I am a refugee

or asylee D1

How do I help my relative 

get refugee or asylee status 

in the United States?

If you are currently in refugee or asylee status, you may be 

able to help your relative obtain asylee or refugee status. You can 

start the process by filing a Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative 

Petition. Filing instructions and forms are available on our Web site 

at www.uscis.gov.

Who are the relatives for whom I may file?

If you were admitted to the United States as a refugee or were 

granted asylum less than 2 years ago, you may file 

an I-730 for thefollowing relatives:

• Husband or wife;

• Unmarried children who were under age 21 at the time you were 

admitted as a refugee or granted asylum 

in the United States.

An I-730 petition must be filed within 2 years of being admitted as a 

refugee or being granted asylum. If it has been longer than 2 years 

since you were admitted as a refugee or were granted asylum, you 

may want to get legal advice to determine if there are any other 

immigration benefits available to your relative.

What happens after I file for my relative?

After you file the I-730 petition, we will mail you a receipt so you 

know we received it for processing. If your petition is incomplete, we 

may have to reject it, or ask you for more evidence or information, 

which will delay processing. Please send all required information 

the first time to avoid delay. If your relative is in the United States, 

we may require him or her to appear for an interview with an 

immigration officer.

We will notify you when we make a decision regarding your case. If 

we approve your petition, and your relative is in the United States, 

we will send you an approval notice, notifying you that your relative 

has been granted derivative refugee or asylee status and what steps 

to take next.

If we approve your petition and your relative is outside the United 

States, we will send you an approval notice and forward your petition 

to the U.S. Embassy or consulate nearest your relative. The U.S. 

Embassy or consulate will notify your relative when and where to 

appear, inviting him or her to apply for travel authorization to enter 

the United States.

After I file, how long will it take before my relative’s 

petition can be approved?

The time it takes to process and approve your relative’s petition 

depends on a number of factors. Once you file, we will send you a 

receipt. You can check and monitor current processing times on our 

Web site.

If I marry after I become a refugee or asylee, can I file an 

I-730 for my husband or wife?

You cannot file an I-730 for your husband or wife if the marriage 

occurred after you become a refugee or asylee. However, you may 

want to get legal advice to determine 

if there are any other immigration benefits available to 

your spouse.

Can I help any other relatives?

The law limits eligibility to the relatives listed in this customer guide 

(spouse and unmarried children under 21 years old). 

If my relative is granted refugee or asylee status, can he or 

she file an I-730 for another family member?

If your relative was granted refugee or asylee status based on his or 

her relationship to you, the relative cannot file a Form I-730 for other 

family members.

D1—I am a refugee or asylee...How do I help my relative get refugee or asylee status in the United States?

M-581B (October 2013) Y 1
2 D1—I am a refugee or asylee...How do I help my relative get refugee or asylee status in the United States?

M-581B (October 2013) Y

Key Information

Key USCIS forms referenced 

in this guide

Form #

Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition I-730 

Other U.S. Government Services–Click or Call

General 

Information

www.usa.gov 1-800-333-4636

New 

Immigrants

www.welcometoUSA.gov

U.S. Dept. 

of State

www.state.gov 1-202-647-6575

For more copies of this guide, or information 

about other customer guides, please visit 

www.uscis.gov/howdoi. 

You can also visit www.uscis.gov to 

download forms, e-file some applications, 

check the status of an application, and more. 

It’s a great place to start!

If you don’t have Internet access at home 

or work, try your local library. 

If you cannot find what you need, please call 

Customer Service at: 1-800-375-5283 

Hearing Impaired TDD Customer Service: 

1-800-767-1833

Disclaimer: This guide provides basic 

information to help you become generally 

familiar with our rules and procedures. For 

more information, or the law and regulations, 

please visit our Web site. Immigration law 

can be complex, and it is impossible to 

describe every aspect of every process. You 

may wish to be represented by a licensed 

attorney or by a nonprofit agency accredited 

by the Board of Immigration Appeals.