USCIS 

Welcomes 

Refugees 

and Asylees

M-1186 (04/19)

USCIS 

Welcomes 

Refugees 

and Asylees

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USCIS Welcomes Refugees 

and Asylees

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS), part of the U.S. Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS), welcomes you to 

the United States as a refugee or asylee. We 

value your skills and talents, and we want to 

help you settle into your community and be 

successful in your life in the United States. We 

also want to share information about how you 

can become a U.S. citizen. 

This brochure will help you learn about getting 

settled in the United States and about the 

rights, responsibilities, and importance of U.S. 

citizenship. Becoming a U.S. citizen gives you 

the same rights as all Americans and builds a 

sense of shared belonging for you and your 

fellow citizens. 

Rights and Responsibilities

As a refugee or asylee living in the United 

States, you have many rights, just like others 

living here. Some of these rights include 

freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and 

freedom of assembly. 
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You also have responsibilities. In the United 

States, everyone must follow the law. You need 

to understand U.S. laws because they may be 

different from the laws in other places you 

have lived. Learning about American history, 

government, and culture will help you feel at 

home here. 

You have the right to:

• Live anywhere in the United States

• Work in the United States

• Leave and return to the United States under 

certain conditions

• Attend public school until a certain age, 

according to state laws

• Apply for an unrestricted Social Security 

card

• Apply for a driver’s license or other form 

of government identification in your state 

or territory

• Apply to become a lawful permanent 

resident and U.S. citizen once you are 

eligible

• Request that your spouse or unmarried 

children receive asylum or refugee derivative 

status to live in the United States

• Report crimes or abuse to law enforcement 

and receive their assistance

You have the responsibility and are required 

to:

• Request permission to return to the United 

States before you leave by applying for a 

refugee travel document, even if you are an 

asylee

• Obey all federal, state, and local laws

• Pay federal, state, and local taxes, if 

applicable
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• Register with the Selective Service if you are

a male between 18 and 26 years old

• Inform USCIS of your new address no later

than 10 days after you move

• Send your minor children to school

• Apply for lawful permanent resident status

after 1 year in the United States if you are a

refugee

Getting Settled in the United 

States

In the United States, each level of government 

plays a different role in helping you get settled. 

You may come in contact with local, state, and 

federal government offices during your 

resettlement process.

Contact your state refugee coordinator, state 

refugee health coordinator, resettlement agency 

or a local community-based organization that 

works with immigrants to help direct you to the 

appropriate government assistance program. Many 

government assistance programs have time-limited 

eligibility periods that begin from the date you 

were granted asylum or admitted as a refugee. 

If you need help learning English, you can enroll 

in an English class. Check with your resettlement 

agency, public library, social service agency, or 

place of worship to get information on English 

classes and other classes and services.
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The Next Steps in Your 

Immigration Process

If you entered the United States as a refugee 

within the past 2 years or were granted asylum 

status within the past 2 years, you may petition 

for certain family members to join you here. 

You may petition for the following family 

members:

• Spouse

• Child (unmarried and under 21 when you

first applied for asylum or refugee status)

You must submit Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee 

Relative Petition, to USCIS within 2 years of 

being granted asylum or admitted as a refugee, 

or demonstrate humanitarian reasons for 

extending the 2-year period. This form is 

available at uscis.gov/i-730.

Lawful Permanent Residence

A lawful permanent resident (Green Card 

holder) is someone who has been granted 

authorization to live and work in the United 

States on a permanent basis. As proof of that 

status, a person is given a Permanent Resident 

Card, commonly called a Green Card. Acquiring 

a Green Card also puts one on the path to being 

able to apply for full U.S. citizenship (more on 

that below).

• Refugees must apply for a Permanent

Resident Card 1 year after arriving in the

United States. Refugees must have 1 year of

physical presence in the United States at the

time they file the application.

• Asylees may apply for a Permanent Resident

Card 1 year after being granted asylum.

Asylees must have 1 year of physical

presence as an asylee in the United States at

the time they file the application.
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To apply for lawful permanent resident status 

and get a Permanent Resident Card, file Form 

I-485, Application to Register Permanent

Residence or Adjust Status. This form is available

at uscis.gov/i-485. While there is a fee for

asylees to file Form I-485, there is no fee for

refugees to file Form I-485. Community-based

organizations, including your local resettlement

agency, can help you with this process.

Refugees

If you are a refugee, you are required by law 

to apply for lawful permanent resident status 

1 year after being admitted to the United 

States as a refugee.

Apply for lawful permanent residence

File Form I-485, Application to Register 

Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. 

Refugees do not pay fees to file Form I-485 

or for biometric services.

You are eligible to apply if you:

• Have been physically present in the

United States for at least 1 year after

being admitted as a refugee;

• Are physically present in the United States

at the time you file your Form I-485;

• Are admissible to the United States as an

immigrant; and

• Have not had your refugee status

terminated.

Visit uscis.gov/i-485 and uscis.gov/

greencard/refugees for more information.

