This article was prepared with the assistance of ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, of which Loan Huynh, Fredrikson Immigration Department Chair, is a member.
President Biden issued a determination that up to 125,000 refugee admissions for fiscal year (FY) 2023 “is justified by humanitarian concerns or is otherwise in the national interest.” Regional allocations include Africa (40,000), East Asia (15,000), Europe and Central Asia (15,000), Latin America/Caribbean (15,000), Near East/South Asia (35,000) and Unallocated Reserve (5,000). The latter will be allocated to regional ceilings as needed. Also, unused admissions allocated to a particular region can be allocated to other regions.
President Biden also announced that for FY 2023, persons from the following countries and areas may, if otherwise qualified, be considered refugees for the purpose of admission to the United States within their countries of nationality or habitual residence: Cuba, Eurasia and the Baltics, Iraq, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras; and, in certain circumstances, persons identified by a U.S. embassy in any location.
