This article was last updated on October 13, 2026

Summary

Some people who were resettled to the United States as refugees are receiving a letter in the mail from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) called a “Notice of Intent to Terminate Refugee Status” (“NOIT”). This article explains what a NOIT is, why it is important to respond right away, and what steps you can take if you receive such a letter. For more information on the U.S. government’s current “refugee revetting” policies, including information on why people are receiving these letters, please see here.

What is a “Notice of Intent to Terminate” refugee status (NOIT)?

A “Notice of Intent to Terminate Refugee Status” (NOIT) is a letter from USCIS that says they want to take away your refugee status because they believe you did not meet the legal definition of a “refugee” when you arrived in the United States. It usually includes a detailed explanation of why USCIS believes they can take away your refugee status. This explanation may refer to things you said in your original refugee interview before you were approved to come to the United States. It may also include information from your past or ongoing immigration applications, your posts on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and more.

The letter also includes information on how you can respond if you do not want USCIS to take away your refugee status. There is a strict deadline for when you can submit a response. As of October 13, 2026, you will only have ten (10) days to respond to a NOIT. If you do not respond by the deadline, USCIS will terminate your refugee status.

The NOIT will generally be mailed to your last known address to USCIS. It is possible that some NOIT letters may be mailed to your resettlement agency or the legal office that submitted your green card application, but this is not guaranteed. 

I received a NOIT. What should I do next?

If you receive a NOIT, it is very important that you understand the reasons why you were issued a NOIT and decide how you want to respond. Whatever you decide to do next, you must reply to USCIS by the NOIT deadline.

Ask for help right away

The NOIT will be written in English. If you cannot read English fluently, you should ask someone you trust for help understanding the notice.

We also strongly recommend that you ask for advice from a qualified immigration lawyer as soon as possible. If you already have an immigration lawyer, you should share the notice with your lawyer right away. If you do not already have an immigration lawyer, you should reach out to your contacts at your resettlement agency to ask for their support. They may be able to help connect you with trustworthy resources.

You can ask IRAP for help by using our chatbot, but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to respond to you in time to provide any assistance.

Understand why USCIS wants to take away your refugee status

The NOIT will explain that USCIS wants to take away your refugee status because they do not believe you met the legal definition of a “refugee” when you arrived in the United States. As a reminder, under U.S. law, a refugee is someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of nationality because of serious harm in the past or a good reason to believe they will be harmed in the future based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or something else they cannot change or should not have to change. This definition does not include anyone who participated in seriously harming others based on any of those same characteristics.

In your NOIT, USCIS will tell you why they do not think you met this definition when you arrived in the United States. Their explanation may be confusing. It may not even seem related to the refugee definition described above. But it is still important to understand their explanation so that you can respond appropriately.

For example, they may tell you that you said things in your original refugee interview that do not match up with new information they have about you. This may include information about your marital status and family composition, your travel history, your military training, or your opinions of certain political groups or movements. Even if the topic has nothing to do with your refugee claim, USCIS may say the differences mean you were not “credible” during your original interview, and therefore they cannot believe your original testimony about why you were a refugee.

Gather evidence and prepare your arguments

You can respond to the NOIT by requesting an interview or submitting a detailed written response. No matter how you choose to respond, you will need to gather additional evidence and prepare your explanation for why USCIS is wrong. In doing so, you should keep in mind the following reminders.

• Be truthful: It is important to be truthful, and to correct any previous errors or omissions with an explanation about why there was an error or omission.  Remember that anything you submit now or any new interviews will become part of your future immigration record.

• Try to remember your case: USCIS has access to all your case records, including documents from other agencies that were involved in your U.S refugee processing. The NOIT may refer to these records specifically, including notes from your past interviews. It may have been several years since you attended these interviews. If you are unsure of what you said exactly, or you do not remember certain details, you will need to explain why you cannot recall the information.

• Find additional documents: You may find it helpful to gather additional documents to support what you are saying. Any documents you plan to submit must be in English or include a certified English translation. If you are mailing documents with your written response, do not send originals – only send copies.

Respond to the NOIT in writing by mail

USCIS will allow you to request an interview or submit a detailed written response to explain why you think they are wrong. Regardless of which option you choose, you must mail your response to the address on the NOIT. 

There is no option to respond by email or online submission, and you cannot deliver your response to your local USCIS office. 

