In order for a person to succeed with an application to come to the United States as a refugee, that person must have a financial sponsor inside the United States. The sponsor may pay the cost of travel to the United States and must agree to support the refugee for a limited time after arrival. Fortunately, various programs exist to help refugees find willing sponsors and sources of funds. The refugee does not need to rely solely on personal friends or connections.
Refugee applicants will need to get in touch with a U.S. government program early on in the process no matter what. That's because, to be considered for entry to the U.S. as a refugee, refugees must be referred to the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by another agency. That may be the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a nonprofit Resettlement Support Center (RSC) that has been approved for refugee pre-screening and referral.
Arranging Financial Support for a Refugee
The U.S. federal government, with the help of various charitable agencies, has funding methods available to assist refugees with their financial needs.
Finding a Financial Sponsor
After a refugee has received conditional acceptance by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the charitable agency that is helping with his or her case will submit a request for sponsorship assurance to the U.S. Refugee Processing Center (RPC) in Arlington, Virginia. The RPC will in turn submit the request for assurance to one of the various private voluntary agencies that has signed a cooperative agreement with the U.S. State Department.
Once the RPC finds an agency to give its assurance, the refugee has a sponsor -- namely an agency that is willing and prepared to accept the case for resettlement, sometimes with the backup of local friends or relatives, churches, or other organizations. The agency will handle local arrangements to receive the refugee. It must assure that key services are provided during the refugee's first 90 days in the U.S., including provision of food, housing, clothing, help with finding a job, counseling, medical care, and more.
The next step is for the refugee's travel arrangements to be made.
Travel Loan Program
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) makes refugees' travel arrangements -- but does not cover the cost. Loans are available to refugees, at zero interest, to cover the cost of their airfare or other transportation to the United States. This federal loan program is administered through the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program. Six months after resettlement, refugees must begin repaying these loans, with monthly payments.
Working After Arrival in the U.S.
A refugee will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) allowing him or her to legally work in the United States. The refugee can apply for a green card (lawful permanent residence) one year after arrival (which comes with the right to work). If this is not enough to cover the refugee's expenses, federal cash assistance (welfare) and Medicaid programs are available for the first eight months following arrival. Refugees over the age of 65 may be eligible for federal Social Security benefits.
For more information on life in the U.S. as a refugee, see "After You Are Granted Asylum of Refugee Status in the U.S."