Apply for U.S. citizenship

You may qualify for naturalization if you 

have been a lawful permanent resident for a 

certain number of years and meet all other 

eligibility requirements. Please visit uscis.

gov/citizenship for more information.
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Asylees

If you are an asylee, you are eligible to apply 

for lawful permanent resident status 1 

year after being granted asylum if you have 

maintained residence the entire time, but you 

are not required to apply. 

Apply for lawful permanent residence

File Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and pay 

the appropriate filing and biometric services 

fees.

You are eligible to apply if you: 

• Have been physically present in the United

States for at least 1 year after being

granted asylum;

• Are physically present in the United States

at the time you file your Form I-485;

• Continue to meet the definition of a

refugee or be the spouse or child of a

refugee;

• Are not firmly resettled in any foreign

country;

• Are admissible to the United States as an

immigrant; and

• Have not had your asylee status

terminated.

Visit uscis.gov/i-485 and uscis.gov/greencard/asylees for more information.

Apply for U.S. citizenship

You may qualify for naturalization if you 

have been a lawful permanent resident for a 

certain number of years and meet all other 

eligibility requirements. Please visit uscis.

gov/citizenship for more information.
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Citizenship

Citizenship is the common thread that connects 

all Americans. We are a nation bound not by 

race or religion but by the shared values of 

freedom, liberty, and equality. By becoming a 

U.S. citizen, you will have a voice in how our 

nation is governed.

Your conduct as a lawful permanent resident 

can affect your ability to become a U.S. citizen 

later. The process of becoming a U.S. citizen is 

called naturalization. You must meet all of the 

eligibility requirements to naturalize as a U.S. 

citizen.

In general, after a certain number of years as 

a lawful permanent resident, you can apply 

for naturalization. Refugees and asylees may 

apply for naturalization 5 years after the date of 

their admission to lawful permanent residence. 

Asylees are admitted to lawful permanent 

resident status as of the date 1 year before the 

approval of their Form I-485. Upon the approval 

of their Form I-485, refugees are admitted to 

lawful permanent residence as of the date of 

their arrival in the United States. 

For a list of all naturalization eligibility 

requirements, visit uscis.gov/citizenship. Some 

of the requirements include the following:
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• You need to be physically present in

theUnited States for a certain period of time.

• You need to have continuous residence inthe

United States.

• You need to have good moral character.

• You need to be able to speak, read, write,and

understand basic English and have an

understanding of U.S. history and government

(civics).

• You need to support the principles and

ideals of the U.S. Constitution and be willing

to take an oath of allegiance to the United

States.

To apply for naturalization, file Form N-400, 

Application for Naturalization, online at uscis.

gov/n-400. You may also pay for Form N-400 

and your biometric fee online. There are 

exceptions and modifications to the naturalization 

requirements for those who qualify. USCIS also 

provides accommodations for individuals with 

disabilities. Many community organizations, 

such as local resettlement agencies, can help 

you prepare for naturalization.

Certain benefits, rights, and responsibilities 

come with U.S. citizenship, including the ability 

to vote in federal elections, serve on a jury, 

travel with a U.S. passport, compete for federal 

jobs, and become an elected official.
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Contact USCIS

Visit uscis.gov for additional information, to 

check your case status, or to find a USCIS office. 

You can call USCIS toll-free at 800-375-5283. 

For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or 

have a speech disability, call TTY 800-767-

1833. Service is available in English and Spanish. 

You can also visit uscis.gov/contactcenter for 

the USCIS Contact Center.

USCIS Resources

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS)

USCIS oversees lawful immigration to the 

United States. Learn how to apply for your 

Green Card, pursue U.S. citizenship, reunite 

with family, get permission to travel overseas, 

and more.

Resources for refugees and asylees

uscis.gov/howdoi/refugeesasylees

Welcome to the United States: A Guide for 

New Immigrants

This guide introduces the basic information you 

and your family need for everyday life in the 

United States. It describes your rights and 

responsibilities, suggests ideas for getting 

involved in your local community, and helps you 

plan for applying for U.S. citizenship once you 

become a lawful permanent resident.

uscis.gov/newimmigrants

Settling in the U.S.

This webpage provides you with information 

about the United States, education and 

child care, emergencies and safety, traveling 

outside of the United States, employment, 

getting settled in the United States, 

government benefits, health care, and money 

and finance.

uscis.gov/tools/settling-us
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USCIS Resources

Citizenship Resource Center

This website provides educational tools and 

information to help you prepare for U.S. 

citizenship.

uscis.gov/citizenship

Avoid Scams

If you need legal advice on immigration 

matters, make sure the person helping you 

is authorized to give legal advice. Only an 

attorney or an accredited representative 

working for an organization recognized by the 

U.S. Department of Justice can give you legal 

advice.

uscis.gov/avoid-scams

uscis.gov/avoid-scams/find-legal-services

Forms

Use Form I-765 to apply for work 

authorization, renew your authorization, or to 

replace your document.

