How Refugee Admission to the United States Works

The steps from a camp abroad to a new home in an American city.

The program

Refugees come to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The Department of State, through its Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, manages overseas processing and resettlement funding. The Department of Homeland Security, through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, decides who qualifies.

The steps

1. Referral. Most cases are referred by the UN refugee agency, a U.S. embassy, or a designated organization.
2. Prescreening. A Resettlement Support Center collects information and documents.
3. Interview. A USCIS officer interviews the applicant to decide whether they meet the refugee definition.
4. Security and medical checks. Multiple agencies screen each case, and every applicant has a medical examination.
5. Cultural orientation. Approved refugees learn about life in the United States.
6. Travel. The International Organization for Migration arranges travel, with the cost repaid as a loan.
7. Resettlement. A resettlement agency meets the family at the airport and helps with housing, school, and work.

After arrival

Refugees must apply for permanent residence after one year and may generally apply for citizenship five years after their arrival date.