StatusHumanitarianApplied for abroadForm I-590Annual ceilingGreen card after 1 year

Refugee Refugee Status (USRAP)

Refugee status is not a visa: it is a protection status granted abroad through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to people persecuted or fearing persecution, who are then admitted as refugees.

Last reviewed Oct 1, 2026Sources: USCIS · White House / Federal RegisterReport an error

At a glance

FY 2027 admissions ceiling: Up to 17,500, primarily Afrikaners from South Africa (Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, Sept. 25, 2026)
Program status (Oct. 1, 2026): Refugee entry suspended since Jan. 27, 2025 except case-by-case admissions in the national interest
Application: Form I-590, interviewed by USCIS outside the U.S.; filing fee $0
Work: Allowed immediately on arrival (Form I-94 is evidence)
Family follow-to-join: Form I-730 within 2 years of admission; fee $0
Green card: Must apply after 1 year in the U.S.; no Form I-485 fee for the principal refugee

USRAP is largely suspended. Executive Order 14163 suspended refugee entry from Jan. 27, 2025 and directed DHS to suspend decisions on refugee applications, allowing only case-by-case admissions that the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security jointly find to be in the national interest. On March 5, 2026 the Ninth Circuit held the President likely had authority to do this (Pacito v. Trump). The FY 2027 determination allows up to 17,500 admissions, primarily Afrikaners from South Africa, and keeps EO 14163 in force.

Overview

Refugee status is a form of humanitarian protection, not a visa. It is granted to people outside the United States who are of special humanitarian concern to the U.S. and show they were persecuted, or fear persecution, because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Applicants are referred to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, interviewed by USCIS officers abroad and screened before CBP admits them as refugees. Source: USCIS Refugees.

Each fiscal year the President sets a ceiling on refugee admissions after consultation with Congress (INA 207). For FY 2026 the ceiling was 7,500, raised to 17,500 by an emergency determination on May 21, 2026 for Afrikaners from South Africa. For FY 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027) the President set up to 17,500, to be allocated primarily among Afrikaners under Executive Order 14204. The determination states that admissions remain subject to EO 14163, EO 14161 and Proclamation 10998.

People already in the United States or at a port of entry cannot apply for refugee status; they may instead seek asylum, which uses the same refugee definition but a different process (see Asylum Status).

Who qualifies

To be considered for refugee status, the applicant must

Be located outside the United States.
Be of special humanitarian concern to the United States and gain access to USRAP (through a referral or processing priority).
Show past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.
Not be firmly resettled in another country.
Be admissible to the United States (some grounds can be waived).

An applicant is barred if they

Ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of a protected ground.
Are inadmissible on non-waivable grounds, such as certain security and criminal grounds.

Duration & extensions

Refugee status	Has no fixed end date, but is meant to lead to permanent residence
Green card requirement	Refugees are required to apply for permanent residence after 1 year of physical presence in the U.S.
Travel abroad	Needs a Refugee Travel Document (Form I-131) before leaving; fee $0 for refugees
Admissions window	Admissions count against the fiscal-year ceiling; FY 2027 runs Oct. 1, 2026 – Sept. 30, 2027 (up to 17,500)

Fees

Refugee processing is free to the applicant; the costs below come from the current USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055, edition 10/01/26).

Fee	Amount	Who pays	Notes
Form I-590, Registration for Classification as a Refugee	$0	Applicant	Filed and interviewed outside the U.S.
Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition	$0	Principal refugee	File within 2 years of admission
Form I-765, refugee work permit (a)(3)	$0	Refugee	Work is allowed on arrival; the EAD card is optional evidence
Form I-131, Refugee Travel Document	$0	Refugee	Also $0 for green card holders who got status as refugees
Form I-485, green card (principal refugee)	$0	Refugee	Derivative family members pay the standard fee, per USCIS

Fees change; confirm on the USCIS fee schedule before filing.

Processing time

New I-590 Requests for Review: Not accepted; USCIS stopped accepting Requests for Review for Form I-590 on April 23, 2026
FY 2027 ceiling: 17,500; Presidential Determination No. 2026-24

There is no published standard processing time for refugee cases, and processing is currently limited by the USRAP suspension. Green card and other USCIS processing times vary; check USCIS processing times.

Application steps

1
Referral to USRAP
A person outside the U.S. gains access to the program, usually through a referral or a designated processing priority.
2
Prescreening and Form I-590
The case is prepared abroad and Form I-590 is completed; there is no fee.
3
USCIS interview and security checks
A USCIS officer interviews the applicant abroad; background, security and medical checks follow.
4
Approval and travel
Approved refugees are assigned for resettlement and travel to the U.S.; CBP makes the final admission decision. Under EO 14163, travel now happens only for case-by-case national-interest admissions.
5
Arrival and work
Refugees may work immediately; the I-94 shows refugee admission.
6
Green card after 1 year
After 1 year of physical presence, file Form I-485 (no fee for the principal refugee).

