Immigration

If you are in the U.S. in refugee status, you are required by law to apply for lawful permanent residence (a “green card”) one year after you enter the U.S. To get lawful permanent residence, all of the following must be true:

• You have not lost your refugee status;
• You have been physically inside the U.S. for at least one year after you came in as a refugee; and
• You are not barred from getting status by the “grounds of inadmissibility” or you ask USCIS to excuse (waive) any “inadmissibility” barriers you face​.¹

It is easy to file the wrong forms, incomplete forms, or put the wrong information in the forms, so you should work with a lawyer who can help you file. To find a lawyer, please go to the Finding a Lawyer page and select your state or our National Organizations - Immigration page.

¹ INA § 207(c)(3); 8 USC § 1157(c)(3); see also USCIS website’s Green Card for Refugees