Immigration to the USA as a Refugee

In accordance with the UN Refugee Protocol, any person who is persecuted in their home country due to belonging to a certain national, ethnic or social group or having religious or political beliefs that differ from those generally accepted in the country can be recognized as a refugee.

As defined in US immigration law, a refugee is any person who has traveled to another country and is unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution that person is subjected to on the basis of race, nationality, religion, or political opinion; or because of the existence of a well-founded fear of such persecution if returned to their home country.

Residents of the countries of the former Soviet republics have the right to apply for recognition as refugees without leaving their country of permanent residence. When applying for refugee status, it should be borne in mind that the desire to leave for the United States in search of a better life is not sufficient in itself to obtain refugee status. This status is granted only to persons who are persecuted in their country on one or more of the above grounds. A prerequisite is the presence of relatives in the United States who can act as guarantors of the person applying for refugee status.

To be eligible for refugee status, an applicant must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be a refugee within the meaning of the law (see definition above);
• Be of Jewish nationality or be a follower of the Church of Evangelical Christians, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church or the Ukrainian Orthodox Church;
• Not having permanent residence in another country after leaving their home country;
• Have no barriers to entry into the United States;
• Do not have previous convictions for serious crimes, do not suffer from diseases that pose a threat to society, etc.
• In some cases, refugees are allowed to enter the United States despite the existence of conditions that prevent admission into the country.

White & Associates Services for Refugee Claimants:

• Legal assessment of the possibility of obtaining refugee status;
• Assistance in preparing documents for obtaining refugee status;
• Appeal against the decision to refuse to grant refugee status.