Learn • Prepare • Connect • Rebuild
#starting
HOWZIT — Is your question: WHERE DO I EVEN START?
Thinking about the possibility of resettlement in the United States?
You don't need to understand the whole system today.
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program can be complicated, the terminology can be confusing, and there is a lot of information online — some official, some outdated, and some simply wrong. That's where we start.
We'll help you understand the basics, find the official information, recognize the different stages of the process, and know where to look for trustworthy answers.
We don't decide your future. We help you understand it.
WHAT IS USRAP?
USRAP stands for the United States Refugee Admissions Program.
It is the U.S. government's refugee resettlement program for people outside the United States who may be considered for admission to the United States as refugees.
USRAP is administered through cooperation among U.S. government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human Services, together with organizations involved in overseas processing and resettlement.
But here's the important part:
Being interested in USRAP does not mean you have been accepted.
Referral or access to processing does not guarantee that someone will ultimately be admitted to the United States. Refugee eligibility, security screening, admissibility and other required steps still apply.
WHAT PATHWAYS IS AVAILABLE WITH THE USRAP?
This is one of the most important things for people to understand.
There isn't simply one universal online form where everyone applies directly to the U.S. government.
Access to USRAP can occur through different referral pathways, depending on the person's circumstances and the program rules in effect.
The U.S. government has historically described pathways including:
Individual cases may be referred by authorized entities because of particular circumstances and an apparent need for resettlement.
P-1 — Individual Referrals
Certain groups designated by the U.S. government may have access to the program under specific criteria.
P-2 — Group Referrals
Certain qualifying family members of refugees in the United States may have access under the applicable family-reunification process.
P-3 — Family Reunification
U.S.-based private sponsorship mechanisms have also provided pathways for eligible refugees under applicable program rules.
P-4 — Private Sponsorship
U.S.-based private sponsorship mechanisms have also provided pathways for eligible refugees under applicable program rules.
The exact categories, eligibility requirements and operational rules can change.
So don't rely on an old Facebook post, WhatsApp message or somebody saying, “This is how it works.”
Check the current official information.
WHO IS USRAP FOR?
In general, refugee resettlement is for people who are outside the United States and who may qualify for refugee status under U.S. law.
USAGov explains that refugee eligibility generally involves being outside the United States and demonstrating persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution because of:
Race
Race is a social construct used to categorize groups of humans based on perceived shared physical qualities, such as skin colour, hair texture, and facial features.
While historically thought to be rooted in biology, modern science and genomics have proven that race has no inherent biological or genetic basis. Instead, it is understood as a social, historical, and political mechanism for grouping people.
Membership in a particular social group
Social groups are collections of two or more people who interact with one another, share similar characteristics, and collectively identify as a unit.
Religion
Religion is a cultural system of behaviors, practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, and sacred texts that connects humanity to spiritual or supernatural elements.
Nationality
Nationality is the legal relationship between an individual and a sovereign state, establishing the person's status as a citizen of that country.
It provides the individual with the protection of the state and grants them specific legal rights and duties, such as the right to a passport, the right to vote, and the obligation to obey the nation's laws.
Political opinion
Political opinion refers to the perspectives, attitudes, beliefs, and judgments that individuals or groups hold regarding government, public policy, political figures, and the distribution of power in society.
It forms the foundation of public opinion, driving how citizens vote, how governments make decisions, and how laws are shaped.
Individual circumstances matter, and meeting one description does not automatically mean someone qualifies.
Important: Refugee resettlement is not the same thing as asylum.
A person seeking asylum generally seeks protection after reaching the United States or at a U.S. port of entry.
A person being considered through USRAP is being processed for possible refugee admission while outside the United States.
Don't confuse the two.
A referral is not the same as approval.
Think of it as a way of accessing the USRAP process for consideration.
Once a case enters processing, there can be multiple steps involving documentation, interviews, security checks, medical requirements and other processing.
USCIS officers conduct refugee interviews and make the refugee eligibility determination for the United States, while required security and other checks are also conducted.
Referral ≠ Approval
Interview ≠ Approval
Approval ≠ Travel immediately
WHO MAKES THE FINAL DECISION?
The U.S. government's refugee process includes an interview by specially trained USCIS officers, along with security screening and other requirements.
DOES USRAP COST MONEY?
How long does it take?
Useful Information
1
WHAT USRAP IS NOT
❌ A work visa
❌ A normal immigration application
❌ A lottery
❌ A guarantee of entry to America
❌ A programme where paying someone gets you accepted
❌ The same thing as applying for asylum inside America
❌ A process where a private website can decide whether you qualify
And:
The Afrikaner American is NOT USRAP.
We are an independent information and community-support platform.
Our mission is to help people understand information and find reliable resources.
2
BEFORE YOU GO ANY FURTHER... Ask Yourself
☐ Do I understand what refugee resettlement is?
☐ Do I understand the difference between refugee resettlement and asylum?
☐ Do I understand that referral is not approval?
☐ Do I know where to find official USRAP information?
☐ Do I know that USRAP access is free?
☐ Do I know how to recognize possible scams?
☐ Do I understand that my individual circumstances matter?
If you're still confused...
That's okay.
That's exactly why this page exists.
3
OUR NEXT STEP
I'M CONSIDERING APPLYING
Understand the official process and requirements.
CHECK THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Go directly to trusted government sources.
LEARN ABOUT SCAMS & SAFETY
Know what to watch out for before sharing information or money.
INFORMATION CHANGES - WE CHECK
Last reviewed: September 2026
USRAP policies, procedures, eligibility criteria and operational conditions can change.
Always verify important information through current official U.S. government sources.
