FAQ - Administrative Process

Can Amerikaners Process my Referral?

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. Note that Amerikaners does not make determinations on refugee cases. Only U.S. 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.

See the US Embassy website HERE for more information on our role and other official USRAP partners.

Will applying to the Refugee Process cost me Money?

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 of charge, 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

I am between 18 and 21 years old. What are my options for Applying for Refugee Status?

Firstly, if you’re 18 years and older, you do not need an unabridged birth certificate to travel. All minors under 18 will need this to travel.

Young people aged between 18 and 21 have two options to apply for the program:

On your parents’ application. If you’re unmarried and between 18 and 21 years old, you can be added to your parents’ application.
If you are over 20 years and 6 months old, you will be required to do a separate request as well, for reasons of timing in the process.
If you’re 18 years and older, you can apply for the program on your own. You will be the Primary Applicant on your application.

How do I request consideration for referral to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)?

Step 1. Make Sure You’re Eligible:

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.

Step 2. Prepare Travel and Other Documentation:

Passports for the entire family
Unabridged birth certificates for children younger than 18
Marriage certificates (women) for each individual name change
Divorce certificates
Affidavit / Adoption Order / Court Order / Death Certificate of other parent for children travelling with only one parent or legal guardian
Other documents as appropriate to your case

Step 3. Complete the USRAP Intake Questionnaire:

If you are interested in referral to the USRAP and possible resettlement to the United States, you must complete the USRAP Intake Questionnaire at this link or at the link now published on the U.S. Mission to South Africa website.

You will find thorough instructions on completing the USRAP Intake Questionnaire when you click the link to access it and as you navigate through the questionnaire itself.

Step 4. Referral and Hand-Over

Once you have completed the intake questionnaire, it will be reviewed by a USRAP referral partner, who may contact you for additional information. If no additional information is needed based on the information you include in your questionnaire, a USRAP referral partner may directly refer you to the USRAP, and your next contact will come from RSC Africa.

NOTE that you will not be contacted immediately. All applicants are placed in a queue to ensure smooth and efficient processing. We appreciate your patience during this time.

Step 5. Remain Patient

Amerikaners cannot track your referral after Step 4 above. There are several more stages involved in the process to be considered for refugee status by U.S. Customs and Immigration Service and resettlement in the United States. Those stages are conducted by RSC Africa, USCIS, and the U.S. Department of State and include security screening, additional data collection, interviews, medical screening, cultural orientation, and travel bookings. Each case is unique, and timelines vary, but being ready to travel and responsive to requests for information, documents, and appointments will assist in speeding up your processing.

What will I need to gather for my Formal Interviews with RSC Africa and USCIS?

You must bring all required documents. You will also need detailed contact information for your family, as well as records from the past five years, including but not only:

Previous home addresses
Cellphone numbers
Email addresses
Social media accounts

You will be provided a list of documents and information to submit at various stages of your processing and to prepare before your interview.

What if I can’t get an Unabridged Birth Certificate?

Children cannot leave South Africa without an unabridged birth certificate. This is a legal requirement for minors when exiting the country.