FAQ - Elegibility

Who is Eligible for the Refugee Program?

To be eligible for U.S. resettlement consideration through this initiative, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:

Must be of South African nationality; and
Must be of Afrikaner ethnicity or be a member of a racial minority in South Africa; and
Must be able to articulate a past personal experience of persecution or fear of future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and
Must be at least 18 years old or are being referred with a parent, as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(2)); and
Must be living inside South Africa. This initiative does not anticipate any out-of-country processing of South African nationals.

Am I eligible if I am elderly or have a disability?

If you meet all the eligibility criteria listed above, you qualify. Your age, health, disability, financial situation, or job does not affect your eligibility.

Do I qualify if I work outside South Africa on a work visa?

No. PRM does not anticipate any out-of-country processing of South African nationals.

Can I apply if I live in another country?

No. PRM does not anticipate any out-of-country processing of South African nationals.

Do I need to prove past persecution?

You must be able to explain your experience of past persecution or your fear of future persecution. Write down your story clearly. This will help you explain it during your interview.
Your persecution claim needs to explain how you were affected on a personal level.

What if I have a criminal record?

You must be honest and provide complete information about your criminal history during your interview. U.S. officials will assess each case individually. The decision will be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the nature and details of the offence.

Do I need money to qualify?

Access to the USRAP is free, including completion of the Request for Referral or Statement of Interest form. USRAP referral partners (Amerikaners and RSC Africa/CWS) do not charge fees to applicants for their referral services. Using a translator or preparer is not necessary as these services will be provided by the USRAP. It is not necessary to have documents verified. Beware of individuals or organizations purporting to be either partners of the USRAP or offering to expedite portions of the refugee resettlement process. Remember that Amerikaners and RSC Africa, operated by CWS, are the only official USRAP partners in South Africa. The USRAP application and processing is free, and there is no one who can help expedite your application for a fee. No one should pay any fees or favors to unauthorized individuals claiming to be able to assist or expedite resettlement to the United States or to gain access to the program. Do not share your personal information or your identity documents with anyone you do not trust. Please report fraud at: U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Tip Form

Can I travel with my unmarried partner or close family?

You can add the details of your unmarried partner, adult children (aged 20 years and six months, or older), elderly parents, and other family members to be included in your travel group when completing the Amerikaners Referral Request.
MAKE SURE that all the persons you’re adding to your Referral Request above have all their documentation on hand and are ready to travel.
REMEMBER: if anyone in your group is unprepared to travel or does not have their documents ready or has a medical issue that may delay travel, it will slow down your whole group. You will be able to meet up with family in the United States later, should you travel separately. Consider this before choosing to link your case to an extended group.

Do I need permission if I am a single parent travelling with my child?

The father or mother who is taking the child out of South Africa needs permission from the non-travelling parent, if both parents’ names are on the unabridged birth certificate.

It is advisable to obtain:

An Affidavit of Consent, where the non-travelling parent gives written permission for the child to leave South Africa permanently with the travelling parent.
A certified copy of the non-travelling parent’s ID document.