Step 1
Determining Refugee Status
A refugee is someone who has fled from his or her home country and cannot return because he or she has a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Hosting Country (Conducted by Host Country's Law Enforcement & Intelligence Agencies)
Step 2
Referral to the United States
A refugee that meets the criteria for resettlement in the United States is referred to the U.S. government. In the case of family reunifications, an Affidavit of Relationship is filed, DNA testing is completed, and the relationship is verified before it can begin processing.
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Local U.S. Embassy
Trained & Trusted Non-Government Organization
Step 3
Resettlement Support Center
An Resettlement Support Center (RSC), contracted by the U.S. Department of State, interviews the refugee and compiles personal data and background information for the security clearance process and to present to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an in-person interview. RSCs must maintain full compliance with PRM’s Guidance on the Treatment of Refugee Records.
Resettlement Support Center (RSC)
Department of State (DOS)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Step 4
Security Clearance Process (Part 1)
The State Department runs the names of all refugees referred to the United States for resettlement through a standard CLASS (Consular Lookout and Support System) name check. This clearance is only good for 15 months.
Department of State (DOS)
Step 5
Security Clearance Process (Part 2)
Department of State (DOS)
U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies (Agencies include FBI, DEA, ATF, etc)
U.S. Intelligence Agencies (Agencies include CIA, NSA, DIA, etc.)
Step 6
In-Person Interview
All refugee applicants have an in-person interview by an officer from DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). A trained officer will travel to the country of asylum (or in some cases, origin) to conduct an interview with each refugee applicant being considered for resettlement and determine if the individual qualifies as a refugee and is admissible under U.S. law.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Department of Homeland (DHS)
Step 7
Security Clearance Process (Part 3)
Refugees who meet the minimum and maximum age requirement have their fingerprints and photograph taken by a trained U.S. government employee, usually on the same day as their DHS interview. The fingerprints are then checked against various U.S. government databases and information on any matches is reviewed by DHS.
Department of State (DOS)
Department of Homeland (DHS)
Step 8
Dept. of Homeland Security Approval
If the USCIS officer finds that the individual qualifies as a refugee and meets other U.S. admission criteria, the officer will conditionally approve the refugee’s application for resettlement and submit it to the RSC for final processing. Conditional approvals become final once the results of all security checks have been received and cleared.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Department of Homeland (DHS)
Step 9
Medical Screening
All refugee applicants approved for resettlement in the U.S. are required to undergo medical screening conducted by the International Organization for Migration or a physician designated by the U.S. Embassy. The required screening processes during resettlement have different validity periods that must be managed by the RSC for the refugee’s departure. The shortest is the medical validity which is either three (3) or six (6) months.
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Local US Embassy
Step 10
Match with a Sponsor Agency
Every refugee is assigned to a Resettlement Agency in the U.S., such as the International Rescue Committee. The Resettlement Agency then assigns the refugee individual or family to one of their resettlement sites across the United States.
Resettlement Agency (RA)
Step 11
Cultural Orientation
In addition, refugees approved for resettlement are offered cultural orientation while waiting for final processing, to prepare them for their journey to and initial resettlement in the United States.
Resettlement Support Center (RSC)
Step 12
Exit Permits/Recurrent IAC Vetting
Host Countries generally have their own requirements/checks before a refugee can depart the country for resettlement. IOM facilitates the processing of the required permits. In 2015, recurrent interagency security vetting replaced a final check before departure. Security vetting partners continuously check refugee applicant data. There are additional checks that may be run depending on case changes or other information.
Hosting Country (Conducted by Host Country's Law Enforcement & Intelligence Agencies)
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
U.S. Intelligence Agencies (Agencies include CIA, NSA, DIA, etc.)
Step 13
Admission to the United States
Upon arrival at one the designated ports of entry for refugee admissions, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will review the refugee documentation and conduct additional screening to ensure that the arriving refugee is the same person who was approved for admission to the United States.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Step 14
Reporting
Resettlement Agency (RA)