This article was last updated on August 3, 2026

Important Note: As of January 20, 2025, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has paused most refugee processing and admissions, including Lautenberg Program applications. The information below describes the process that existed when the program was operational. We do not know if or when the U.S. government may begin processing Lautenberg applications again.

Summary

This guide is for religious minorities who are citizens of Former Soviet Union (FSU) countries and want to reunite with family in the United States through the Lautenberg Program. Please note that as of January 20, 2025, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) has paused most refugee processing and admissions, including Lautenberg Program applications. It is not known when the U.S. government will begin processing Lautenberg applications again. 

Please also note that several of the countries with nationals eligible for this program are currently and separately affected by a freeze on other U.S. entry and visa issuance. See here for more information. 

About the Lautenberg Program

The Lautenberg Program allows certain religious minorities in the former Soviet Union to apply for refugee resettlement through the U.S. Refugee Admission Program (USRAP). The application process requires that the refugee applicant have a family member with legal immigration status in the United States. The application must be started by the family member in the United States.

The U.S.-based family member must be:

• A U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident (or “green card” holder), asylee, refugee, or parolee; and

• At least 18 years old.

The refugee applicant must be:

• The parent, child, spouse, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the U.S.-based family member; and

• A citizen of one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, or Uzbekistan; and

• A member of a religious minority, including: Jews, Evangelical Christians (Baptists, Pentecostals, Seventh Day Adventists, and others), Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ukrainian Greek Catholics, and members of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church.

How to File an Application

U.S. family members and overseas applicants cannot apply directly to the U.S. government to access this program. Only designated resettlement agencies in the United States can submit the initial application to the U.S. government. 

The U.S. family member must request assistance from a local resettlement agency, which will help them file an “Affidavit of Relationship” (AOR) with all the relevant information regarding their eligible family member. 

After the AOR is completed with the resettlement agency, the applicant living in the former Soviet Union country will need to complete a Preliminary Questionnaire (PQ) in English, Russian, or Ukrainian, if they are more than 14 years old.

Required Documents

The U.S. family member will need to provide:

• Birth certificate

• Proof of current status in the United States, such as a passport, green card, or certificate of naturalization

The refugee applicant will need to provide:

• Birth certificate

• Passport

• National ID card

• Marriage certificate, name change decree, divorce decree, adoption order (if relevant)

• Passport photos

English translations of these documents are not required. 

You may need to provide documents not listed above at the time of submission, or later in the process.

Next Steps in Processing

Applicants must remain in their country for their case to be processed, unless they are Ukrainians who have been displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Applicants who have left Ukraine for that reason should write to IOM, Resettlement Support Center (RSC) Eurasia at icc@iom.int with their new location and contact details.

Applicants will undergo official interviews with the U.S. government, medical checks, and security checks before receiving a final decision on their application. 

If your application is approved, IOM will provide you with information and instructions related to your travel to the United States.

If your application is denied, you can request that the U.S. government review your case again. More information on how to submit such a request can be found here.

Please note that this process can take several years to complete. Once the resettlement agency submits the necessary forms and evidence, the timing of the case depends on U.S. government processing. 

Asking for help

You or your relative may want to ask an immigration attorney for help with this process. Here are a few resources:

Help from IRAP

• Information about asking for help from IRAP is here.
• If you are in Jordan, you can ask for IRAP Jordan’s help using this form. If the form is closed, you can check back at a later date.

Help from other organizations

• A list of free immigration legal service providers in the United States is available here. These attorneys are not affiliated with IRAP.
• A list of private immigration attorneys in the United States is available here. Please note that private immigration attorneys may charge a fee for their services. These attorneys are not affiliated with IRAP.