CHICAGO – Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is reaching out to current refugees or persons who have been granted asylum to make them aware that the U.S. Department of State had been authorized to extend eligibility for the U.S. Refugee Program to family reunification applicants from the following 17 countries: Afghanistan, Democratic Rep. of Congo, Burma, Eritrea, Burundi, Ethiopia, Colombia, Haiti, Congo (Brazzaville), Iran, Cuba, Iraq, North Korea, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan and Uzbekistan.

Persons who are in the United States and have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum (including those who have adjusted status and are now lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens) can apply for refugee processing for their spouse; their parents; and their unmarried children under the age of 21 if those individuals are located outside of their countries of origin or habitual residence.

Access to the Family Reunification program for these nationals is based on the filing of an Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) by a qualified relative in the United States. The AOR must be filed locally and forwarded to the headquarters of a national voluntary agency before it can be processed through the Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services.

For more information about eligibility and filing affidavits of relationship, please call Catholic Charities at (312) 655-7856.

Now in its 90th year, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is the largest private, not-for-profit social service agency in the Midwest, annually assisting 1.1 million persons in Cook and Lake counties without regard to religious, ethnic or economic background. Catholic Charities fulfills the Church's role in the mission of charity by providing compassionate, competent, professional services that strengthen and support individuals, families and communities