Resettlement
All services provided by UNHCR and its partners are free of charge!
Resettlement is a process which results in a permanent third-country solution for refugees who are unable to integrate locally or return to their home country and have ongoing protection needs in the country where they are living.
Resettlement is a limited solution available to refugees who meet very specific requirements. The criteria are defined by the Resettlement Country, specific protection needs and vulnerabilities. UNHCR monitors individual cases of refugees on an ongoing basis and determines those eligible for Resettlement Consideration.
Resettlement is not a right and is not available to everyone granted refugee status. Places are limited and Resettlement Countries choose how many refugees to resettle.
Suspension of resettlement and Welcome Corps case processing and travel to the U.S. (click to see the details).
Suspension of resettlement and Welcome Corps case processing and travel to the U.S. (click to see the details).The new U.S. Administration has announced a suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). This suspension includes resettlement to the U.S. and the Welcome Corps private sponsorship program. The USRAP has been suspended on 27 January 2025, until further notice. No refugee travel will occur after midnight on 26 January 2025. The suspension also covers the processing of cases, meaning the U.S. will not conduct interviews or issue decisions while the suspension is in effect.
Please be careful of possible scams and fraudulent messages or offers. Actors may seek to take advantage of this situation. Always keep in mind:
- Anyone who claims to be able to help you with resettlement or the Welcome Corps in exchange for money or other favours may be a fraudster. Do not believe anyone who tells you they can help you depart Egypt more quickly or expedite your case. This is not true.
- Do not trust messages related to the status of your resettlement case, your Welcome Corps application, or your travel unless officially communicated by U.S. authorities, the RSC, or IOM.
- UNHCR will never ask you to pay for services under any circumstances.
- UNHCR does not charge money or any kind of fee at any stage of the resettlement process.
- If you have any doubt about the person contacting you, please contact UNHCR at [email protected].
I have a resettlement case with the U.S., how does this suspension effect my case?
- Resettlement to the U.S. has been suspended, and cases that have been submitted to the U.S. will face significant delays, potentially for the next four years.
- The suspension will impact resettlement (for those whose resettlement cases are already approved by the U.S.) and case processing (for those waiting for an interview with U.S. authorities or the RSC, or a decision by U.S. authorities about their resettlement case).
- U.S. authorities will review the suspension every 90 days. This means that—at a minimum—the suspension will last until the end of April 2025. UNHCR cannot predict what will happen after that.
- Stay informed about the status of your case through regular updates from UNHCR and the RSC.
- For additional information about your resettlement case, please contact UNHCR at [email protected]
- During this period UNHCR is not able to conduct resettlement interviews; however, UNHCR may contact you by phone to provide updates on your individual case status. Please ensure that you have provided UNHCR with your current telephone number.
- There is currently no indication that resettlement programs will be cancelled, however, there may be a long delay before refugees whose case was submitted to a resettlement country are interviewed by the authorities of that country. If you have already been interviewed by a resettlement country, a decision on your case may take longer than usual.
- There is a temporary hold on all departure arrangements for refugees to travel to countries which have offered to resettle them. It is not known how long resettlement departures will be postponed. If you have been accepted for resettlement, UNHCR or IOM will contact you as soon as it is possible to arrange your travel.
- All services provided by UNHCR and IOM are free of charge. If you are requested to pay money for travel or assistance, please notify UNHCR immediately.
It is not possible to request an appointment for resettlement. However, please note that since June 2020, UNHCR has been conducting resettlement interviews remotely via video/phone calls for refugees willing and able to undergo an interview in appropriate, safe and confidential conditions. Refugees can verify and confirm their remote interview appointments by contacting the Infoline.
As of 24 August 2020, UNHCR began receiving a limited number of refugees in its offices as follows:
- Refugees whose interview is conducted remotely are given an appointment and requested to visit the UNHCR office (Cairo 6th of October or Alexandria) for final verifications before their resettlement case can be completed.
- A limited number of resettlement interviews are being conducted in the office for refugees whose interview cannot be conducted remotely.
UNHCR will contact applicants individually to schedule resettlement and verification appointments.
All UNHCR services are free of charge.