This article was last updated June 9, 2026

Important Note: 

On November 21, 2025, the United States government announced that it would be reviewing the cases of all refugees who entered the United States between January 21, 2021 and February 20, 2025. This includes refugees who now have green cards, and those who have applied for green cards and are still waiting for a decision. For more details on refugee revetting, see here. 

Summary

If you are a refugee living in the United States, you may have questions about what you’re allowed to do, what your status means, and how to protect yourself. This article explains:

• What it means to have “refugee status” in the United States
• How you can prove your status if someone asks
• How long your status lasts
• Whether you can be deported
• Benefits you may be eligible for
• Whether you can bring your family
• Whether you are allowed to travel

What does it mean to have “refugee status” in the United States?

Refugee status is a kind of immigration status.

“Refugee status” is a specific kind of immigration status in the United States. If you have “refugee status,” it means that the U.S. government has decided that you meet the definition of a refugee under U.S. law. According to the law, a refugee is someone who: 

• Is outside their country
• Is unwilling or unable to return to their country because they have been badly harmed or are afraid they could be badly harmed because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
• Meets a number of other specific legal requirements

U.S. refugee status is not the same as UNHCR refugee status.

It’s important to remember that we are talking about refugee status in the United States. Some people also receive something called “refugee status” from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), or from another country’s government. The information in this article only applies to people who have refugee status that was approved by the U.S. government. For more information on what it means to be declared a refugee by UNHCR, visit our UNHCR resources. 

Refugee status is different from asylum and parole.

People who apply for immigration status from inside the United States because they are afraid to return to their home countries may be granted asylum. These people are called “asylees” in the U.S. immigration system. This is different from refugee status.

Some people enter the United States through something called “parole.” Parole is also not the same as refugee status. Parole is permission to enter and stay in the United States for a temporary period of time. 

How do I know if I have refugee status? 

You have “refugee status” if a U.S. government official decided that you meet the legal definition of a “refugee” while you were outside the United States, and you arrived in the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). USRAP is also known as the “refugee resettlement” program. You may also have refugee status if you were the spouse or child of someone who was granted refugee status, and you received the same status through that person.

What documents can I use to prove that I have refugee status?

There are multiple documents that can be used to show that a person has refugee status. For example:

• Transportation boarding letter. Refugees generally arrive in the United States with a document called a “transportation boarding letter.” If you are the “principal applicant” in a refugee case, or you arrived at the same time as the principal applicant, you likely have received this document. It will have your photo, name, and other personal information.

• V93 boarding foil. If you are the “follow-to-join” spouse or child of a refugee who arrived in the U.S. before you, you will likely have a “boarding foil” attached to a passport page that states your status as a refugee.

• Employment Authorization Document (EAD). If you have a work permit, the code listed under “category” on your card will likely say “(a)(3),” which means that you have refugee status.

• I-94. Most people that arrive in the U.S. receive a form called an “I-94,” which is called an “Arrival/Departure Record.” This form is your proof of legal entry into the country. Most refugees do not receive a paper copy of this form, but you can usually locate your I-94 on the CBP website. If you have refugee status, your “Class of Admission” on your I-94 will have the code “RE” and possibly a number, such as “RE1.” 

If you have difficulty finding your electronic I-94, it may be due to an administrative mistake or data entry problem. If you can not find any of the documentation listed here or have questions about what status you have or how to document your status, you can use the resources below to contact an immigration attorney.

What should I do if ICE questions my refugee status? 

If immigration authorities (ICE) come to your home, do not open the door unless they have a judicial warrant. A judicial warrant is a legal document issued by a court that is signed by a state or federal judge (not an immigration judge) and allows law enforcement officers to enter your home, make an arrest, or search your home. 

To enter your home, officers must show you a judicial warrant.  Below is an example of the required judicial warrant. If the officer says they have a warrant, ask the officer to slide the warrant under your door or hold it up to a window. If they cannot show you a judicial warrant, you should not open the door. Even if the officers have a judicial warrant, you have a right to remain silent, to not answer any questions, and to call a lawyer.

Example of Judicial Warrant

Image credit: National Immigrant Justice Center

Officers might try to show you an “ICE warrant” or “administrative warrant,” which is signed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) officials. This warrant is not signed by a judge and does not allow them to enter your home without your consent. 

Example of Administrative Warrant - this warrant is not signed by a judge and does not give permission for officers to enter your home without your consent:

Image credit: National Immigrant Justice Center

Image credit: National Immigrant Justice Center

If ICE officers approach you in public and question your status, you may provide the above proof of your refugee status. If you are over the age of 18, you should carry these documents with you at all times:

• I-94 (Arrival/Departure record)
• Transportation Boarding Letter (or boarding foil) 
• Employment Authorization Document, or “work permit” card
• If you have applied for your green card, evidence of your pending green card application (such as your I-797C “Receipt Notice”)

Remember that it is often better to carry copies of important documents rather than originals, because they could be lost or stolen. Even if you are stopped, you have the right to not answer questions about your immigration status without an attorney present or to refuse being searched.

