Resettlement is a vital protection tool and only one of the three durable solutions available for refugees. It is a lifeline for those in need of international protection who are unable to return to their country of origin for fear of continued persecution and are also not able to stay in the first country of asylum due to a lack of local integration opportunities.  

Resettlement is a key symbol of international solidarity and a responsibility shared with those developing regions hosting 86% of refugees. 

 In this context, IOM aims to constantly enhance the quality of its resettlement activities. This is done as part of the Organization’s principled, and people centered programming and in the interest of assisting the people as best we can. Upon request by receiving states, IOM supports the resettlement and admission of vulnerable refugees by: 

  • Facilitating selections missions and visa processing 
  • Pre-migration health activities 
  • Pre-departure orientation sessions 
  • Movement management and travel operations 
  • Providing post arrival integration support 

Global resettlement needs far surpass the places available. The Global Compact on Refugees aims to expand refugees’ access to third country solutions. It supports the establishment of new and the enlargement of existing resettlement programmes and sets out concrete measures to this end. One of these concrete measures is UNHCR’s Three Year Strategy (2019-2021), which foresees the resettlement of one million refugees to 50 countries by the end of 2028. 

This video highlights IOM’s role in essential aspects of resettlement, as outlined above. 

Lebanon

IOM in Lebanon implements a wide range resettlement project with around 90% of resettlement cases being Syrian nationals. Since the conflict erupted in Syria in 2011, IOM Lebanon has resettled over 133,639 refugees to over 26 countries, including Canada, USA, Australia, and European Union Member States. IOM also facilitates complementary protection pathways, such as family reunification, humanitarian admission, and permanent migration. A part of the resettlement activities includes selection mission and video interview support, form filling, visa application process, Pre-departure health activities, Pre-Departure orientation (PDO), movement management and operations. 

Jordan

The Resettlement Support Center for the Middle East and North Africa (RSC MENA) - funded by the United States Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration is operated by IOM in Amman, Jordan. The center receives referrals from a variety of actors, including U.S. Embassy, UNHCR, specially trained nongovernmental organization (NGO), or private sponsors. Subsequently, it collects necessary information from applicants to prepare cases for security screening, interview, and adjudication by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Upon ad­judication, RSC MENA guide the applicants through post-adjudication steps, including pre-migration health activities, pre-departure orientation (also referred to as “cultural orientation”) and movement5. The RSC also obtains a sponsorship assurance from a U.S.-based resettlement agency that receives funding from PRM for Reception and Placement (R&P) assistance. 

All resettlement services are free of charge.