uscis.gov/i-765

Use Form I-730 to bring your spouse or 

children to the United States.

uscis.gov/i-730

Use Form I-131 to request permission to 

return to the United States by obtaining a 

refugee travel document.

uscis.gov/i-131

Use Form I-485 to apply for lawful permanent 

resident status if you are in the United States.

uscis.gov/i-485

Use Form N-400 to apply for U.S. citizenship.

uscis.gov/n-400

Use Form AR-11 to ensure your address is 

updated with USCIS.

uscis.gov/ar-11
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USCIS Resources

myUSCIS

Find up-to-date information about the 

application process for immigration benefits, 

tools to help you prepare for naturalization, 

and resources to find citizenship preparation 

classes and doctors in your local community. 

Learn how to file an application or request 

online and access information about your case 

by registering for an online account.

my.uscis.gov

Other Federal Resources

The following chart provides additional 

information about federal government services 

for refugees and asylees.

Federal Government Resources

U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services Administration for Children and 

Families Office of Refugee Resettlement 

(ORR)

If you are a refugee, asylee, and derivative 

family member, you may be eligible to receive 

assistance and services through ORR. ORR 

funds and administers various programs 

that include cash and medical assistance, 

employment preparation, job placement, 

and English language training. Many of these 

programs have time-limited eligibility periods 

that begin from the date you were granted 

asylum or entered the United States as a 

refugee. You should explore whether you 

qualify for any of these programs as soon 

as possible if you are interested in any of 

them.

State refugee coordinators/state refugee health

coordinators

acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/orr-fundedprograms-key-contacts
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Federal Government Resources

State programs and resources

acf.hhs.gov/orr/state-programs-annualoverview

Health insurance resources

acf.hhs.gov/orr/health

Affordable housing resources

acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/finding-affordablehousing

Employment resources

acf.hhs.gov/orr/employment-resources

U.S. Department of State Bureau of 

Population, Refugees, and Migration

Reception and Placement Program

If you were approved for refugee status in 

the United States, you were sponsored by 

a resettlement agency participating in the 

Reception and Placement Program, which is 

run by the U.S. Department of State. 

The sponsoring agency is responsible for 

placing you with one of its local offices 

and for providing initial services, such as 

housing, essential furnishings, food, 

clothing, orientation and assistance with 

access 

to other social, medical, and employment

services during your first 30 to 90 days in

the United States. When you first arrive in 

the United States as a refugee, your local 

resettlement agency will be the first place 

you should turn for help getting settled.

state.gov/j/prm/ra/receptionplacement

U.S. Department of State Bureau of 

Population, Refugees, and Migration 

Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange 

(CORE)

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, 

CORE offers numerous cultural orientation 

resources for U.S.-bound refugees. This 

website includes materials in languages such 

as Arabic, Farsi, Kinyarwanda, Kiswahili, 
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Federal Government Resources

and Somali. CORE will help you get culturally 

oriented in the United States. Explore CORE

now to learn more about employment, 

housing, healthcare, money management, 

and more to help you adjust to life in the 

United States.

settleinus.org/

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)

DOL fosters, promotes, and develops the 

welfare of wage earners, job seekers, and 

retirees of the United States; works to advance 

opportunities for profitable employment; and 

assures work-related benefits and rights. Take 

a look at careeronestop.org. It can help you 

find jobs and training in your community.

Workers’ rights resources

dol.gov

American Job Centers (sponsored by DOL)

careeronestop.org

877-US2-JOBS (877-889-5627 (TTY))

U.S. Department of Justice

Immigrant and Employee Rights Section

The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section of 

the U.S. Department of Justice enforces the antidiscrimination provision of the Immigration and 

Nationality Act. This statute prohibits employers 

from discriminating based on citizenship status 

and national origin discrimination when hiring, 

firing, or recruiting or referring for a fee. It also 

prohibits unfair documentary practices and 

retaliation or intimidation. If you think you 

are being treated unfairly as you try to get 

a job or at a job you already have because 

of where you come from, or because you 

are an asylee or refugee, the Immigrant and 

Employee Rights Section may be able to 

help.
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Federal Government Resources

Resources about employment discrimination 

based upon citizenship or immigration status

justice.gov/crt/immigrant-and-employeerights-section

800-255-7688 (800-237-2515 (TTY))

Social Security Administration

A Social Security number is needed to get a 

job, collect Social Security benefits, and apply 

for other government services. You need to 

get a Social Security number and card. Go 

to this website for specific information for 

refugees and asylees.

ssa.gov/people/immigrants

800-772-1213 (800-325-0778 (TTY))

USCIS has purchased the right to use many of the images 

in USCIS Welcomes Refugees and Asylees. USCIS is 

licensed to use these images on a nonexclusive and nontransferable basis. All other rights to the images, including 

without limitation and copyright, are retained by the owner 

of the images. These images are not in the public domain 

and may not be used except as they appear as part of this 

publication.
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