If immigration authorities question your status, remain calm and remember that you have legal permission to be in the United States, and this permission does not expire.

If you have an immigration attorney, you should keep their contact information with you. 

If you are concerned about encounters with immigration officials, consider downloading the ReadyNow! application on your phone. This app was created by immigration advocates, and it allows you to make emergency plans and set up an alert system that will notify pre-selected people in case you are detained by ICE.

If you are a refugee with disabilities you can find additional resources about your rights when interacting with ICE here. 

You may also want to read the following resources, which are available in multiple languages and can help you feel more prepared if you run into immigration authorities:

• Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE | National Immigrant Justice Center 
• Know Your Rights: What to Do if You Are Arrested or Detained by Immigration | National Immigration Law Center
• Know Your Rights, Legal Resource app | National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
• Know Your Rights: What to Do in Interactions with Law Enforcement | CLEAR 
• Know Your Rights: Immigrants’ Rights | ACLU

How long does refugee status last? 

Refugee status does not expire. You also do not need to apply to “renew” your refugee status. The only way the government can “terminate” your refugee status is if the government decides  that you were not actually a refugee (as defined by the law) when you arrived in the United States.

Can I be deported if I have refugee status?

Although refugee status is a form of “permanent” lawful status in the United States, there are certain reasons a refugee could still be deported after being placed in “removal proceedings.” Removal proceedings are another name for the deportation process, which involve hearings (formal sessions) in front of an immigration judge who decides if you can stay in the United States.

For example, you could be put in removal proceedings if you are convicted of certain crimes, or if the government has accused you of using fake documents. If you are a refugee who has been charged or convicted of a crime, you should contact a qualified immigration attorney for advice.

What are the benefits of having refugee status?

It is important to remember that people who were granted refugee status are in the United States legally. 

Public benefits

Public benefits are government funded assistance programs that help eligible people and families. If you are a refugee, you have access to certain public benefits for essential services, including healthcare and education. You may also have access to benefits related to food and housing, depending on where you live in the United States. Most public benefits are income-based, which means that your eligibility depends on your income, or financial situation, and family size.

A law that was passed in July 2025 has changed some of the benefits available to refugees. You can learn more about public benefits here. 

Permanent residence and citizenship

Refugees can eventually apply for lawful permanent residence (also known as getting your “green card”) and later citizenship.

Employment

Refugees can lawfully work in the United States. This permission is automatic for people with refugee status, and it does not expire. You do not need to have a work permit (officially called an “employment authorization document,” or EAD) in order to work. However, it may be easier for you to prove to employers that you are allowed to work if you do have a valid EAD.

If you are in the United States as a refugee, you should have received your EAD within a few months of your arrival. If you never received your EAD, you can apply for a replacement.

What is a green card, and when should I apply for one? 

A “green card” is another term for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, or having the right to live in the United States permanently. U.S. law requires that refugees apply for permanent residence once they have been “physically present” in the U.S. for one year, starting from the day they arrived as refugees.

If you traveled outside of the U.S. since you arrived with refugee status, it will take longer to meet the one-year requirement.

We recommend applying for lawful permanent resident near the end of your one year of being “physically present” in the United States. It is very important that you apply before you reach the one-year point. If you have already been in the United States for over one year, you should submit your application as soon as possible. 

For more information on applying for a refugee green card, see here.

The U.S. government issued a policy in 2026 saying that they would arrest and detain refugees who have been here for a year and have not yet submitted their green card applications, as well as refugees who have not attended interviews for their green card applications. Even refugees who have already submitted their green card applications but have not received their green cards were at risk of detention under this policy. IRAP has challenged this policy in a court case, and the court has ordered that the government cannot detain refugees under this policy while the case is being decided. 

We will update this page if anything changes, but as of June 5, 2026, refugees cannot be arrested or detained under this policy. For more information about this court case, see here. 

Can I travel outside the United States?

Refugees can travel abroad, but you will need a Refugee Travel Document (“RTD”) before you leave. While you can apply for a RTD while outside the United States, it is not recommended, because it may not be possible for you to complete all steps of the process from another country, and you risk getting stuck outside the United States permanently.

To apply for a RTD you must submit a Form I-131, along with the necessary evidence, to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). If approved, RTDs will usually last for up to one year. For more information on RTDs and international travel as a refugee please see IRAP’s article here.

Keep in mind that if you were the principal applicant on your refugee case and you travel back to the country you received refuge from, you might lose your refugee status. Even if you have a green card, if you were admitted as a refugee, traveling back to your home country could impact your status. Remember that in order to be granted refugee status, you had to show that you were fleeing danger in your home country. If you return to your home country now, it could give the government reason to believe that you did not qualify for refugee status in the first place. This could cause problems for you later when trying to return to the United States or apply for future immigration benefits. 

I arrived in the United States as a refugee without my spouse or children. Can they join me now?

If your spouse and unmarried children under 21 were not able to travel to the United States with you, you can apply for them to join you within two years of your arrival. See IRAP’s article on this topic here. 

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