The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people.
- IRAP helps some people find services and prepare refugee and visa applications.
- IRAP is not part of any government, IOM, or UNHCR.
- IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases.
- IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs.
- All of IRAP’s help is free. No one affiliated with IRAP has the right to ask you for money or any other service.
IRAP decides to help people based on their need and eligibility for immigration status. IRAP does not decide to help people based on any other social or political or religious criteria.
This website provides general information about legal processes available to some refugees. It is not meant as legal advice for individual applications.
This information was revised in August 2023. Requirements may change. Always check for current requirements from the government or agency deciding your request.
Summary
This page provides information for CAM applicants whose applications were closed when the Trump Administration ended the program and who want to re-open their case now that President Biden has re-started the program.
What do I need to do to have my case re-opened?
In March 2021, resettlement agencies began contacting CAM parents in the United States whose applications were closed when the CAM program ended under President Trump.
Parents who want to re-open their cases must respond to the resettlement agencies to say that they want the cases re-opened.
Once the parents have said that they want their cases re-opened, IOM will contact your children and family members in the United States. IOM is a contractor of the U.S. Department of State. Your family members must also say that they want their cases re-opened.
If you believe your case should have been reopened and was not, please contact the CAM Hotline for assistance at (917) 410-7546.
My family situation has changed. Are we still eligible for CAM?
To be eligible for the CAM program:
- The parent must continue to have one of several lawful statuses in the United States
- The qualifying children must live in a place where CAM processing is available such as El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Processing may be available in other locations.
You can read about the CAM requirements here.
What happens after my CAM application is re-opened?
If your case is re-opened, IOM will provide instructions on the next steps. Cases vary. Sometimes, the first step will be a re-interview. Sometimes, the first step will be seeking payment from the parent for re-doing the medical exam. Sometimes, the first step will be USCIS seeking additional information, for example evidence of your ongoing relationship with a step-parent or about a new baby that has been born and should be added to the case.
If your case has been re-opened and you are unsure of the next steps, or if it seems like nothing is happening in the case, please contact the CAM Hotline for assistance at (917) 410-7546.
What if I want my case re-opened but I haven’t been contacted by a resettlement agency?
Please contact the CAM Hotline for assistance at (917) 410-7546. You can also find your local resettlement agency here by clicking on “R&P Affiliate Directory.”