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ELIGIBILITY
Aliens admitted or paroled into the country either as refugees, asylees, or Cuban/Haitian entrants without a final order of deportation. Clients must produce proof of their immigration status, which may include a permanent resident card, an I-94 form, or other documentation of their asylum request. For employment assistance, the client must also have an employment authorization from INS and a social security number. There is no income or asset guideline for eligibility, but our priority focus is on achieving self-sufficiency for families below 200% of the poverty level. See graph below.
Eligible Refugee Categories:
| Refugee Program Eligibility Guidelines |
Eligibility Documentation |
| 1. Refugees ( RE1-9; Visa 93)
 any nationality
process takes place in a 3rd country ( usually)
2. Asylees ( A05, AS1-8, GA6-7, V 92)
any nationality
process takes place in USAor at a U.S.port of entry to apply
3. Cuban and Haitian Entrants
C 08-18,CH,CH6,CU6 and other codes
Cubans or Haitians
a parolee ( status pending)
an asylum applicant
in removal proceedings
4. Amerasians ( AM 1-8)
Vietnamese
child born in Vietnambetween Jan.1, 1962 and Jan.1,1976, fathered by an American citizen
spouse, child, parent accompanying an Amerasian
5. Victims of Severe Human Trafficking
any nationality
do not need to present INSdocumentation
ORR eligibility letter is sufficient
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I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
I-551 Permanent Resident Card
I-688 B Employment Authorization Document
I-766 Employment Authorization Document
Asylum Approval Letter
Order of Immigration Judge
I-571 Refugee Travel Document
I-327 Reentry Permit
I-862 Notice to Appear
Vietnamese Exit Visa or Passport
Note: The Refugee Caseworker will determine eligibility prior to delivery of services.
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DEFINITIONS:
REFUGEE: Any person who is outside his or her country of nationality who is unable to or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof may be based on the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion and not be economic in nature. People with no nationality must be outside their country of last habitual residence to qualify as a refugee.
 CUBAN-HAITIAN ENTRANT: An immigration status created by Presidential order in 1980, for the 150,000 Cubans and Haitians who entered the country that year in a massive boat lift to Florida. As allowed by the Fascell-Stone Amendment, the term continues to be used to describe Cubans and Haitians applying to stay in the U.S. through other than refugee, immigration and tourist/business channels. The term entrant applies to Cubans and Haitians who 1) were granted parole status by INS, or 2) have applied for asylum, or 3) are currently subject to INS removal proceedings. Entrants retain that status until either granted asylum, adjusted to permanent resident status, or until a final, nonappealable legally enforceable order of deportation is issued.
ASYLEE: An alien in the United States or at a port of entry unable or unwilling to return to his or her country of nationality, or to seek the protection of that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. Persecution or the fear thereof may be based on the alien's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. For persons with no nationality, the country of nationality is considered to be the country in which the alien last habitually resided.
ASYLUM APPLICANT: An applicant for asylum is not eligible for refugee services until the asylum application has been approved. The only exceptions to this rule are Cubans and Haitians who qualify as entrants under the act.
 PAROLEE: An alien who has been given permission to enter the United States under emergency conditions or when that alien's entry is considered to be in the public interest. A parolee is generally not eligible to apply for permanent resident status or become a naturalized citizen. Exceptions to this result from either specific legislative provisions made for their class or if they are able to legally change their status from parolee to one from which permanent residency may be acquired. Only Cubans and Haitians are eligible for refugee services under this status.
PERMANENT RESIDENT: Refugees, asylees, and Cuban entrants are eligible to adjust their immigration status to legal permanent resident ("green card") after one year legal residence in the country. Haitian entrants are also able to adjust under certain conditions. Any person who was eligible for refugee services prior to adjustment will continue to be eligible after they have become a legal permanent resident.
POPULATIONS SERVED
The largest populations served by the program are Cuban, Haitian and Colombian. Currently there are also a small number of eastern Europeans, Vietnamese and other nationalities served as the need arises. The current program staff can provide interpretation in Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, and Romanian. When other languages are needed, the program tries to provide that service through volunteers, other agencies or temporary personnel. See graph above for population served between October 1, 2005 and September 30, 2006.
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