In your written response, you can do any of the following:

Request an interview

You are allowed to request a new interview with USCIS to address the issues raised in the NOIT. Since you only have ten days to respond to the NOIT, in many situations it may be best to send a simple response requesting an interview rather than rushing to put together a detailed response before you have time to gather all your evidence and facts.

Explain in writing why your refugee status should not be terminated 

If you do not want to request an interview, you can respond to the NOIT with a detailed written explanation about why your refugee status should not be terminated. However, you should keep in mind that you may only have a few days to prepare this written explanation, and that may not be enough time for you to put together a careful response that addresses all the issues raised in the NOIT without causing additional problems for you later on.

Ask for more time to prepare your response and find a lawyer

As part of your written response, you can tell USCIS you need more time to gather evidence and find a lawyer to help you. However, USCIS is unlikely to agree to this request, so it is important that this is not the only thing you say in response to the NOIT. You should still ask for an interview or provide a detailed written response. 

For a very simple template response that you can fill out for yourself if you only want to request an interview, see here. You can also find a ready-to-print version of the template here. 

Respond by the deadline

It is extremely important that you mail your response before the deadline. 

Most people receive their NOITs by mail. If you received your NOIT by mail, your deadline is 13 days from the notice date. To calculate your specific deadline, look for the date at the top of the NOIT. From that date, count 13 days, including weekends and holidays. If the thirteenth day falls on a weekend or holiday, your deadline is the next business day.

USCIS must receive your response on or before the deadline; otherwise, it will not be accepted.  Try not to wait until the very end of the response period to mail your response. Remember that mail can sometimes be unexpectedly delayed, even when you pay for overnight delivery. We strongly recommend choosing a mail service that will confirm receipt so you have proof of delivery by the deadline.

What happens after I respond to my NOIT?

After you respond to your NOIT in writing, it is very important to check your mail daily to ensure you do not miss any responses from USCIS. Even if you have an immigration lawyer helping you with your case, USCIS may send these additional notices only to you. These additional notices may includes any of the following:

• An appointment notice for an in-person interview
• A “final termination” notice informing you that USCIS has made a final decision to take away your refugee status
• A notice informing you that your green card application has been approved (this generally means that they are no longer trying to take away your refugee status)
• Other notices related to your case.

It is hard to predict how quickly USCIS will contact you again. In some cases, people have waited months without hearing any updates at all. In others, people have received additional notices after just a few weeks.

What should I do if I receive an interview appointment? 

The interview date may be scheduled with only a few days of notice, so you should act quickly to prepare for the interview. If possible, you should find a qualified legal representative to attend the interview with you and/or help you prepare.

The interview may be similar to the U.S refugee interviews you had before you entered the United States, or it may be much more narrowly focused. You may be asked about your current life in the United States, past or ongoing immigration applications, or new information that the U.S government has obtained about you. The interview may take several hours.

IRAP has some general “refugee revetting” interview guidance here. Keep in mind that USCIS may want to focus only on the issues raised in your NOIT. It is very important to have a plan for how you will explain why USCIS is wrong about these issues. You should also plan to bring any additional documents or evidence that address those issues to the interview.

If you or your attorney previously filed a “FOIA request” for a copy of your refugee case file, you should review the file closely to understand what your records already say about you and your case. This will also likely be very helpful as you prepare for your interview.

I received a final termination notice. What does this mean?

Some refugees who have received a Notice of Intent to Terminate Refugee Status (NOIT) are later getting another letter that says it is a final termination notice. If you receive this letter, it will explain that USCIS has made a final decision to take away your refugee status. The letter  will say that you are no longer considered a refugee. 

If you receive a final termination notice, it means you do not have lawful status to be in the United States anymore, and you are no longer authorized to work. A spouse or children who entered the United States as part of your case will also immediately lose their refugee status and right to work.

Around the same time that you receive your final termination notice, you will likely also receive a document called a “Notice to Appear.” This notice will explain that the government wants to deport you through immigration court proceedings. The notice will give a date, time, and place for your first court date. This is usually close to the bottom of the page. If there is a court date listed, it is very important that you go to court on that day and time.

If you receive a final termination notice and/or a Notice to Appear in immigration court, you should consult with a qualified immigration attorney if possible. You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists.

Additional information and resources

If you are a refugee who wants individual advice related to a NOIT, you should contact a qualified immigration lawyer. 

• You can reach out to IRAP for help by using our chatbot. 
• You can find a list of free or low-cost attorneys here and a list of private attorneys here. Note: IRAP cannot guarantee the quality of services provided by attorneys on these lists.