Common Questions and Answers (FAQ)

The Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) provides new populations with the opportunity to achieve their full potential in the United States. Their programs provide people in need with critical resources to assist them in resettling into their new homes. Refugees, Asylees, Cuban and Haitian Entrants, Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIV), Amerasians, Victims of Trafficking, Survivors of Torture, and Unaccompanied Immigrant Children are all eligible for certain services through the US Office of Refugee Resettlement ORR and its New Jersey partners.

 

New Jersey has a very diverse population, and the refugee and ORR populations are equally diverse. Over 700 Afghans have come to New Jersey through Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), and many other refugees through the refugee resettlement program have arrived from the Middle East, Central America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. New Jersey also welcomes Ukrainians, Cuban and Haitian parolees, as well as asylees from all over the globe.

New Jersey has a very diverse population, and the refugee and ORR populations are equally diverse. Over 700 Afghans have come to New Jersey through Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), and many other refugees through the refugee resettlement program have arrived from the Middle East, Central America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. New Jersey is starting to welcome those fleeing Ukraine and others from Eastern Europe and stands ready to welcome many more. Many Cubans and Haitians have entered with the Cuban/Haitian Entrant status and continue to do so. Asylees and victims of trafficking can come from anywhere around the world.

A refugee is any person who is outside his or her country of nationality or habitual residence, and is unable or unwilling to return to or seek protection of that country due to a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Individuals granted refugee status overseas by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security are brought to the United States for resettlement by the U.S. Department of State.  ORR, local resettlement agencies, and volunteers assist with refugees’ resettlement and integration into the U.S. Refugees are eligible to receive ORR benefits and services from the first day they arrive in the U.S.

To learn more about the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, please visit our page on Reception and Placement.

Asylees are individuals who, on their own, travel to the United States and subsequently apply for and receive a grant of asylum. Asylees do not enter the United States as refugees. They may enter as students, tourists, or even without an immigration status. Once in the U.S., or at a land border or port of entry, they apply to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for asylum. To qualify for a grant of asylum, the person must meet the legal definition of a refugee. Asylum status permits the person to remain in the United States and later apply for Legal Permanent Residency (LPR). Individuals granted asylum are eligible for ORR assistance and services. (Note: persons who have a pending application for asylum but who have not been granted asylum are not eligible for ORR assistance and services. The only exception is for certain Cubans and Haitians.)

If you have been granted asylum and are in New Jersey, you may be eligible for Refugee Support Services (RSS) or other services for asylees. Please reach out to the Resettlement Agencies near you to find out more.

Other Refugee support agencies:

Cubans and Haitians who have a current or expired parole, who are in pending removal proceedings, or who have a pending application for asylum are Cuban/Haitian Entrants and thus are eligible for ORR benefits and services, same as a refugee. For the legal definition and more information please visit the US ORR website: Who We Serve - Cuban/Haitian entrants

Visit our page on Cuban and Haitian Entrants for more information.

For their service to the U.S. government in Iraq and Afghanistan, certain Iraqis and Afghans are granted Special Immigrant (SIV) status overseas by the U.S. Department of State and are admitted to the U.S. by the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of State, in conjunction with the Refugee Resettlement agencies and ORR, assist with the resettlement and integration of SIVs into the U.S. An SIV is eligible for the same ORR benefits and services and for the same time period as a refugee, from the first day the SIV arrives in the U.S. For more information: Who We Serve – Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Holders from Iraq and Afghanistan

What kinds of services are eligible populations able to apply for?
Social services, such as NJ FamilyCare, NJ-SNAP and TANF, as well as ORR specific services such as Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), English Language Learners classes (ELL), employment support, case management services, and other services as provided by the refugee support agencies and the community.

For more information, please visit our page on Refugee Health and Benefits.

I have humanitarian parole status and am from Afghanistan or Ukraine. Can I seek assistance?
You may be eligible to receive ORR benefits and services. Please reach out to the State Refugee Coordinator or the refugee resettlement agencies to learn more.

For more information, please visit our page on Afghan evacuees and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees.

Mainstream social services, such as NJ FamilyCare, NJ-SNAP and TANF, as well as ORR specific services such as Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), English Language Learners classes (ELL), employment support, case management services, and other services as provided by the voluntary agencies in NJ [internal hyperlink: Resettlement Agencies in NJ (tile)]

You may be eligible to receive ORR benefits and services. Please reach out to the State Refugee Coordinator or our partner agencies to learn more. For Afghan Assistance Resources: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/programs/refugees/afghan-assistance-resources For Ukrainian assistance, consult Uniting for Ukraine: https://www.dhs.gov/ukraine and https://ukraine.welcome.us/faq

Connect to any of these agencies below and ask how you can help. Refugee resettlement is truly a community effort. Local agencies are always looking for volunteers who can assist with rides, translation, services coordination and more. The list below is a list of all New Jersey agencies working on refugee resettlement and their contact.

Refugees contribute to New Jersey’s workforce and bring a wealth of talent and skills. Connect with the local resettlement agencies if you have employment opportunities.

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