Refugees and asylees tin can use to bring some members of their family to the United states to join them. Larn nearly the different types of family reunification including the I-730 petition, Affidavit of Relationship (AOR), I-130 petition, family members you lot cannot file to bring, how long the procedure takes, and how to get help with the awarding procedure.


man holding child at airport
Photograph courtesy of Michael Swan

How does family reunification piece of work?

Refugees and asylees have admission to family unit reunification benefits.

The information below is adjusted from Clinic Legal's Refugee/Asylee Family unit Reunification Transmission and USCIS. USAHello is non a legal service provider and the data on this page is not legal advice. It is important to seek help from a local refugee resettlement function or legal services offices.

There are three main ways to apply for a family member. Each box below explains one of the three ways:

Application Blazon

I-730 Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
filed with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Who tin utilize

Refugees who have been in the The states less than two years

Asylees who take been granted asylum inside 2 years

Merely individuals who were granted refugee/asylee status directly tin can utilize – likewise called a Principal Bidder. If you came every bit a relative of someone else who filed for you, you may not be eligible. Bank check with a resettlement agency or legal representative.

Family members

Spouse (You lot must take been married prior to being granted refugee or asylee status in the USA. You lot may merely apply for 1 spouse).

Unmarried children who were nether 21 years of historic period the time that the parent's refugee or asylee application was filed. This may include adopted children, step-children and another categories.

Family members may exist overseas or in the Us. Family members do not have to demonstrate their own refugee claim.

Benefits

Family members who go far in the USA through an approved I-730 application are considered refugee or asylee derivatives. They are entitled to the same services and benefits equally a refugee (except they cannot file for boosted family members through the aforementioned grade).

Fees

There are no filing fees to complete an I-730. You may be asked to pay a small fee to a legal service provider to aid with your application.

Other data

The I-730 Family Reunification program has many benefits just information technology can take a long time to process. It is a good thought to start this process every bit shortly as possible.

How to apply

DOJ Accredited Representatives and Immigration Attorneys tin aid you complete an I-730 application. It is a good thought to ask a refugee resettlement office in your community for a referral for legal help to complete your awarding.

Getting aid with this application can aid you make certain it is completed correctly and you lot take the best risk of success.

While some legal service providers may accuse a small-scale fee to help with this, it should not be very large. If someone asks you to pay a high amount of coin to file this application, you should seek out help somewhere else.

Find a non-profit legal help.

More information is available on USCIS website.

Application
Type

Affidavit of Relationship (AOR)

Who can apply

Refugees who have been in the The states less than 5 years

Asylees who take been granted asylum within 5 years

Family unit members

Spouse (You must have been married prior to being granted refugee or asylee status in the U.Southward.A. You may but apply for 1 spouse).

Unmarried children under 21. This may include adopted children, step-children and some other categories.

Parents

Family members must exist registered refugees with their ain claim to refugee condition overseas. Family members must bear witness their relationship to the bidder with Dna testing.

Benefits

Family members who arrive in the USA through an approved AOR petition are considered refugee or asylee derivatives and they are entitled to the same services and benefits as a refugee.

Fees

There are no filing fees to complete an AOR. Nonetheless, you will exist responsible for the costs of completing Dna testing overseas to ostend relationships for children and/or parents.

Other data

Each yr, the countries that are eligible to file an AOR modify. You should check with your local refugee resettlement office for upwards-to-engagement information.

The AOR program has many benefits but it can take a long time to procedure. Information technology is a skilful idea to start this process as soon as possible. You can file both an AOR and an I-730 at the aforementioned time.

Awarding Type

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative filed with USCIS

Who tin can employ

Legal permanent residents (light-green carte du jour holder)

U.S. Citizens

If you lot came as a refugee or asylee and missed the deadline to file an I-730 or AOR and y'all at present take a green card (legal permanent resident) or you are a U.South. citizen, y'all tin can file course I-130. This is not a refugee/asylee-specific do good.

Family members

If yous have your green card, you can petition for:
– Spouse
– Single child

If you are a U.Due south. denizen, you can petition for:
– Spouse
– Single or married child
– Parents
– Siblings

Benefits

Family members who make it in the USA through an canonical I-130 petition are not entitled to any refugee/asylee services or benefits.

Fees

There is a filing fee with USCIS (currently $535) and you will besides accept to pay an additional fee for whatsoever legal services you receive to help you complete the awarding.

Other information

Discover non-profit legal assistance with your application. Learn more on the USCIS website.

Family members yous cannot file to bring to the USA

It is important to talk to a legal representative to help review your specific case. Nevertheless, in most cases, the post-obit family unit members practice not qualify for family reunification through any application type:

  • Grandparents
  • Grandchildren
  • Uncles or Aunts (sibling of your parent)
  • Nieces or Nephews (children of your sibling)
  • Cousins (children of your parent's siblings)
  • Spouse by proxy matrimony (a marriage where 1 or both people were not physically present).
  • Any human relationship that is not truthful (fraud). Providing untrue information about a relative or pretending someone is a relative is a serious problem.

How long does it take?

The processing times for these applications are all unlike. You can bank check the USCIS website and/or ask a legal representative for upwards-to-date information. Some applications may be processed within a few months, simply it may take a few years before your relative arrives. It is a good thought to file your application as before long as yous tin.

How can I get aid with my application?

If you are a refugee or asylee who is inside 2 years of arrival/grant of asylum, become to your local refugee resettlement office for assistance filing an I-730 and/or AOR. They may have legal staff in their part or they may refer you to some other non-profit system that tin help you lot. There are no filing fees for these forms.

If yous accept missed the deadline to consummate these forms, it is notwithstanding a skilful thought to check with a resettlement role. In some cases, you lot might be able to file a humanitarian exemption.

If you are filing an I-130 every bit a legal permanent resident or U.S. denizen, y'all can get help with your application from an accredited representative or immigration attorney.

A provider that is referred by the U.S. The Section of Justice (DOJ Accredited Representative) will be a not-profit organization. Their fees must be reasonable. This means they will exist lower than a individual chaser and may exist based on your income. You may also choose to apply an immigration chaser.

It is important that you lot work with someone who is an accredited representative or clearing attorney. Even someone who is an attorney but who has not studied immigration police, may not exist prepared to do the best job in helping yous. Be enlightened of people who do not have credentials such as "notarios" or even well-meaning people in your customs. They may desire to help, but if they do non fully understand the process, they can make a mistake that could mean your family fellow member does not come.

Where tin can I notice affordable legal services?

You can utilize the post-obit resources to find legal assistance:

  • ImmigrationLawHelp.org is a national listing of affordable legal services.
  • The Section of Justice has a searchable map to find DOJ recognized  organizations.
  • American Immigration Lawyers Association is a listing of lawyers who specialize in clearing constabulary.

The data on this page comes from Dispensary Legal I-730 Refugee/Asylee Family Reunification Do Manual , USCIS , and other trusted sources. It is intended for general information purposes only and is updated as ofttimes every bit possible. USAHello does not give legal advice, nor are whatsoever of our materials intended to be taken as legal advice. If you are looking for a free or low-price lawyer or legal assistance, we can assist you lot notice free and low-cost legal services .