Information for Asylees

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This page co​​ntains information for persons with a formal letter granting the immigration status of Asylum.​

An asylee is a person who has fled his or her country and is unable or unwilling to return due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a social group. An individual may be granted asylum by the Asylum Division of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or, in immigration court by the U.S. Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review. ​

Some benefits and services may be time sensitive. The Refugee Health Screening should be completed within 90 days of the asylum grant dat​e. 

Asylee Virtual Orientation

Remaining sessions for 2024 are: ​April 9, May 14, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 10, October 8, November 12, December 10​. 

Please complete the registration form​ to register and receive a Zoom link.

Every month the USCIS San Francisco Asylum Office partners with the California Department of Public Health's Office of Refugee Health and the San Francisco Department of Public Health's Newcomer's Health Program to conduct an orientation on benefits and services for newly granted asylees in California. 

The monthly session covers topics that pertain specif​ically to asylees in California such as important documents, safety net benefits, health care and employment resources. USCIS partners lead the section on immigration with important information that applies to all asylees throughout the U.S.  Key topics include family reunification, travel documents, and adjustment of status to lawful permanent residency (application for ‘green card’) and citizenship. 

The registration form includes the option to request support in accessing medical screening and medical care and for a specialist from the California Department of Public Health's Office of Refugee Health to contact them directly.​
All persons granted asylum, service providers, and attorneys are welcome to attend the sessions held on the 2nd Tuesdays of each month at 10 am Pacific Time.​​

More information can be found on the SF Refugee, Asylee, and Immigrant Forum website​. ​

How to Get​ a Medical Screening, Medical Care, and Public Benefits in California

​​​Refugee Health Assessment Program

The Refugee Health Assessment Program (RHAP) is a free medical exam that includes tuberculous (TB) testing and vaccines. The exam also covers vaccines that are needed for green card applications. The exam is open to newly arrived refugees, asylees, victims of human trafficking, Special Immigrant Visa holders, and humanitarian parolees from Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, and Ukraine. The following counties have RHAP clinics: Alameda, Cont​ra Costa, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Bernardino (also serves Riverside County), San Diego, San Francisco (also covers Marin and San Mateo Counties), Santa Clara, and Stanislaus. Visit the RHAP County Clini​cs webpage for the list of RHAP clinics in California.

RHAP clinics ask patients to split their medical exam in to two visits. During the first visit, lab tests and vaccines are done. The second visit covers a physical exam, lab follow ups, and referrals to needed specialty medical care. The second visit should be done within 90 days of the date you are granted asylum. Please enroll in Medi-Cal before scheduling your appointment with the RHAP clinic. You do not need to have your Medi-Cal card for the refugee health clinics. If you do not have Medi-Cal or are beyond the initial 90 days of being granted asylum, please speak with the Refugee Health Clinic staff.

If you live in a county that does not have a RHAP clinic, the Office of Refugee Health has created Health Screening Guidelines for Clinicians (PDF). Please print out this document and take it to your first primary care appointment. This will help your doctor understand the health conditions that are common with new arrivals. It also has advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For medical care outside of a RHAP clinic, please visit the links below for additional resources.

• ​Federally Qualified Health Center Locator

• Vaccines for Children Clinics ​​​​
  

Information on Public Benefit Programs Including Medi-Cal for Health Care Coverage in California 

Individuals with asylum status are NOT subject to Public Charge Law. Asylees are eligible to apply for government benefits. For further information, see the USCIS webpage. 

Eligibility for all benefit programs is determined according to an individual or family's earned income. Programs are administered by the local county Human/Social Services Agency. You must apply for benefits in the county of residence. Some benefits are time sensitive beginning on the date of the asylum grant.

• ​CalFresh provides cash benefits towards healthy and nutritious food. 

• CalWORKS provides cash aid and services to eligible families who have a child in the home. 

• If there is no minor child in the home, Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) provides cash aid and services to Office of Refugee Resettlement eligible populations. 

• Medi-Cal provides affordable, high-quality medical and dental care services to children and adults who meet the Medi-Cal eligibility requirements. ​
  

​How to Apply for Benefits ​

Individuals may apply online on the MyBenefits CalWin website or the BenefitsCal website. As an alternative, applications can be submitted in person to the local county Human or Social Service Agency. The Department of Health Care Services County Offices webpage can be used to find the local county office. 

The California Public Benefits Fact Sheet (PDF) contains more information on how to sign up for public benefits in California.

If applying for California Public Benefits in person, the Public Benefits Application Cover Sheet (PDF) includes a checklist of necessary documents to apply for public benefits in CA. ​

​Information on Dental Care and Transportation Benefits for Medi-Cal Recipients 

More information on the Medi-Cal Dental Program can be found on the Dental Care for Medi-Cal Recipients Fact Sheet (PDF) and on the Department of Health Care Services website. Medi-Cal can also cover transportation to medical, dental, and pharmacy visits. The Medi-Cal Transport Tool Fact Sheet (PDF) contains information on how to coordinate transportation.

