Who We Serve - Refugees

October 2, 2012

Definition

Any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Individuals granted refugee status overseas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are brought to the United States for resettlement by the U.S. Department of State. Voluntary agencies and ORR through their programs assist with their resettlement and integration into the U.S. Refugees are eligible to receive ORR benefits and services from the first day they arrive in the U.S.

Documentation requirements

Acceptable documents for refugees admitted under §207 of the INA:

Documents/Codes

Comments

I-94 Arrival/departure card noting that the individual has been admitted under §207 of the INA

Notations may include references to employment authorization, indefinite status, and the requirement to obtain permission before leaving the United States.

RE-1 admission code on the I-94

Principal Refugee

RE-2 admission code on the I-94

Spouse of principal refugee

RE-3 admission code on the I-94

Child of principal refugee

RE-4 admission code on the I-94

Collateral relatives of principal refugee

RE-5 admission code on the I-94

Certain Haitian refugees

I-766 Employment Authorization Document with the code A03

  

DHS Form I-571

United States Refugee Travel Document *

Visa 93 (or V-93) on the I-94 Arrival/departure card

May be accompanied by the words "section 207"; Individual is the spouse or minor child of a previously admitted refugee.

*Note : The DHS Form I-571, which is a United States Refugee Travel Document, does not distinguish between refugees and asylees. An individual with a United States Refugee Travel Document may be a refugee or an asylee.

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