instructions on the USCIS website.