H1B Visa Lawyer Blog
USCIS has released a Fact Sheet on the Refugee Security Screening process. USCIS would like to show their commitment to protecting the American public and meeting our national security needs. This fact sheet provides an overview of refugee security screening and background checks.
The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is an interagency effort involving a number of governmental and non-governmental partners both overseas and in the United States. USCIS follows the standards developed by the USRAP and federal law. Refugee applicants are subject to the highest degree of security screening and background checks for any category of traveler to the United States. All refugee applicants and their family members included in the application must complete and clear biographic (events in a person’s life) and biometric (pictures and fingerprints) security checks, obtain a medical examination, as well as undergo an in-depth interview with an Officer of the USCIS.
For more detailed information about this subject please review the USCIS Web Page, “Fact Sheet: Refugee Security Screening“. There is also a White House Blog post, “Watch: Here’s What the Refugee Screening Process Looks Like“, which includes a video!
*Background:
A refugee is a person who has fled his or her country of origin because of past persecution or a fear of future persecution based upon race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. If the person is not in the United States, he or she may apply for inclusion in the U.S. refugee program. If the person is already in the United States, he or she may apply for the U.S. asylum program.
*Questions & Answers: Refugees
Source of Information:
USCIS.gov, 12/3/15, Web Page:
Fact Sheet: Refugee Security Screening
WhiteHouse.gov, 11/24/15, Blog Post by Jeh Johnson:
Watch: Here’s What the Refugee Screening Process Looks Like