Glossary

What is a refugee?

A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their country because of persecution, war, or violence. They have a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. They are typically vetted and then resettled in a third country, often with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or similar organizations.

What is an Asylum Seeker?

An Asylum seeker is someone who fled their home country for similar reasons but has not yet been granted refugee status. They are in the process of applying for asylum and are seeking protection and legal recognition in another country. 

The main difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker lies in the legal status, with refugees already having been granted protection and asylum seekers still in the process of seeking it. 

Asylee is the term for a person whose asylum request has been approved.

What is an SIV?

A Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) is for certain individuals who have worked with the U.S. military or under Chief of Mission authority as a translator or interpreter in Iraq or Afghanistan, or have provided faithful and valuable service while employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan. SIV holders are given lawful permanent residence status (a green card) upon their arrival in the U.S.

Learn more about the Process for SIVs

What is a Humanitarian Parolee?

Humanitarian parole is used sparingly to bring someone who is otherwise inadmissible into the United States for a temporary period of time due to a compelling emergency. It’s not a way to permanently immigrate, but rather a way to temporarily be in the U.S. due to significant humanitarian reasons.

Each of these statuses has different requirements, benefits, and durations, and is designed to address different circumstances and needs.