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U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Information

Amerikaners is an official referring partner for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)

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.

If you believe you may be eligible and are interested in being considered for resettlement in the United States through the USRAP, complete your details here to join the Amerikaners list:

Email(Required)
Previous Contact by Officials(Required)

For more information on the Administrative Process, Read Here. 

More about the U.S. Refugee
Admissions Program, including the role of Amerikaners

NOTE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE REGARDING USRAP PARTNERS, TRAVEL BOOKINGS, AND PETS, AND CONCERNS REGARDING POTENTIAL FRAUD OR SCAMS.

Admissions for Afrikaners under E.O. 14204 “Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa”:
Consistent with President Trump’s Executive Order on Addressing Egregious Actions of the Republic of South Africa, the Department of State is coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security to consider eligibility for U.S. refugee resettlement for people who are of Afrikaner ethnicity or a member of a racial minority in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination.

Functions supporting this effort are being performed by partners of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program: RSC Africa, which is operated by Church World Service (CWS), and Amerikaners. Neither RSC Africa/CWS nor Amerikaners has any connection to the South African government. Access to the USRAP is free, including completion of the Statement of Interest form. USRAP referral partners do not charge fees to applicants for their referral services. RSC Africa/CWS and Amerikaners will be communicating with applicants and responding to applicant inquiries at various stages of the process.

RSC Africa/CWS and Amerikaners are involved in the following elements of the process in South Africa:

Amerikaners:

  • Serves as a designated Department of State referral partner
  • Gathers information from potential applicants to assess whether the case is eligible for referral to the USRAP
  • Refers cases to the Department of State for USRAP access


RSC Africa, operated by CWS:

  • Serves as a designated Department of State referral partner
  • Gathers information from potential applicants to assess whether the case is eligible for referral to the USRAP
  • Refers cases to the Department of State for USRAP access
  • Conducts pre-screen interviews with applicants, gathering information and documentation to prepare case for USCIS eligibility interview
  • Requests background checks
  • Schedules USCIS interviews
  • Arranges for medical exams
  • Books travel to the United States


Note that Amerikaners is separate from and not affiliated with the organization Amerikaner Friends, LLC.

RSC Africa/CWS and Amerikaners do not make final determinations on refugee cases. Only Department of Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS) has the authority to adjudicate cases and decide whether an individual qualifies for admission to the United States as a refugee. DHS/USCIS continues to conduct resettlement interviews on a regular basis in South Africa.

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.


Individuals who meet all the above criteria and would like to be considered for referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) should either list their contact details with Amerikaners above or complete the Statement of Interest form on the U.S. Mission to South Africa website, but not both.

If you have already submitted a Statement of Interest form via the U.S. Mission to South Africa website, there is no need to re-submit. Department of State’s referral partners will work through the sizeable volume of submissions, contacting applicants to gather information for assessment by the U.S. government. Given the volume of interest, individuals may not receive a response for an extended period.

Not all individuals who are contacted by a referral partner will be referred to the USRAP. The U.S. government considers a variety of factors when making USRAP access decisions, including eligibility criteria, persecution claim, and background check results. The authority to grant access to the USRAP (via approval of referral) rests with the U.S. government and is not a function of USRAP implementing partners RSC Africa/CWS and Amerikaners.

Important Notice Regarding Fraud and Scams 

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

Important Notice Regarding Travel Arrangements

The U.S. government USRAP has only one official implementing partner for arranging and booking travel for refugees from South Africa to the United States: RSC Africa operated by Church World Service (CWS).

Pursuant to U.S. policy, travel from South Africa to the United States under the USRAP must be facilitated through RSC Africa, operated by Church World Service. No other entities or organizations are authorized to arrange or book travel for individuals traveling from South Africa to the United States through the USRAP. Travel arranged by any other entity is not supported by the USRAP and will also endanger your ability to enter the United States under the USRAP and benefit from reception and placement services once you arrive.

For more questions about your specific travel under the USRAP once you have been approved by USCIS, please reach out to RSC Africa directly.

Important Notice Regarding Pets

Neither the United States government nor its USRAP implementing partners assist in or fund the transportation of pets under the USRAP. The U.S. government, including Embassy Pretoria, is not working with any entity or group that will assist in travel with or for your pet. Refugees wishing to bring their pets to the United States should make arrangements for pet travel independently after they arrive in the United States. It is recommended to wait at least 90 days post-arrival before facilitating travel of pets, as initial housing provided by the USRAP may not allow pets, and there is no assistance provided for moving your pets within the United States under the USRAP.

Beware of anyone who claims they are coordinating with the U.S. government to assist you with moving your pets or who promises to help expedite review of your USRAP application. Please report fraud at: U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Tip Form.

Other useful information on resettlement via the USRAP:

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