Help - 4. Considering the Program

About The Considering the Program Section

Thinking about applying for consideration as a a refugee of USA from South Africa? Want to find out what its all about and how to apply? This section is for South African individuals who have not yet applied and are still exploring what the USA Refugee Resettlement program is about. Here you will find clear, introductory information to help you understand the basics of the program, including who m...

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Eligibility - Who Qualifies For The USA Refugee Programmed From South Africa?

According the the South African US Embassy website, and as at today's date: Applicants for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) from South Africa must be South African citizens of Afrikaner ethnicity or a racial minority group, currently residing within the country. Candidates must be at least 1

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Qualification - Does Farm Crime Alone Qualify Me To Apply?

No. General crime or farm violence alone will not qualify you for refugee status. Under U.S. law, everyday criminal violence is not enough on its own. To qualify, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) must see that the harm you face is directly connected to a protected category. These categories include your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a speci...

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Application - I Dont't Understand Immigration Terms

To help you better understand the technical terms related to United States immigration and the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), I have broken them down into detailed, simple explanations. These terms are frequently used in official government documents and throughout the multi-step application process. Understanding Key Immigration and Refugee Terms USRA

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Eligibility - Who Exactly Is Eligible For The Refugee Programme?

To understand who is eligible for the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) from South Africa, it is important to look at both the general rules for the program and the specific criteria that have been applied to this region recently. Understanding the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) The U.S. Refugee Admissio

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Military - Will Compulsory SADF Military Service Count Against Me As Terrorism Or Persecution?

If you were forced to serve in the South African Defence Force (SADF) in the past, that alone will not automatically make you ineligible for refugee status in the United States. However, USCIS will carefully check your military service to see if you took part in any acts of persecution, war crimes, or terrorism‑related activities. This is because U.S. law specifically excludes anyone who "ordered,...

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Family - What Family Members May Accompany Me To The United States If I Am Approved?

Generally, family members that may accompany you to the United States include your spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 who were with you at the refugee interview. If your spouse or unmarried children under the age of 21 were not with you at the time of your interview, they will generally be able to follow you to the United States, but you will have to file a Form I-730, Refugee/Asyle...

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Crime - Must I Clear My Criminal Record First Before Applying For The Refugee Programme

If you have a small criminal record in South Africa from a long time ago and you are trying to remove it from your record (expungement) through the Department of Justice, you might be wondering if you should wait until the expungement is finished before you write it on your USRAP application forms. The answer is no – do not wait, and do not hide it. The USRAP system uses biometric checks (fingerpr...

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General - What Is An In-Country Refugee Program?

An In-Country Refugee Program Is An Immigration Mechanism That Allows Persecuted Individuals To Apply For Refugee Or Asylum Status While Remaining Inside Their Home Country An in-country refugee program is a special immigration pathway that allows individuals facing persecution to apply for official protection and resettlement while remaining safely inside their home country. This setup is highly ...

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Military - I Was SAP/SADF During Apartheid, Am I Automatically Banned?

No, you are not automatically banned just because you served in the SADF or SAP during apartheid. U.S. immigration law does not have a general ban against veterans of South Africa's apartheid-era military or police forces. The law only bans people who "ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a p...

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Qualification - How Can I Find Out If I Am Eligible For Resettlement in the United States?

The U.S. Refugee Program has special rules for people living in South Africa. You can only be considered if you meet all these requirements: Be a South African citizen. Live in South Africa right now. Be of Afrikaner background OR belong to a minority racial group. You must be 18 years old or older. If you are younger, you must travel with a parent. You must be able to explain how you ha...

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Who Is A Refugee?

A refugee is someone who has had to leave their home country because they were treated badly or are afraid they will be treated badly in the future. This happens because of their race, religion, where they come from, their political beliefs, or the group they belong to. If these people are not in the United States yet, they can ask to join the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. If they are already i...

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Qualification - Can English Speaking South Africans Apply?

Whether you speak English, Afrikaans, or any other language does not determine if you can apply for refugee status. The U.S. government does not look at your language when deciding on your eligibility. Instead, USCIS looks at whether your situation meets the official legal definition of a refugee. To qualify, you must be able to prove that you have been persecuted in the past, or that you have a ...

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Application - How Do I Apply For The USA Afrikaner Refugee Programme,

To apply for the USA Afrikaner Refugee Programme, you must complete the online Intake Questionnaire (IQ). The process has two distinct submission steps. First, you must submit the data for each family member on page 11 of the IQ questionnaire. Second, you must submit the entire IQ UFN application from the dashboard as a secondary submission process to complete your submission sequence. The process...

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Qualification - Is There A Racial Quota?

There are no racial quotas for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and no groups are excluded based on their race. U.S. immigration law does not use race as a factor in determining who is allowed to apply or who is approved for refugee status. Instead, the program is based on whether an individual meets the official legal definition of a refugee. To qualify, you must show that you have suffered h...

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Qualification - If I Voted For The ANC Or Served The Apartheid Government, Am I Disqualified?

Simply voting for a political party like the ANC or having worked for a previous government, such as the one during the apartheid era, does not automatically disqualify you from applying for refugee status. The U.S. government understands that many people were involved in their country's systems in various ways, and simply having a job or voting is not considered a crime. However, there are very s...

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Qualification - Can Dual Citizens Apply?

Possessing dual citizenship or ancestral ties to another country does not automatically disqualify you from the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). However, it is an important factor that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers evaluate during the eligibility process. The "Firm Resettlement" Rule The primary concern for USCIS is whether you are "firmly resettled" in another...

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Social Media - Does USCIS Check My Social Media?

USCIS and federal agencies conduct comprehensive background checks on refugees, which include screening public social media profiles for potential security, fraud, or credibility issues. These checks often involve reviewing online content to identify discrepancies with official statements, with detailed vetting procedures outlined in Department of Homeland Security and USCIS documentation. With L...

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