A Refugee's Path to Resettlement Since 1990, over 2 million refugees and 800,000 asylees have resettled in the United States. They are doctors, business owners, teachers, and more, and have positively contributed to communities across the country. Per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, refugees and asylees have contributed an estimated $363 billion to the federal government through payroll, income, and excise taxes, and $218 billion to state and local governments, through income, sales, and property taxes over the last two decades. When compared with the total U.S. population on a per capita basis, refugees and asylees had a comparable net fiscal impact. Who is a refugee? A refugee is a person who is outside of his or her country and is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution due to: Race; Religion; Nationality; Social Group; or Political Opinion. Who oversees refugee resettlement in the United States? The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is is a federal program managed by the Department of State (State) in cooperation with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Annually, the president works with Congress to determine the authorized target for refugee admissions. You can view proposed admission reports on the U.S. Department of State's website. How does a refugee come to the United States? The process for a refugee to enter the United States is extremely thorough and can take anywhere from 18 to 24 months. In fact, refugees are the most thoroughly screened people who travel into the United States. At least five different federal agencies are involved to ensure all refugees who enter the United States are appropriately vetted before entry is authorized. Step 1 - Submit application The potential refugee registers with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Officials with UNHCR collect information and documentation to perform an initial screening. If qualified, the individual's application is referred to the U.S. Department of State. Step 2 - Security screenings The U.S. Department of State collaborates with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to perform security screenings on qualified individuals. These include name-based, biometric checks, and interviews. To learn about the different screening types, view this user-friendly overview by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. Step 3 - Health screening If the individual is conditionally approved for resettlement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the refugee application will undergo a health screening to identify medical needs and address any health concerns before they enter the United States. Step 4 - Case is approved for resettlement The federal government reviews the potential refugees application, screening results, and other documentation. If approved, the individual is officially considered a refugee and moves onto the next step. Anyone who is unable to complete and pass all of the security checks, interviews, and health screenings is denied admission to the United States. For those who pass. Step 5 - Refugee's case is assigned to a national resettlement agency The Department of State coordinates the assignment of the case to one of nine U.S.-based private refugee resettlement agencies with local affiliate agencies in communities across the U.S. The national resettlement agency uses the background information provided by the refugee – including family connections in the U.S. – to assign their case to a specific city in the U.S. The national resettlement agency informs its local affiliate in the selected city, which will assist the refugee upon arrival. Step 6 - Cultural Orientation The U.S. Department of State strives to ensure that refugees admitted to the United States are prepared for the changes they will experience by providing cultural orientation programs prior to departure. The Department of State funds one- to five-day pre-departure orientation classes for eligible refugees at sites throughout the world. Comprehensive cultural orientation resources have been developed to assist refugees’ transition to life in the United States, including a Settle-In US website, Facebook page, and mobile app. Cultural orientation programming continues once refugees arrive in the United States. Step 7 - Travel The U.S. Department of State funds the transportation of refugees resettling in the United States. The transportation is provided to refugees through a no-interest loan, which they begin to repay six months after their arrival. *Some individuals may have variations in their resettlement process as determines by the federal government. What happens once the refugee is in the United States? Refugees arrive with little beyond the clothes they are wearing and are often very unfamiliar with American ways of life. Refugees are welcomed by local resettlement agencies and volunteers. They are taken to their initial housing, which has essential furnishings, food, and other necessities. For their first 90 days, they have access to a variety of services that will help them succeed in their new community. These services include, but are not limited to: Enrolling in neighborhood schools and English language courses Finding and obtaining employment that supports their family Receiving physical, mental, and oral healthcare Acquiring legal services Applying for benefits in which they are eligible for You can make a real difference by offering your time, skills and gifts to help welcome new Wisconsin residents from a refugee background. To learn more, visit our How Can I Help? page. What role does the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families play? Refugee resettlement in the United States is a federal process. The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) manages the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program and is responsible for deciding which refugees are admitted to the United States and where those refugees are located. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) houses the Bureau of Refugee Programs, which provides an oversight and problem-solving function to assure that refugees resettled in the state by the Department of State and the national resettlement agencies get the services they need by local affiliates to succeed in making a new home in a local community. To accomplish this, DCF monitors contracts, spending of federal funding, and program services.
