Priority 1 – Individual cases referred to the program because of their circumstances and apparent need for resettlement.Priority 2 – Groups of cases designated as having access to the program by virtue of their circumstances and apparent need for resettlement.Priority 3 – Individual cases from eligible nationalities granted access for purposes of reunification with anchor family members already in the U.S.12PRIORITY 1 – INDIVIDUAL REFERRALS:Priority 1 allows consideration of refugee claims from persons of any nationality, in any location, often with compelling protection needs, for whom resettlement appears to be the appropriate durable solution. Priority 1 cases are identified and referred to the program by UNHCR, a U.S. Embassy, or a designated NGO.UNHCR, which has the international mandate worldwide to provide protection to refugees, has historically referred the vast majority of cases under this priority. NGOs providing humanitarian assistance in locations where there are large concentrations of refugees may also undergo training by PRM and DHS/USCIS in order to be eligible to provide Priority 1 referrals.Process for Priority 1 Individual Referral Applications:Priority 1 referrals from UNHCR and NGOs are generally submitted to the appropriate Regional Refugee Coordinator, who forwards them to the appropriate Overseas Processing Entity (OPE) for case processing and scheduling of the DHS/USCIS interview. State Department Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration’s (PRM) Office of Admissions reviews embassy referrals for completeness and may consult with DHS in considering these referrals.A U.S. ambassador may make a Priority 1 referral for persons still in their country of origin if the ambassador determines that such cases are in need of exceptional treatment and the Departments of State (PRM) and Homeland Security (USCIS) concur. In some cases, an alternative vehicle, “Significant Public Benefit Parole” (SPBP, a program administered by the Department of Homeland Security) may be a more appropriate option.PRIORITY 2 – GROUP REFERRALS:Priority 2 includes specific groups (within certain nationalities, clans or ethnic groups, sometimes in specified locations) identified by the Department of State as being in need of resettlement. Some Priority 2 groups are processed in their country of origin. The process of identifying the group and its characteristics includes consideration of whether the group is of special humanitarian concern to the U.S. and whether members of the group will likely be able to qualify for admission as refugees under U.S. law.There are two models of Priority 2 access to the program: open access and predefined group access.Under both models, Priority 2 designations are made based on shared characteristics that define the group. In general, the possession of these characteristics is the reason the group has been persecuted in the past or faces persecution in the future.The open-access model for Priority 2 group referrals allows individuals to seek access to the program on the basis of meeting designated criteria.To establish an open-access Priority 2 group, PRM, in consultation with DHS/USCIS, and (as appropriate) with UNHCR and others, defines the specific criteria for access. Once the designation is in place, applicants may approach the program at any of the processing locations specified as available for the group to begin the application process.Applicants must demonstrate that they possess the required characteristic(s) to establish eligibility for inclusion.The open-access model is now in use for Iraqis with links to the United States.The OPE(s) responsible for handling open-access Priority 2 applications, working under the direction of PRM, make a preliminary determination as to whether the applicants qualify for access and should be presented to DHS/USCIS for interview. Applicants who clearly do not meet the access requirements are “screened out” prior to DHS/USCIS interview.In FY 2011, Iraqis inside Iraq and outside Iraq who fall into the Priority 2 group designation,”Iraqis Associated with the United States” can be processed as refugees.The following individuals and their immediate families (spouse and unmarried children under age 21), with verifiable proof of employment, may seek access:1. Iraqis who work/worked on a full-time basis as interpreters/translators for the U.S. Government (USG) or Multi-National Forces (MNF-I) in Iraq.2. Iraqis who are/were employed by the USG in Iraq.3. Iraqis who are/were employees of an organization or entity closely associated with the U.S. mission in Iraq that has received USG funding through an official and documented contract, award, grant or cooperative agreement.4. Iraqis who are/were employed in Iraq by a U.S.-based media organization or non-governmental organization.5. Spouses, sons, daughters, parents and siblings of individuals described in the four categories above, or of an individual eligible for a Special Immigrant Visa as a result of his/her employment by or on behalf of the USG in Iraq, including if the individual is no longer alive, provided that the relationship is verified.6. Iraqis who are the spouses, sons, daughters, parents, brothers or sisters of a citizen of the United States, or who are the spouses or unmarried sons or daughters of a Permanent Resident Alien of the United States, as established by their being or becoming beneficiaries of approved family-based I-130 Immigrant Visa Petitions.
