U.S. Refugee Program F.A.Q

o The legal basis of the United States' refugee admissions program is the Refugee Act of 1980.
o The Refugee Act codified America's tradition of granting refugee status to the world's "tired and poor."

Who Is Eligible For Refugee Status?

As specified in Section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an applicant is eligible for admission into the U.S. as a refugee if:
o He or she can establish that he or she has suffered past persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, or membership in a particular social group.
o He or she has a well-founded fear of future persecution.

Who Determines Eligibility?

o The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has delegated to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) the authority to determine if an applicant meets the U.S.'s statutory definition of a refugee.
o USCIS' Refugee Corps officers assess each applicant's credibility during face-to-face interviews.
o Refugee Corps interviews may be held inside or outside the applicant's country of nationality.

Where do I find out about Overseas Processing?

o The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) manages Overseas Processing Entities (OPEs).
o PRM processes refugees for admission to the U.S.