How can I contact UNHCR?
You can email us at [email protected]. This mailbox is monitored by UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office in Panama. Please note that the TTOPO mailbox has been discontinued.
How can refugees access protection without a UNHCR office?
Refugees and asylum seekers may contact UNHCR’s partners for assistance and to report incidents to national authorities if victim of a crime. UNHCR partners in Trinidad and Tobago are La Casita Hispanic Cultural Center and the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR).
Will I still be protected from refoulement and detention?
Under international law, refugees should be protected from being sent back to a country where they may face danger (this is called refoulement) and from being detained just because they are seeking asylum. Countries that signed the 1951 Refugee Convention, including Trinidad and Tobago, are expected to respect these protections. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and its partners are working hard to make sure refugees in Trinidad and Tobago are treated fairly and that their rights are respected. We continue to speak with the government and support refugees in the country. In the event of detention or risk of refoulement you can contact UNHCR partner, CCHR for legal representation free of charge.
Who will advocate for asylum in Trinidad and Tobago?
UNHCR together with its partners in Trinidad and Tobago will continue advocating for a national asylum system and access to rights for refugees. UNHCR as a global organization through its regional and international offices will also continue this important work.
Will I be able to access legal assistance?
Refugees and asylum seekers may continue accessing services offered by UNHCR’s funded legal partner the Caribbean Centre for Human Rights (CCHR). Otherwise, you may wish to seek independent legal advice including through services available via state legal aid.
Will UNHCR still work with Community Outreach Members (COMs) and can I rely on information they share?
The Community Outreach Members service is no longer available.
I am hearing rumors from people who are claiming to be UNHCR staff, what should I do?
Some people may try to take advantage of this situation by making false promises to provide services including issuance of documentation in exchange for money or favors. Please be cautious of rumors and unverified information. If you have been asked to pay for UNHCR services, please report this to [email protected].
Can I seek asylum in another country? How does my registration status in Trinidad and Tobago affect my asylum application in that country?
You have the right to seek asylum, however, every country has their own asylum procedures. You may visit UNHCR’s Help webpage for more information on the existing procedures in each country. Some countries may have state run asylum procedures or no established mechanism for seeking asylum. If you plan to leave Trinidad and Tobago, you should inform UNHCR so your case can be closed and to complete the necessary forms.
How can I close my case with UNHCR?
If you plan to leave Trinidad and Tobago, please send an email to [email protected]
How can I update my contact and other information with UNHCR?
This will no longer be necessary since registration services are no longer available due to the office closure.
What will happen to my Refugee Status Determination (RSD) case?
Please note that UNHCR is no longer conducting RSD in Trinidad and Tobago. This means that no further RSD interviews will be scheduled, and no decisions will be issued, even if you have been interviewed in the past.
Can UNHCR support me with complementary pathways (education, employment or family reunification) in another country?
UNHCR Trinidad and Tobago does not directly manage or process applications for any complementary pathways programs, such as labour mobility or education-based pathways. However, there are two partner organizations currently working in Trinidad and Tobago that may offer such opportunities and can provide more information about their programs: Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) – an international nonprofit that connects skilled refugees with employers in countries where they can safely and legally relocate for work.
Is UNHCR’s resettlement programme for refugees and asylum seekers in Trinidad and Tobago going to continue?
Resettlement is a protection tool that is only available to a limited number of refugees who are facing specific protection risks in the country of asylum. It is not a right and cannot be applied for. UNHCR identifies cases based on established criteria and global priorities. If at this time, you have not been identified or contacted for resettlement consideration, this means that your case was not prioritized for resettlement submission. There is no entitlement or right to resettlement or to appeal the decision. If you have received a UNHCR letter stating that you are not currently eligible for resettlement, or if any member of the office staff has informed you are not currently qualified for resettlement: If you were interviewed for Resettlement and received a letter stating that you are not currently qualified for resettlement, this means that the information you provided was carefully reviewed by a specialized committee who determined that your case does not currently meet the requirements to be submitted for resettlement. As such, your case will not proceed through the resettlement process at this time.
I was notified by UNHCR that my resettlement case was submitted to USA. The status of my case is “pending decision”. What does this mean?
Due to a suspension of resettlement processing by the US, we regret to inform you that the decision regarding your resettlement case has been suspended until further notice. Please note that the final decision on resettlement processing is taken by the resettlement country’s authorities and not by UNHCR. Please be aware of possible scams and/or fraudulent messages. Do not trust any messages on resettlement procedures unless officially communicated by US authorities or the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In case of doubt, please contact UNHCR. Please remember that resettlement is not a right.
If your case status is pending decision, this means that the US authorities have not yet reached a decision on your case. Thus, UNHCR encourages you to continue your efforts to maintain your life in Trinidad and Tobago. Specifically, keep your children enrolled in the school system (if attending), keep your job/pursue job opportunities, do not sell your belongings, do not cancel your housing/rental agreement and renew your MRF card (if applicable) on time. Please remember that all UNHCR services, including resettlement, are free of charge and we do not use intermediaries.
