FAQs
Asylees can travel outside the United States with refugee travel documents. It is essential that the asylee not return to her home country until she has become a U.S. citizen and can travel with a U.S. passport.
Can you go back to your country if you are a refugee? ›
A person with refugee or asylum status who wishes to travel outside the United States needs a Refugee Travel Document in order to return to the United States. In most cases, a refugee or asylee may use the Refugee Travel Document for travel in place of a passport.
Can a refugee return home? ›
Refugees and internally displaced people can only return home in safety once the root causes for their displacement have been addressed and lasting peace is achieved.
Can you leave the country if you have asylum? ›
If you are a refugee or asylee and wish to travel outside the United States, you will need to apply for a Refugee Travel Document. The Refugee Travel Document will allow you to travel outside of and return to the United States, while maintaining your status.
Which countries accept U.S. refugee travel document without visa? ›
U.S. Refugee Travel Document (United States) visa not required for Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and Cyprus. Australian Convention Travel Document. This document by itself does not allow the bearer to return to Australia; for that, a separate visa must be obtained.
Can you go back to your home country after asylum? ›
Obtaining advance parole is more straightforward for those who have received political asylum. The USCIS cannot stop you from traveling internationally or even going to the country where you were persecuted, but doing so puts your asylum status in jeopardy.
Can you leave the US as a refugee? ›
If you have refugee status and want to travel outside the United States, you will need to obtain a Refugee Travel Document in order to return to the United States. If you do not obtain a Refugee Travel Document in advance of departure, you may be unable to re-enter the United States.
What is the right to return refugees? ›
The right of return is a principle in international law which guarantees everyone's right of voluntary return to, or re-entry to, their country of origin or of citizenship. The right of return is part of the broader human rights concept freedom of movement and is also related to the legal concept of nationality.
What is the difference between refugee and asylum? ›
Similar to a refugee, an asylum seeker is someone who may be in search of protection due to dangers in his or her home country. While every refugee is initially an asylum seeker, not every asylum seeker will ultimately be recognized as a refugee.
How many refugees return to their home country? ›
As of mid-2023, there were 36.4 million refugees (5.9 million under UNRWA's mandate and 30.5 million under UNHCR's mandate). HOW MANY REFUGEES RETURNED HOME? Most people who are forced to flee want to return home once it is safe to do so. In the first half of 2023, 404,000 refugees were able to return.
Technically, asylum applicants CAN travel outside the U.S., but it's usually not a good idea; particularly not if you're planning to visit the country that you claim persecuted you.
Can you lose asylum status? ›
Your asylee status may be terminated if you no longer have a well-founded fear of persecution because of a fundamental change in circ*mstances, you have obtained protection from another country, or you have committed certain crimes or engaged in other activity that makes you ineligible to retain asylum status in the ...
What are the 2 types of asylum? ›
There are two types of asylum applications, affirmative and defensive:
- An affirmative asylum application is filed at the USCIS asylum office on applicants' own initiative before the initiation of removal proceedings. ...
- A defensive asylum application is applied through immigration court and heard by an immigration judge.
Recommendation to USCIS to (i) revise 8 CFR § 223.3(a)(2) to extend the period of validity for refugee travel documents from 1 year to 10 years, and (ii) establish a policy of adjudicating I-131 applications for refugee travel documents and reentry permits within 6 weeks, the same amount of time it takes a U.S. citizen ...
Can a refugee get a US passport? ›
Refugees need protection against being returned to danger in their country of origin, meaning that the use of a national passport poses a risk if the work, study or other visa expires without another option. Stateless persons are not national to any country and thus have no way to apply for a national passport.
Can I reenter the US with a refugee travel document? ›
It is commonly used for re-entry by people in the process of applying for permanent residence, applying for a status adjustment, or applying for asylum. Refugee travel document - You may be able to use this document to re-enter the U.S. if you have refugee or asylum status.
What happens after you become a refugee? ›
If you are a refugee, you are required by law to apply for lawful permanent resident status 1 year after being admitted to the United States as a refugee. File Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
Can refugees leave refugee camps? ›
Once it is safe for them to return to their home countries the refugees can use voluntary return programmes. In some cases, refugees may be integrated and naturalised by the country they fled to. In some cases, often after several years, refugees may get the offer to be resettled in "third countries".
Are states obligated to accept refugees? ›
States have specific obligations towards refugees under international law, including: Ensuring refugees can access their territory and seek asylum. Not penalizing refugees for crossing borders irregularly (without authorization or required documents) to reach safety. There is nothing illegal about seeking asylum.
