The process of becoming a refugee is complex. However, once you have successfully entered the United States under refugee status, you may wonder whether you can obtain a green card to remain in the country as a lawful permanent resident. Please continue reading to discover whether or not this is possible and why connecting with a seasoned Middlesex County, New Jersey Green Card Lawyer is in your best interest.
What Classifies a Person as a Refugee?
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their country of origin due to conflict, violence, and fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group and has crossed an international border to seek safety. Essentially, a refugee cannot return to their country without risking their life or freedoms.
Those who seek refugee must be outside of the United States. To apply, you must register with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In addition, you must have a referral to the U.S. Refugee Admission Program. If you receive a referral and submit the necessary forms, you will need to meet with a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services officer who will determine your eligibility to enter the country as a refugee. It’s important to note that a refugee is not available to anyone who ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
What Are the Steps to Obtain a Green Card for Refugees?
If you are admitted as a refugee in the United States, you can apply for a green card, also known as a lawful permanent residence status, one year after being admitted to the country. You must have been physically present for at least one continuous year in the country under refugee status. To be eligible aside from reading in the country, you must continue to meet the definition of a refugee. This means if matters improve in your country of origin, you may no longer qualify to receive lawful permanent residence. That said, you should apply for a green card as soon as you meet the one-year residency requirement.
To apply, you will need to properly file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. From here, you will need to submit proof of your physical presence in the country, evidence supporting your refugee status, and Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. After this information has been notified, you will receive a notice for your biometrics appointment, which requires you to have your fingerprints scanned, photographs taken, and a signature. After you have completed these steps, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will issue a decision on whether you are approved for a green card.
At the Law Offices of Aditya Surti, LLC we are prepared to help you achieve your immigration goals. Connect with our dedicated legal team today to learn how we can help you through each phase of the process ahead.
