Eligibility & Benefits FAQ

Temporary Protected Status | USCIS – Visit this page for the latest developments in the TPS program

This page offers definitions on the various categories of immigrants plus criteria for receiving services through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)

Refugees 

Do I qualify as a Refugee? 

A refugee is any person who is outside their country of nationality or is outside of the country of their last residence, who is unable or unwilling to return to their country, and is unable or unwilling to avail themselves of the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of: 

• • Race 
  • Religion  
  • Nationality 
  • Membership of a particular social group 
  • Political opinion 

Refugees are eligible to receive ORR (Office of Refugee Resettlement) benefits and services from their date of arrival in the U.S 

Cuban/Haitian Entrants 

Do I qualify as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant? 

You may qualify as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant if you are a Cuban or Haitian national that is: 

• • Granted parole as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant   
  • In removal proceedings 
  • With an application for asylum pending 

Asylees 

Do I qualify as an asylee? 

An asylee is a person who has fled his or her country and is unable or unwilling to return due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on: 

• • Race 
  • Religion 
  • Nationality  
  • Political opinion 
  • Membership in a social group.  

An individual is granted asylum either by: 

• • Immigration court of the U.S. Department of Justice 
  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

Additional Resources 

Who is a Survivor of Torture? – Click on link for webpage 

Who is a Victim of Human Trafficking? – Click on link for webpage 

Benefits for Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees – Click this link for webpage 

Required Documents by Legal Status – Click on this link for PDF