Family of Refugees & Asylees

If you entered the United States as a refugee within the past 2 years or were granted asylee status within the past 2 years, you may petition for certain family members to obtain derivative refugee or asylee status.

You May Petition for the Following Family Members:

• Spouse 

• Child (unmarried and under 21 when you first applied for asylum or refugee status)

Eligibility Criteria

• As the petitioner, you must be a principal refugee or asylee. This means that you were granted refugee or asylee status directly and did not obtain it through a relative.
• You entered the United States as a refugee within the past 2 years or were granted asylum within the past 2 years.
• You remain in refugee or asylee status or have become a permanent resident (received a green card). If you have already become a U.S. citizen through naturalization, you cannot petition to obtain derivative refugee or asylee status for a relative. However you may still be able to help family immigrate to the United States.
• The family relationship had to exist before you came to the United States as a refugee or were granted asylum: 
• If you want to file for your spouse, you had to be married before you entered as a refugee or were granted asylum.
• Your child had to be conceived (this means the mother was already pregnant) or born before you entered as a refugee or were granted asylum.

Application Process

File Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.