Required documents

Typically needed

Identity documents and any civil documents available (birth, marriage records).
Information supporting the persecution claim, given at the USCIS interview.
Medical examination results required for refugee travel.
For the later green card: Form I-485, the I-94 showing refugee admission and the vaccination record portion of Form I-693.

Dependents & family

A refugee’s spouse and unmarried children under 21 can be included on the case if they are processed together (USCIS). Family left behind can be petitioned with Form I-730 within 2 years of the principal’s admission (USCIS may waive the deadline for humanitarian reasons); there is no fee. Approved relatives abroad are processed as follow-to-join refugees — called Visas 93 (V93) by the State Department; relatives of asylees are Visas 92 (V92).

Follow-to-join refugee travel falls under the same refugee entry suspension; the Ninth Circuit’s March 5, 2026 ruling in Pacito v. Trump reversed the injunction that had required refugee processing and admissions to continue.

Path to a green card

Refugees are required to apply for a green card after 1 year of physical presence in the U.S. (USCIS). The principal refugee pays no Form I-485 fee and no biometrics fee.

Step 1

Wait 1 year from admission

Physical presence of at least 1 year as a refugee is required.

Step 2

File Form I-485

Include the I-94 and the vaccination record; a full Form I-693 medical is needed only for Class A conditions.

Step 3

Biometrics and review

USCIS may re-check eligibility and admissibility before approval.

Since December 2025 USCIS has been re-examining some refugees admitted in recent years who have not yet received green cards, starting with about 5,600 refugees in Minnesota (Operation PARRIS, announced Jan. 9, 2026).

Asylum

Asylum Status

Same refugee definition, but for people already in the U.S. or at a port of entry.

Parole

Humanitarian Parole

Temporary, discretionary permission to enter; not a visa or admission.

TPS

Temporary Protected Status

Country-based protection for nationals already in the U.S.

SIV

Special Immigrant Visa

Immigrant visa path for certain Afghan and Iraqi nationals.

Victims of Trafficking

Status for trafficking victims in the U.S.

Common questions

Is refugee status a visa?

No. It is a protection status granted outside the United States through USRAP. A refugee is admitted in refugee status, not on a visa, and later applies for a green card.

Is the U.S. accepting refugees right now?

Only in limited cases. EO 14163 has suspended refugee entry since Jan. 27, 2025, except case-by-case national-interest admissions. The FY 2027 determination allows up to 17,500 admissions, primarily Afrikaners from South Africa.

Can someone apply for refugee status from inside the United States?

No. Refugee status is only for people outside the U.S. People in the U.S. or arriving at a port of entry may apply for asylum instead.

How can a refugee bring a spouse or children?

By filing Form I-730 within 2 years of admission, with no fee, for a spouse and unmarried children under 21. Relatives abroad are processed as follow-to-join refugees (V93).

When does a refugee get a green card?

A refugee must apply for permanent residence after 1 year of physical presence in the U.S., using Form I-485; the principal refugee pays no filing fee.

Official sources

Recent changes

Sep 25, 2026
FY 2027 refugee ceiling set at 17,500. Presidential Determination No. 2026-24 allows up to 17,500 refugee admissions in FY 2027, primarily Afrikaners from South Africa; on public inspection Oct. 1, 2026 for publication Oct. 2, 2026. Source ↗
May 21, 2026
Emergency increase of FY 2026 ceiling to 17,500. Emergency Presidential Determination No. 2026-14 raised the FY 2026 ceiling from 7,500 to 17,500 for Afrikaners from South Africa (91 FR 31645). Source ↗
Apr 23, 2026
Requests for Review of Form I-590 discontinued. USCIS stopped accepting Requests for Review for denied Form I-590 refugee applications. Source ↗
Mar 5, 2026
Pacito v. Trump: suspension likely lawful. The court reversed the injunctions that required refugee processing and admissions to continue, but upheld the part requiring resettlement services for refugees already admitted. Source ↗
Jan 9, 2026
Operation PARRIS re-examines refugee cases. DHS and USCIS announced re-verification of refugees who do not yet have green cards, beginning with about 5,600 in Minnesota. Source ↗
Sep 30, 2025
FY 2026 refugee ceiling set at 7,500. Presidential Determination No. 2025-13 set the FY 2026 ceiling at 7,500, primarily for Afrikaners from South Africa (90 FR 49005). Source ↗
Jan 20, 2025
USRAP suspended. Executive Order 14163 suspended refugee entry from Jan. 27, 2025, with case-by-case exceptions, and suspended decisions on refugee applications. Source ↗

This page is general reference material compiled from the official sources above and is not legal advice. Eligibility depends on individual facts; rules and fees change, so confirm with the agency before you file. VisaTypes.com is not affiliated with USCIS, the Department of State or any government agency. Spotted an error? Tell us.