Resettlement FAQ

The UNHCR Resettlement Handbook provides detailed information on UNHCR resettlement policy and practice. Resettlement States have described their policies and programmes in individual Country Chapters. The Resettlement Handbook is a public document.

There is no need to approach the office individually or send letters, faxes or emails. It is, however, very important to keep your telephone number(s) and email address(es) updated with UNHCR by filling the Contact Form, so that the office can arrange an appointment with you whenever required.

Individuals who are registered with UNHCR will undergo a refugee status determination process, during which an in-depth assessment of the individual’s international protection needs will be conducted before a decision is made on if the individual is a refugee. Only those individuals determined to be refugees by UNHCR can be considered for resettlement. Processing times for refugee status determination and resettlement, if applicable, differ from case to case. Registration or granting of refugee status by UNHCR does not mean an individual will be referred for resettlement.

Having a refugee card does not automatically mean you are eligible for resettlement. Further, the length of stay in Malaysia does not make a refugee eligible for resettlement. The resettlement ‘Submission Categories’ are explained in Chapter 3 of the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook. Ultimately, due to limited resettlement quota, cases will be prioritized for resettlement according to the urgency and severity of the protection and resettlement needs.

The purpose of the resettlement interview is to assess your case for resettlement. Following the resettlement interview, your case will be reviewed before a decision is taken on whether a submission for resettlement should be made. The time needed for this process differs from case to case. If your case is thereafter submitted to the United States of America, the Resettlement Support Centre (RSC) will contact you to inform you of your interview date with RSC. For countries other than the United States of America, UNHCR or the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will contact you on behalf of the resettlement country to provide information about your interview date with the resettlement country officials.

The purpose of the resettlement interview is to assess your case for resettlement. Following the resettlement interview, your case will be reviewed before a decision is taken on whether a submission for resettlement should be made. The time needed for this process differs from case to case. If your case is thereafter submitted to the United States of America, the Resettlement Support Centre (RSC) will contact you to inform you of your interview date with RSC. For countries other than the United States of America, UNHCR or the International Organization for Migration (IOM) will contact you on behalf of the resettlement country to provide information about your interview date with the resettlement country officials.

Due to the need to protect confidentiality, UNHCR cannot always explain to each individual why their case is placed on hold. Cases can remain on hold due to a variety of reasons. However, once the reason is fully assessed, clarified and resolved, your resettlement process may resume. Approaching UNHCR or asking about your case frequently will not change this and will not help your case move faster.

Resettlement is a time-consuming process for all the persons concerned. Processing times vary from country to country, due to different immigration laws, priorities and resources, and are as such very hard to predict. Issues such as birth, marriage, pregnancy, divorce and custody, registration, deaths have to be properly assessed and resolved before resettlement can happen.

Yes, you can. UNHCR considers the desires of your family and the criteria of the different resettlement countries. This information will assist UNHCR in choosing an appropriate resettlement country for your family.

Although UNHCR will take note of a refugee’s resettlement country preference, the final decision as to which country a refugee is submitted remains with UNHCR. When making that decision, UNHCR takes into account any specific needs of refugees as well as their family links.

If you choose not to be considered for resettlement to a particular country, you risk being excluded from further resettlement processing. If you decide to withdraw your case from the resettlement country which has interviewed and accepted your case, UNHCR will counsel you on the implications and consequences of the withdrawal - UNHCR may not be able to submit your case again, to the country of your choice.

Those who had been implicated in identity fraud were interviewed in March and April 2019 by US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers from the United States. For more information on your case, please contact the Resettlement Support Centre (RSC) by calling +603 9212 8117 or emailing them at RSCInquiries.Malaysia@rescue.org.

Resettlement countries require updated medical screening for refugees. Refugees are likely to undergo more than one examination prior to their departure, depending on the policies of the resettlement country.

UNHCR promotes family reunification and restoring supportive relationships and will not split families. It is important that you inform UNHCR about any unregistered family members. Counselling will be provided to the family about the implications and consequences.

If you are married to a non-refugee, you may be entitled to a residency status or potentially citizenship in your spouse’s country. Marriage to a non-refugee spouse will be carefully assessed by UNHCR, to determine the options for that person and the situation of the entire family, before considering them for resettlement.

Polygamy is unlawful in nearly all resettlement countries and therefore refugees cannot be resettled, if they are intending to continue a polygamous marriage. Each family will be counselled individually by UNHCR about their resettlement prospects and the family will need to consider the best arrangements for the spouses and their children.

Child marriage is unlawful under international law and is widely considered a form of gender-based violence. As such, if you are married to someone who is below the age of 18, both you and your child spouse may not be eligible for resettlement. Child marriage is not legally recognized under the national law of the resettlement countries. In some resettlement countries, extraterritorial jurisdiction for statutory rape may apply to the spouse of a married child.

If you or your family member has been involved in the marriage of someone below the age of 18, it may cause your family to be ineligible for resettlement upon review by UNHCR. This is because child marriage is unlawful under international law and is widely considered a form of gender-based violence. In addition, parents or caregivers who arranged the marriage may be liable to prosecution in the resettlement country.

Your case will not be automatically resubmitted to another resettlement country. UNHCR, however, will complete a re-assessment on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration any specific needs of your family. Due to the different criteria of the various resettlement countries, you should not assume, if you are denied by one country, that you could be accepted by another.

No. The resettlement submission of an individual or a family is based on an assessment that the individual or family has a need for resettlement. Therefore, the opportunity to be submitted for resettlement consideration cannot be transferred to a relative or friend.