US Refugee Admissions Program (resettlement from abroad) - suspended except for limited cases
Official name: U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP)
USRAP resettles refugees who are outside the United States and cannot apply for it themselves: they must be referred or fall into a designated group. Since 27 Jan 2025, Executive Order 14163 has suspended refugee entry through USRAP, except where the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security jointly decide an admission is in the national interest. The FY2027 ceiling (Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, signed 25 Sep 2026) is up to 17,500 refugees, to be allocated primarily among Afrikaners from South Africa. For most refugees elsewhere in the world, the program is not open.
3 entry rules for United States based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo, Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
If you're not a US citizen and you've been in DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days, you can't enter the United States. This includes green card holders. The US government renewed this on 11 October 2026 for another 30 days.
CDC Order: Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Persons... (order history) Federal Register 2026-18948 (Sept 16, 2026 continuation) CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas (updated Sep 11, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Entry refused after a stay in DR Congo in the last 21 days
Anyone who has been in DR Congo in the last 21 days, Americans included, can't board a commercial flight to the United States. US citizens are asked to wait outside DR Congo for 21 days before flying.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC Travel Health Notice Level 2: Ebola Bundibugyo in DRC and Uganda (reviewed Aug 28, 2026) Checked October 19, 2026
Health screening after a stay in Uganda, South Sudan in the last 21 days
US citizens who have been in Uganda or South Sudan in the last 21 days must fly into Washington-Dulles, Atlanta or New York JFK for a health check, and get text-message check-ins for 21 days.
CDC: Information for Travelers Returning from Ebola-Affected Areas CDC: Enhanced Ebola Airport Screening Begins at Washington-Dulles Checked October 19, 2026
Life in United States
Finance
3
Currency
US Dollar
USD
US Dollar
Cost of living
100
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
10–37%
Income tax (national)
social security 7.65%
Federal rates; most states and some cities add their own income tax. 37% starts above USD 626,350 (single, 2025).
Living
1
Happiness
#22 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Who it’s for
People outside the United States who are refugees under US law, of special humanitarian concern, and referred to or included in a group USRAP is currently processing. Under the FY2026 and FY2027 determinations that is primarily Afrikaners from South Africa.
Eligibility
Program suspended since 27 Jan 2025
Refugee entry through USRAP has been suspended since 27 Jan 2025, except where a section 3(c) exception is decided case by case.
From 27 Jan 2025- State and Homeland Security Secretaries decide jointly, case by case
- Admission must be in the national interest
- Admission must not threaten US security or welfare
Official wording
USCIS states that Executive Order 14163 suspended entry of refugees into the United States through USRAP, effective 27 Jan 2025. Entry is allowed only where an exception under section 3(c) of the order applies: the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security jointly decide, case by case, that admission is in the national interest and does not threaten US security or welfare.
FY2027 ceiling: up to 17,500, primarily Afrikaners
Up to 17,500 refugee admissions are allowed in Fiscal Year 2027, mainly allocated to Afrikaners from South Africa.
Fiscal Year 202717,500
Refugee admissions ceiling
- Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, signed 25 Sep 2026
- Published 2 Oct 2026
- Admissions are subject to EO 14161 (identity vetting)
- Proclamation 10998 restricts entry of certain nationals
Official wording
Presidential Determination No. 2026-24 (signed 25 Sep 2026, published 2 Oct 2026) allows up to 17,500 refugee admissions in Fiscal Year 2027 and says admissions "shall primarily be allocated among Afrikaners from South Africa pursuant to Executive Order 14204". It also says admissions remain subject to other Presidential policies, including EO 14161 (identity vetting) and Proclamation 10998 (entry restrictions on certain nationals).
FY2026 ceiling history
The FY2026 ceiling was first set at 7,500, then raised to 17,500 for Afrikaners from South Africa.
FY2026 ceiling changes
- Set 30 Sep 2025up to
- 7,500
- Raised 21 May 2026
- 17,500
- Determination No. 2025-13 also named other victims of unjust discrimination
- Emergency Determination No. 2026-14 signed 21 May 2026
Official wording
Presidential Determination No. 2025-13 (signed 30 Sep 2025) set an FY2026 ceiling of up to 7,500, primarily Afrikaners from South Africa and other victims of illegal or unjust discrimination in their homelands. Emergency Presidential Determination No. 2026-14 (signed 21 May 2026) raised the FY2026 ceiling to 17,500 for Afrikaners from South Africa.
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- 1 more requirement
- 3 documents
- 1 fee
- 6 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Official sources
- USCIS - Refugees (last reviewed 07/06/2026; checked 30 Oct 2026)
- Federal Register - Presidential Determination No. 2026-24, Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2027 (2 Oct 2026)
- Federal Register - Emergency Presidential Determination No. 2026-14, FY2026 ceiling increase (27 May 2026)
- Federal Register - Presidential Determination No. 2025-13, Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2026 (31 Oct 2025)
Other routes to United States
- Visit & tourismB-1/B-2 visitor visa
- StudyF-1 Academic Student
- Work permitsE-1 Treaty Trader
- 3 more routes with Premium