I was notified by UNHCR that my resettlement case was accepted by the USA. The status of my case is “pending departure formalities”. What does this mean?
With reference to the acceptance of your case for resettlement as communicated to you by the US authorities, we wish to inform you that due to the suspension of resettlement departures, your travel arrangements have been suspended until further notice. We regret the inconvenience this is causing you and your family. From now on, any updated information regarding your resettlement case processing will be provided by the resettlement country and not by UNHCR. UNHCR strongly encourages you to continue your efforts to maintain your life in Trinidad and Tobago. Specifically, keep your children enrolled in the school system (if attending), keep your job/pursue job opportunities, do not sell your belongings, do not cancel your housing/rental agreement in view of an imminent travel and renew your MRF cards (if applicable) on time. Please be aware of possible scams and/or fraudulent messages. Do not trust any message on expedited departures or processing unless officially communicated by US authorities or the International Organization for Migration (IOM). If in doubt, please contact UNHCR. Please remember that all UNHCR services, including resettlement, are free of charge and we do not use intermediaries. Do not trust anybody offering support with any services in exchange for money or favors.
I was notified by UNHCR that my resettlement case was submitted to Australia/Canada. The status of my case is “pending decision”. What does this mean?
It is very important that you keep your email address and phone number up to date, as these are the main ways the resettlement country will contact you. Please note that Canada and Australia do not use WhatsApp or social media to communicate with refugees — all communication will come through email or phone call. If your case was accepted by Australia, you will be contacted by a case manager from Toll, which is the organization responsible for departure logistics. They will reach out to schedule your Independent Medical Examination (IME) and assist with other pre-departure arrangements.
If your case was accepted by Canada, you will be contacted by the Canadian embassy in Trinidad and Tobago and IOM, which is the organization responsible for departure logistics. They will reach out to schedule your further interviews and Independent Medical Examination (IME) and assist with other pre-departure arrangements. Please be aware of possible scams and/or fraudulent messages. Do not trust any message on expedited departures or processing unless officially communicated by Canadian/Australian authorities or the International Organization for Migration (IOM)/Toll Group. If in doubt, please contact UNHCR. Please remember that all UNHCR services, including resettlement, are free of charge and we do not use intermediaries. Do not trust anybody offering to support with any services in exchange for money or favors.
How can I update my contact information if my case was submitted to and/or accepted by Canada?
You may contact the Canadian High Commission in Trinidad and Tobago to update your email or phone number by email: [email protected] Please be aware of possible scams and/or fraudulent messages. Do not trust any message on expedited departures or processing unless officially communicated by Canadian authorities or Toll Group. If in doubt, please contact UNHCR. Please remember that all UNHCR services, including resettlement, are free of charge and we do not use intermediaries. Do not trust anybody offering to support with any services in exchange for money or favors.
How can I update my contact information if my case was submitted to and/or accepted by Australia?
It is not possible to contact Toll Group, the organization in charge of departure arrangements at this time. You will only be able to update any contact information after Toll has made an initial contact with you regarding your case. Please be aware of possible scams and/or fraudulent messages. Do not trust any message on expedited departures or processing unless officially communicated by Australian authorities or Toll Group. If in doubt, please contact UNHCR. Please remember that all UNHCR services, including resettlement, are free of charge and we do not use intermediaries. Do not trust anybody offering to support with any services in exchange for money or favors.
What are my responsibilities while I await resettlement?
Please continue to be cautious about fraud or scams. Do not believe or respond to anyone promising to speed up your departure by asking for money. All UNHCR services are free of charge, and UNHCR does not work with intermediaries. While you wait for your departure to be scheduled, we encourage you to continue maintaining your life in Trinidad and Tobago:
- Keep your children enrolled in school (if applicable)
- Seek and maintain employment
- Do not sell your belongings or cancel your housing until you receive official confirmation of your travel.
Please be aware of possible scams and/or fraudulent messages. Do not trust any message on expedited departures or processing unless officially communicated by US/Canadian/Australian authorities or IOM/Toll Group. If in doubt, please contact UNHCR. Please remember that all UNHCR services, including resettlement, are free of charge and we do not use intermediaries. Do not trust anybody offering to support with any services in exchange for money or favors.
If my case was accepted by Canada/Australia and I had pending documents to submit, how can I send them the documentation?
If your case was accepted by Canada or Australia and you had pending documents to provide—such as birth certificates, exit permits for minors, or a Certificate of Character (police record)—and you have now obtained these documents, we recommend contacting the people who are handling your case.
This means contacting TOLL if your case was accepted by Australia, or IOM if your case was accepted by Canada.
If you do not receive a response, you may contact the following email address: [email protected].