Family Members of Asylees and Refugees
When applicants are granted asylum relief, asylum relief is also granted to their family members who are in the United States and were included in their asylum application.
If you are currently in asylee or refugee status, you may be able to help relatives who were not included in your application obtain asylee or refugee status.
Who are the relatives for whom I may file?
If you were admitted to the United States as a refugee or were granted asylum less than 2 years ago, you may file for the following relatives:
- Husband or wife;
- Unmarried children who were under age 21 at the time you were admitted as a refugee or granted asylum in the United States.
A petition must be filed within 2 years of being admitted as a refugee or being granted asylum. If it has been longer than 2 years since you were admitted as a refugee or were granted asylum, you may want to contact us for legal advice to determine if there are any other immigration benefits available to your relative.
If I marry after I become a refugee or asylee, can I file for my husband or wife?
You cannot file an I-730 for your husband or wife if the marriage occurred after you become a refugee or asylee. However, you may want to contact our office for legal advice to determine if there are any other immigration benefits available to your spouse.