Electronic Reading Room

This module provides an overview of the firm resettlement bars for asylum and refugee resettlement. The module addresses the similarities and differences between these two bars and their exceptions. This module also includes an explanation of the BIA’s four-step framework for analyzing evidence under the firm resettlement bar.

Through discussion and practical exercises, this training module instructs students on how to elicit information from an interviewee in a non-adversarial manner: how to probe appropriately to elicit necessary information, the types of questions to ask, and questioning techniques to use.

This module introduces you to the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) and the responsibilities that the Act creates for adjudicating protection claims. The training you receive will also be useful in adjudicating immigration benefits, petitions, and other immigration-related requests. Through reading and discussing country conditions information, you will increase your awareness of religious freedom issues around the world. Through discussion and practical exercises, you will learn how to conduct an interview and adjudicate a claim with a religious freedom issue.

This module discusses the definition of a refugee as codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act and its interpretation in administrative and judicial case law.

This module describes the development of international protection of refugees and other individuals over the course of the 20th century and explains the role of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international actors in providing this protection. The module describes the elements of international protection, who is in need of international protection, and who provides international protection. Lastly, this module explains the role UNHCR plays in relation to the United States regarding U.S. refugee resettlement, asylum, and other protection issues.

This module provides guidelines on the use of Country of Origin Information (COI) in adjudicating immigration benefits, petitions, protection determinations, and other immigration-related requests. Through demonstrations and computer-based practical exercises, you will gain experience in conducting COI research on the Intranet and Internet for use in adjudications.

Through interactive communication exercises, this module describes how cultural differences may create barriers to effective communication and provides techniques for recognizing and overcoming those barriers.

This module discusses the definition of persecution and the determination as to whether an act constitutes persecution.

This module discusses the definition of a refugee as codified in the Immigration and Nationality Act and its interpretation in administrative and judicial case law. The primary focus of this module is the determination as to whether an applicant has established a reasonable possibility of suffering future harm in the country of nationality or last habitual residence.

This module provides an overview of the RAIO Directorate, its structure, mission, core values, and guiding principles.

This module provides guidelines for adjudicating requests for benefits by victims of trafficking. Issues addressed include indicators that may demonstrate an individual is a victim of trafficking, specific assistance and benefits available to victims of trafficking as well as guidelines for sensitive interview techniques.

This module provides guidelines for adjudicating immigration benefits or other immigration-related requests that are subject to the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The module addresses the basis for determining when discretion is warranted and for performing the legal analysis of claims that involve discretion.

Employment-Based VisasApproximately 140,000 immigrant visas are available each fiscal year for aliens (and their spouses and children) who seek to immigrate based on their job skills. These employment-based immigrant visas are allocated among 5 preference categories that are summarized in the chart below. If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience and are otherwise eligible, you may be able to live permanently in the United States.Some immigrant visa preference categories require you to have a permanent job offer from a U.S. employer. This employer will be considered your sponsor/petitioner and will file an immigrant petition with USCIS on your behalf. If no job offer is required, you may file a petition on your own behalf.For more information, see Employment-Based Adjustment of Status FAQs.Labor CertificationFor the second and third preference categories (see chart below), before the U.S. employer can file an immigrant petition with USCIS, the employer must generally obtain a labor certification from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The labor certification verifies the following:

Alert Type info ALERT: USCIS is working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of State to more efficiently facilitate certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas for eligible aliens who have graduated from an accredited U.S. institution of higher education.For more information on the process to obtain a 212(d)(3) waiver, please see the DOS Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 9 and the DOS Easing the Nonimmigrant Visa Process for U.S. College Graduates page.

Correspondence requesting TPS be rescinded for Lebanese nationals.

Correspondence requesting designation of Lebanon for TPS and guidance on implementation of DED. 

Correspondence requesting a grace period for Marianas employers whose timely-filed applications remain pending.

Correspondence requesting designation of Guatemala for TPS or the authorization of DED for Guatemalan nationals in the United States. 

Correspondence requesting supplemental H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025.

Correspondence requesting the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2025.

Correspondence regarding TPS, DACA, and H-1B visas.