For additional general information on programs pertaining to asylees, please see the California Department of Social Services' Refugee Program Bureau webpage​.​

Services to Assist Asylees to Navigate New Systems ​​​

ESAVN Pro​gram: Within the first year of being granted asylum, you may​ be eligible for up to 90 days of no-cost services to help you connect to critical resources and services through the Enhanced Services for Asylees and Vulnerable Non-Citizens (ESAVN) Program. The ESAVN Program is available in ALL regions of California. More information as well as a list of service providers can be found on the ESAVN Program webpage​. 

Asylee Document Information​

I-94 Card

Your I-94 document will be sent to you along with the letter which grants you asylum. This is a critical document to verify your immigration status for employment and other benefit services. Do not alter your I-94 in any way by writing on it or laminating it in plastic covering. If you lose or alter your I-94 card it can cost over $400 to replace it. Please note that if you were granted asylum in immigration court, it make take up to 30 days to receive your card in the mail. If you do not receive your card within 30 days, call the USCIS contact number: 800-375-5283. 

Asylum Grant Letter from USCIS or Court Order

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Your asylum grant letter verifies immigration status and the date that your asylum was granted. This letter is important to obtain services, documents, and benefits. If you were granted by the USCIS Asylum Office, your letter will be sent directly to you. If you were granted asylum in immigration court, your letter will be automatically mailed to you. If you do not receive your letter from the court within 30 days, please return back to the court to inquire directly. 

Employment Authorization Document

Your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card provides proof of work authorization in the United States. It also serves as a federally acceptable form of photo identification. If you are granted asylum, you are immediately authorized to work. Some asylees choose to obtain EADs for convenience or for federal identification purposes, but an EAD is not necessary to work if you are an asylee. If you want an EAD for a federal form of proof of identity, you can apply for one by filing USCIS Form I-765​. 

If you currently have an EAD that will soon expire and still need a federal form of identification, the validity of the EAD has been extended 540 days. However, to receive the 540 day extension, you MUST file to renew your EAD BEFORE it expires. You may file for renewal online or by mail. Both manners of requesting a renewal will generate a receipt notice which cites the period of extension. 

Social Security Card

Your social security card is one of the most important documents in the United States. You will need your social security card for employment, to apply for health insurance, pay taxes, or apply for a loan or credit card. Many banks require a social security card to open an account. 

To apply for a social security card, use the Field Office Locator to find your local Social Security Office. Bring your I-94 or asylum grant letter from the court and an official government issued identity document which contains a photo such as your passport or EAD card. Verify that your correct address is in the system. You should receive your card in the mail within 30 days of application.

No​​te: If you already have a social security card with restrictions, the restriction will be printed at the top of the card as follows “Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization". You now MUST visit your local social security office with proof of your asylum grant to receive an unrestricted social security card. Your social security number will remain the same, but the federal system will be updated and the new card sent to your home will not have any restrictive language. ​

Refugee Travel Document

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To travel internationally, USCIS issues refugee travel documents to people with refugee or asylum status and to lawful permanent residents who obtained their Green Cards based on their refugee or asylee status. The Application for Travel Document can be found on the USCIS website. 

You must have a refugee travel document to return to the United States if you:

• Have refugee or asylee status but are not a lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder); or
• Are a derivative asylee or refugee.

If you do not obtain a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

In addition, before making plans to travel abroad, you must also check with the consulate of the country that you intend to visit to inquire whether a Refugee Travel Document will be accepted for entry. Once an application is received by USCIS, it may take many months to process. Individuals should exercise caution in booking non-refundable travel tickets accordingly.  

Employment Resources

• Information for Refugees and Asylees About the I-9 Form​ required by all new employers to verify employment eligibility (many languages available)
  
• To report any concerns and violations at your workplace, like: wage, rest and meal breaks, and workplace safety, visit the State of California Department of Industrial Relations (CAL OSHA) website 
  
• If you lose your job, you can contact the Employment Development Department (EDD) to see if you qualify for unemployment insurance
  
• Expedited Licensure Process for Refugees, Asylees, and Holders of Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) 
  

​​​Education​ Resources

​Minor Aged​​ Children

Education in the United States is available and mandatory in the US for children 5 years old and above. Ask your school district about programs for newcomer students and families.

Before starting school, your child may need certain vaccines. Please make an appointment with one of the refugee health clinics near you. Visit the Immunization Branch webpage​ for more information on what vaccines are required.

The Vaccine for Children (VFC) Program helps families by providing vaccines at no costs.

​Legal Resources

• Licensed Attorney, Immigration Lawyer Search​ 
  

• Find a Licensed Accredited Legal Representative (PDF)
  

• Beware of Immigration Sca​ms and Notary Fraud!                                                       
  Notaries can prepare legal documents, and file and serve documents at the direction of the client. Report Scams to the California Attorney General – Fraud Unit
  

• How to Avoid Fraud When Seeking Immigration Legal Services (PDF)​
  

​​Important Legal Timelines

Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition

The date you are granted asylum begins a two-year window of time in which you may file the Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition USCIS Form I-730 to bring your spouse and unmarried children under age 21 to the U.S. as derivative asylees. 

Adjustment of Status to Lawful ​​​​Permanent Resident/​Green Card 

Effective immediately, asylees no longer have to wait 1 year to submit an application. You may apply to adjust status to a green card holder any time after being granted asylum. However, USCIS will not process your application until you have your status and are present in the United States for at least 365 days. For more information, please visit the USCIS Green Card for Asylees page​. ​​