What benefits are available for refugees and asylees?
Asylees are authorized to work in the United States. While an asylee is not required to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to be eligible to work, although they may find it a useful document to be used as a form of identification. Asylees are also eligible to receive various services that will help them acclimate to living in and working in the US from One-Stop Career Centers, including job search assistance, career counseling, and occupational skills training. For more information please call 1-877-US2-JOBS.
Aslyees are eligible to apply for unrestricted Social Security Cards at any Social Security office.
An asylee may request derivative asylum status for any spouse or child (unmarried and under 21 years of age as of the date the asylee filed the asylum application, as long as the asylum application was pending on or after August 6, 2002) who is not included in the asylum decision and with whom the asylee has a qualifying relationship.
An asylee may apply for lawful permanent resident status under section 209(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act after the asylee has been physically present in the United States for a period of one year after the date he or she was granted asylum status.
An asylee may be eligible to receive assistance and services through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) including cash and medical assistance, employment preparation and job placement, and English language training. For more information please call 1-800-354-0365.
VisaHQ.com cannot assist in applying for US visas/attaining legal status in the US. This information is for reference purposes only. Please contact USCIS (www.uscis.org) for more information.