South Africa's Resource for Resettlement in America
Access to the USRAP is free, and Amerikaners does not charge applicants for services. Beware of any scams or potential exploitation. No one should pay any fees or favors to gain access to the program. Report fraud here.Â
May 14 2025 | SA Parliament
UPDATED 4 NOV
May 12 2025 | US Mission SA
May 12 2025 | US Mission SA
May 12 2025 | US Mission SA
UPDATED 24 JULY
Mar 24 2025 | US Mission SA
Feb 10 2025 | US Mission SA
Feb 8 2025 | DIRCO South African Government
Feb 7 2025 | Executive Order by The White House
To be eligible for U.S. resettlement consideration, individuals must meet all of the following criteria:Â
Yes. The only criteria for eligibility is as stated by the US State Department above. All South Africans who are eligible per that criteria, qualify regardless of age, health, disability, financial standing, occupation etc.
This is not known yet. We will update this as information becomes available. Check back regularly.
Yes, you can. If you have not “firmly resettled,” i.e. gained residency, citizenship or been offered asylum, you will still be at risk because of having to return to South Africa.
The key word here is “prove.” You will need to be able to articulate past OR future persecution to qualify. To do this, write your experiences and fears down so you have clarity of mind to describe these when interviewed.
You will likely be inadmissible if you have been found guilty of serious crimes. There are circumstances in which certain crimes related to political persecution may be assessed and excused.Â
No you don’t. The refugee program is completely free and you should not pay for any service relating to it.
Yes, under the refugee program, you can petition within the first 2 years to bring over your immediate family.
Yes, your credit standing does not apply in this process. You will start afresh in America with a zero credit score and have to build that up from scratch.
No, you don’t. The refugee program includes limited financial support for families arriving in America that will see you through to gaining employment.
No, mostly likely not as you will have to apply separately. Whereas the USRAP officials will try to accommodate families travelling together, there is no guarantee that this will work out in your favour, but you can reunite in America.
Yes, you do, if the father’s name is on the Birth Certificate. In this case, you will have to attend Home Affairs together to apply for a passport for the child. Furthermore, you will need an Affidavit where the remaining parent gives permission for the child to leave the country permanently with the travelling parent.Â
Go to the top of this website and follow all 3 steps to ensure you complete the process properly.
No. Other than the screen telling you the application was a success, you will not receive an email thereafter with any confirmation.
We don’t know how the list is being prioritized.
We understand that these will be held in Pretoria.
All your documents, contact data for your family and information about the past 5 years, like addresses, cell numbers, email addresses, social media accounts etc.
Children cannot travel without this document.
Adults will only need their unabridged birth certificates after a year in the US, so they can travel without these at first.
You will need to prove prior vaccinations for all applicants to avoid the question from doctors in the medical screening process.
If you cannot prove prior vaccinations, you can either agree to be vaccinated at that time, but you do have the legal right to decline.
Yes, they can. This is a very expensive process using commercial transporters, i.e. R35 000 per pet. We are working with others to find a sponsored option and will advise our community as soon as this comes to fruition.
Yes, you can take R25 000 in cash without reporting it. Anything above that requires SARS approval.
Yes. We have secured the best options for our community. You can get quotes for this on our website under PACKING UP IN SA / Shipping Goods.
As we are not registered financial advisors, we have laid out the basic legal requirements and refer you to your broker or a financial emigration specialist on the PACKING UP IN SA / Financial Emigration for this purpose.
Yes, we have secured a special bundle from top real estate professionals for our community. See the PACKING UP IN SA / Selling Property section on our website.
Once approved, you will be offered a flight out within a week or two. There are many factors here that may make this difficult, but you should prepare for the pressure.
Yes, the flights will be covered by the US Government, but, you will be required to repay this money monthly after 6 months in the US, once you are settled.
The USRAP officials will issue your tickets.
Yes and No. Should you require financial assistance and housing, the US will direct you to places where they have the infrastructure for this. But, once you are on your feet you can go anywhere you like.Â
Should you have ample resources to settle without assistance, you will be free to go soon after you arrive in the US.
It is at least 48 hours, not including connecting flights and airport stops. Be prepared with neck cushions and entertainment.
For your phone and laptop chargers it would be essential to have US adaptors for charging. Avoid bringing unnecessary appliances since they will not work in the US.Â
Pack for settling in and for work. You may not have the time or money to buy what you need in America, so imagine your first 3 months being mostly home and work.
Yes, this is encouraged. Â
Yes, once arriving in America, you will then fly to your destination on a different flight. If this is booked carefully, you will fly direct, otherwise you will have to stay in a hotel overnight. The USRAP will arrange transport and accommodation if you have to stay over.
Yes, the USRAP authorities will send nominated personnel to meet you on arrival. They will help you with basic orientation and get you settled.
Whereas you can buy one at a vending machine in the airport, it is advisable to buy one in town as it is far less expensive. This will give you your US phone number, since your South African cell number will no longer be operative.
This can be done online the moment you have your new sim card installed.
You will either be placed in a hotel / motel / AirBNB or apartment. This will have basic furnishing and basic foodstuffs. You will likely be issued with a little cash too.
This will vary for each family. Most likely you will live in a hotel or an apartment, allowing you time to organize paperwork, schools and work.
Your case worker will assist in placing your children in a school nearby where there are buses available to transport them.
You can either just jump right in and search for work online, or you can access assistance from your case worker with how to find work, drafting a resume etc.
You will likely receive cash, food stamps, medical coverage, housing etc. to keep you above water until you start earning.
Yes, but it is not clear exactly how that assistance works.
Absolutely you can. As a refugee you have total freedom to move around the country. It is only the sponsored services like housing etc. that are not transferable that may hold you back.
This can be done online, by mail and in person. Your case worker will assist with this.
You will need to apply for an EAD in order to work and this should be available for you within 2-4 weeks after arrival.
Yes, you can, and then relocate to where the work is. Be aware, though, that you may forego sponsored accommodation if you depart the city centers where support is offered.
Yes, most likely for a short period of time, but this is State dependent. After that, you will need to take a drivers test for a US license. Apparently this is much easier to get in America than in South Africa.
Many qualifications will be. There is a process called “equivalency” that can be done online to verify whether your South African qualification is up to the US standards and technical specs, or whether you should undergo any special course or examination to make it US-ready.
Yes, most certainly. The process is very much like South Africa, just with naming differences. You are encouraged to either work or start a business on arrival and will be supported in both.
A green card means Permanent Residency. This application can only be made after 12 months in the country.
There will be forms to fill and personal documentation required. This is dealt with on the website.
No, you can’t. Since South Africa is the country you left because of persecution, you cannot then just travel back freely. This will bring into question whether you were being truthful about persecution in the first place.
Yes, but you will need to arrange travel documents that are unique to refugees.
After you acquire Permanent Residency status, it will take a further 5 years to become naturalized. At that time, you can apply to become a citizen and then vote in American elections.
