The Refugee Resettlement Process: A Complete Guide

The United States has resettled more than 2.5 million refugees since 1975. But how does the process actually work? Who decides which refugees come to the US, and what happens when they arrive?

This guide walks through every step of the refugee resettlement process — from initial displacement to building a new life in cities like Dallas, Texas.

What Is Refugee Resettlement?

Refugee resettlement is the process of transferring refugees from a country where they sought initial protection to a third country that has agreed to admit them and grant them permanent residence. It’s one of three durable solutions recognized by the United Nations:

1. Voluntary repatriation — Returning home when it’s safe
2. Local integration — Settling permanently in the country of first asylum
3. Resettlement — Relocating to a third country when the first two aren’t viable

Only about 1% of the world’s refugees are ever resettled.

Step 1: Displacement and Seeking Asylum

The process begins when a person is forced to flee their home country due to war, violence, or persecution. They cross an international border and seek protection, typically in a neighboring country. Many refugees spend years in camps or temporary situations.

Step 2: UNHCR Referral

The UNHCR identifies particularly vulnerable refugees for whom resettlement is the best solution. Priority is given to survivors of violence, people with serious medical needs, women and girls at risk, children at risk, and families with no other durable solution.

Step 3: US Vetting and Screening

Refugees referred to the United States undergo one of the most extensive security screening processes applied to any group entering the country:

Background Checks

• National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) screening
• FBI fingerprint and name checks
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) review
• State Department security advisory opinion
• Department of Defense biometric checks

In-Person Interviews

Trained officers from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conduct in-depth, in-person interviews to verify identity, personal history, and the basis for the refugee claim.

Medical Screening

All refugees undergo medical examinations including screening for communicable diseases and vaccinations.

The entire vetting process typically takes 18-24 months, and in some cases significantly longer.

Step 4: Cultural Orientation

Before departing, approved refugees attend a cultural orientation program covering basic English phrases, what to expect during travel, how American housing and transportation work, and US laws and cultural norms.

Step 5: Placement with a Resettlement Agency

The Refugee Processing Center works with nine national resettlement agencies to determine placement based on family ties, language resources, medical needs, housing availability, and employment opportunities.

In Dallas, Texas, the primary resettlement agencies include the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Catholic Charities Dallas, and Refugee Services of Texas.

Step 6: Arrival in the United States

When a refugee family arrives, the resettlement agency ensures an apartment is available (often unfurnished), basic groceries are stocked, and orientation appointments are scheduled.

Where Be Deliberate Steps In

This is the moment where our work matters most. Resettlement agencies secure the apartment — but it’s usually empty. Be Deliberate furnishes these apartments with donated beds, tables, sofas, dressers, and kitchen essentials so families walk into a space that feels like home from day one.

Since our founding, we’ve completed 490+ furniture deliveries in the Dallas area.

Step 7: The First 90 Days

Within the first 90 days, families are expected to register children in school, begin English classes, attend job readiness training, apply for Social Security cards, open a bank account, and find employment. Resettlement agency support is limited, and after 3-6 months, most federal support ends.

Step 8: Long-Term Integration

Refugees continue to build English proficiency, advance in employment, apply for a green card (after 1 year), and eventually apply for US citizenship (after 5 years). Studies consistently show that refugees contribute more to the economy than they receive in benefits over time.

How You Can Support the Resettlement Process

• Donate Furniture → — Transform an empty apartment into a welcoming home
• Volunteer → — Help deliver furniture and set up apartments
• Give Financially → — Fund the logistics that keep deliveries running
• Refer a Family → — Caseworkers and agencies can submit referrals directly