I-730, I-485

Refugees and family reunification

Refugee status is granted outside the United States, through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Once admitted, refugees must apply for a green card after one year, and they can petition to reunite with a spouse and children. We help refugees and their families with these filings and with the documents they need to travel. Refugee admissions from abroad have been sharply limited since January 2025, so we confirm current policy for each family.

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Last reviewed September 2026

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A refugee applies for protection from outside the United States and arrives already holding refugee status. An asylee applies from inside the United States or at a port of entry. The grounds for protection are the same.

See the glossary

Who this is for

Refugees approaching one year in the United States
Refugees and asylees who want to bring a spouse or unmarried children under 21
Refugees who need a refugee travel document
Former refugees preparing for citizenship

How we help

Green card filing: We prepare the green card application that refugees must file after one year of physical presence, including any waivers.
Family reunification: We file Form I-730 follow-to-join petitions within two years of admission and assemble proof of the family relationship.
Travel documents: We prepare refugee travel document applications and explain the risks of travel to the country of persecution.
Citizenship planning: We calculate when a former refugee can naturalize, since a refugee's permanent residence generally dates back to the day of arrival.

Forms involved

I-485Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
I-730Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
I-131Application for Travel Documents (refugee travel document)
I-602Application by Refugee for Waiver of Inadmissibility Grounds

Government filing fees are listed on our filing fees page.

Timeline

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data for April to June 2026 show a median of about 18 months for refugee green card applications completed in that quarter. Follow-to-join petitions vary widely, especially for relatives abroad.

Document checklist

A starting list. We send a checklist for your case after the consultation.

Form I-94 showing admission as a refugee
Passport or travel document, if any
Birth and marriage certificates, for family reunification
Medical examination record (Form I-693)
Court records for any arrest

Questions clients ask

Do refugees have to apply for a green card?

Yes. The law requires refugees to apply for permanent residence after one year of physical presence in the United States. USCIS charges no filing fee for this application.

When does my permanent residence start?

For a refugee, permanent residence is generally recorded as of the date of arrival in the United States, which can shorten the wait for citizenship.

How long do I have to file Form I-730?

Generally two years from your admission as a refugee, or from the grant of asylum for an asylee. USCIS may excuse a late filing for humanitarian reasons.

Can I travel abroad?

Travel on a refugee travel document rather than your home country's passport. Returning to the country you fled, or using its passport, can raise questions about your status.

Can new refugees still be resettled?

Admissions have been suspended since January 2025, with limited exceptions, and the ceiling for fiscal year 2026 is the lowest in the program's history. Policy continues to change, so we check the current rules for each case.

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