Operation of the United States Refugee Admissions Program in New Hampshire

Information and resources about the Refugee Program, with the goal to assist refugees in their quest for economic self-sufficiency and successful integration

In New Hampshire, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) operates under the New Hampshire Office of Health Equity at the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The primary goal of USRAP is to assist refugees in their quest for economic self-sufficiency and successful integration as soon as possible following arrival. The Refugee Program is 100% federally funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement.

Refugee Program staff work closely with partner organization, including the two New Hampshire resettlement agencies-, Ascentria Services for New Americans and the International Institute of New England,- Building Community in New Hampshire, and Overcomers refugee Services, to support refugee integration.

The term "refugee" is used here to include all Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) - eligible populations.

Who are the ORR eligible populations?

The populations listed below are eligible to receive ORR benefits and services. All have been granted special humanitarian protection and reside in the United States legally. This list is always subject to change.

Eligible populations:

Refugees
Asylees
Cuban and Haitian Entrants
Afghan and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees
Note: Afghan evacuees who arrived after 10/01/23 and Ukrainian evacuees who arrived after 10/01/24 are not eligible for public benefits, unless they have one of the other statuses listed here.
Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders
Amerasians
Victims of Trafficking
Other groups designated by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement

Refugee Support services include:

Case Management: Refugees receive case management related to housing, healthcare, and other general needs to help them transition smoothly into their communities.
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Refugee Medical Assistance (RMA): Refugees are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and refugee Medical Assistance (RMA) upon arrival in the United States. To be eligible for RCA, a refugee must be ineligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other cash support programs. To be eligible for RMA, a refugee must be ineligible for Medicaid. The duration of refugee cash and medical assistance varies according to the individual's date of eligibility.
- Individuals who become eligible for ORR benefits and services prior to May 5, 2025 are eligible for RCA/RMA for up to twelve (12) months.
- Individuals who become eligible for ORR benefits and services on or after May 5, 2025 are eligible for RCA/RMA for up to four (4) months.

English as a Second Language: Refugee Program partners and other public and private organizations throughout New Hampshire provide English Language Training to refugees. Classes are designed to help refugees achieve competencies in key linguistic areas, preparing them to meet their everyday language needs at work and in community life.
Employment Services: Employment Services include an assessment of vocational skills, job development, job placement and follow up services with local employers.
Refugee Health Promotion: Refugee Health Promotion Program services include assistance with scheduling and coordinating health appointments, an expanded orientation on the U.S. healthcare system, health education, wellness groups, and refugee healthcare provider education and training.
School Impact: The School Impact program provides school related services to students and their families, from birth through age 18, including assistance with school enrollment, parent orientations to the American school system, and academic support.
Services for Older Refugees: The Services for Older Refugees Program provides individualized case management to refugees aged 60 and older to resolve barriers to well-being, such as health access, transportation and housing issues. The project assists older refugees prepare for and achieve citizenship

Medical Screening: Refugees are eligible for an initial domestic medical examination (DME) upon arrival. The DME safeguards public health and supports healthy resettlement.

Refugee Facts

Who are Refugees?

Refugees are people who have been forced to flee their home countries due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Persecution may include physical violence, harassment, wrongful arrest, and threats. Refugees often take with them only what they have time to pack, only what they can carry. Sometimes all they have left are their hopes, dreams, and the will to survive.

Since the early 1980s, more than 7,500 refugees have made New Hampshire their home. Refugees have greatly contributed to our state and local communities. Through their hard work, they have strengthened our economy, and their presence has enriched the cultural diversity of New Hampshire.

Refugees come to New Hampshire from more than 30 nations and represent a diverse group of ethnic minorities. Refugees typically find employment within the first few months of arrival and actively participate in their respective communities. Refugees are eligible to start the naturalization process within five years after their arrival.

How Can You Help?

The most valuable way to help a refugee family in your community is to be a friend. Your welcome and friendship can go a long way in helping new Granite Staters feel at home.

If you have questions about refugee services or benefits or would like to volunteer or make a donation, please contact the NH Refugee Program at:

DHHS.RefugeePrograms@dhhs.nh.gov

New Model of Resettlement: Welcome Corps

Building off the model introduced in the Uniting for Ukraine program, the Welcome Corps is a new resettlement model launched by the U.S. Department of the State in January 2023.The program provides an opportunity for private sponsor groups (consisting of U.S. citizens or permanent residents) to welcome refugees to the United States through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). Sponsors provide core services similar to those provided by resettlement agencies through the Reception & Placement (R&P) Program, including: (1) securing and preparing initial housing; (2) greeting refugees at the airport; (3) enrolling children in school; (4) and helping adults to find employment. In both cases, refugees must meet the eligibility and admissibility criteria in order to be approved. There are two ways to sponsor refugees through Welcome Corps. Applicants can apply to be matched with a refugee or refugee family that has already been approved for resettlement (someone they do not know), or they can apply on behalf of someone they know and refer them to be considered for resettlement by USRAP. There are core minimum requirements that need to be met in order to become a sponsor. Further information can be found at Welcome Corps.

The U.S State Department launched two related programs: Welcome Corps on Campus and Welcome Corps at Work.

Welcome Corps on Campus provides a pathway to permanent legal status for refugee students. Participating U.S. higher education institutions enroll refugee students in degree programs and campus sponsor groups commit to supporting their resettlement through private sponsorship. Additional information can be found at Welcome Refugee Students on Your Campus- Welcome Corps.

Welcome Corps at Work matches qualified refugees with U.S. employers to provide them with concrete job offers. Participating refugees can then be admitted to the United States where they will be welcomed by a local sponsor group. Additional information about all three Welcome Corps programs, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found on the Welcome Corps website.

Important Note:

In accordance with the executive order, "Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program" refugee travel to the United States and all U.S. Refugee Admissions Program refugee case processing activities are suspended until further notice. This includes intake of new applications for the Welcome Corps, as well as processing of all active or previously submitted applications.