Resources

Iraqi Refugees Basic Information on Protection and Resettlement to the U.S.

All Iraqis refugee outside of Iraq should immediately register with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Registration with UNHCR may be a necessary step towards resettlement, receiving assistance, and receiving some protection in countries outside of Iraq

Click here to read the July 15, 2008, Fact Sheet on Iraqi Refugees and SIVs from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Citizen and Immigration Services.

Additional Resources (in addition to those options described on the Fact Sheet above – PLEASE READ THE FACT SHEET):

Iraqis with a U.S. Government Affiliation *

• All Iraqis with U.S. government affiliation can contact the List Project, a program helps Iraqis with U.S. affiliations by advocating on their behalf with the U.S. Department of State. For more information, click here or email TheListProject@gmail.com

Iraqis with a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Affiliation

• In addition to other options for Iraqis with a U.S. government affiliation, Iraqis with a DoD affiliation and under immediate threat can inquire about the Significant Public Benefit Parole program with a DoD supervisor located in Iraq

Iraqi Students or Scholars

• Iraqi students at or above the university level can inquire about the Iraqi Student Project. For more information, click here or contact the ISP coordinator in the U.S., Natalie Baker Merrill, at natalie@iraqistudentproject.org, and in the Middle East, Tara Monthir Hasan, at tara@iraqistudentproject.org
• Iraqi scholars (i.e. fellows, lecturers, professors, etc.) can inquire about the Scholar Rescue Fund. For more information click here (English) and here (Arabic)

Iraqi Writers and Journalists

• Iraqi journalists, poets, authors, and others who have been a writer in a professional capacity can inquire with PEN International for possible assistance. Contact Larry Siems, the Director of Freedom to Write and International Programs, at lsiems@pen.org
• Iraqis who have worked in any capacity relating to journalism can contact the Journalist Assistance Program at the Committee to Protect Journalists. For more information, click here or write JournAsst@cpj.org

All Iraqis in Jordan or Lebanon

• Iraqis seeking legal help in Jordan can contact the Mizan “Law Group for Human Rights.” For more information click here. To see Mizan’s brochure (in Arabic), click here.
• Iraqis seeking legal help and information concerning their rights as refugees in Lebanon can contact the Frontiers Association (“Ruwad” in Arabic). For more information on Frontiers, click here

Iraqis with family members in the U.S.

• Iraqi citizens who are beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant visa petitions are eligible for direct access to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). For more information, click here
• U.S. family members of Iraqis can seek the assistance of an immigration attorney or a local resettlement organization for potential assistance in resettlement. For a list of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement partner organizations, click here. Some organizations have regional or local offices or affiliates

* Affiliation refers to current or former employees or contractors throughout this document.