Last checked: 24 October 2026
About this site
This is general information, not legal advice. Refugee status questions can affect your status: confirm with your resettlement agency, an accredited representative or an immigration attorney. The full notice is on the disclaimer.
Independent
This site is independent. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or run for any government or agency. That includes the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in South Africa, the Department of Health and Human Services, ACF, ORR, USCIS, CBP, SSA, CDC, USDA, any resettlement agency or referral partner, and the South African government.
Method
- Facts are tied to official pages that were opened and checked on 24 October 2026. The list is below. A link sits beside every fact.
- Where a source is silent, the page says "not stated by source". Where two official pages disagree, both are shown.
- IATA is included only for airline crate size. It is an airline industry body, not a government. The two related guides in the footer are independent sites about South African passports and smart ID cards. They are not official sources.
- The site is factual and does not take a political position. Abbreviations are listed on the glossary.
Sources used
- https://za.usembassy.gov/refugee-admissions-program-for-south-africans/
- https://za.usembassy.gov/u-s-refugee-admissions-program-faqs/
- https://za.usembassy.gov/president-trumps-executive-order-on-addressing-egregious-actions-of-the-republic-of-south-africa/
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/27/2026-10598/emergency-presidential-determination-on-refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2026
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/02/2026-20318/presidential-determination-on-refugee-admissions-for-fiscal-year-2027
- https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/10/01/2026-20111/period-for-refugee-cash-assistance-and-refugee-medical-assistance-correction
- https://acf.gov/orr/programs-services/refugees/pir
- https://acf.gov/orr/programs-services/refugees/resettlement-program
- https://acf.gov/orr/programs-services/refugees/eligibility/benefits-refugees
- https://acf.gov/orr/policy-guidance/refugees/policy-instructions/dcl-26-05
- https://acf.gov/orr/programs-services/refugees/contacts/state-contacts
- https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-eligibility/green-card-for-refugees
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-131
- https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/travel-documents
- https://www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams/common-scams
- https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211185
- https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110205005
- https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/422/422-0103.htm
- https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/
- https://us-dos.unqorkgov.state.gov/?#/display/68a77f413cdb0fe7ab8817a8
- https://www.dha.gov.za/
- https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap
- https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/refugees
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/Asylees_Refugees.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-131instr.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-afm/afm53-external.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-11-part-d
- https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-7-part-l-chapter-2
- https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-d-chapter-3
- https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/
- https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
- https://fam.state.gov/fam/01fam/01fam0520.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/high-risk-countries.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/foreign-vaccinated-high-risk-countries.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/dog-import-form-instructions.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/approved-labs.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-us/index.html
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/dogs
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/dogs/disease-status
- https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats
- https://www.fdacs.gov/Consumer-Resources/Animals/Animal-Movement/Dog-and-Cat-Movement-Requirements
- https://www.iata.org/en/programs/cargo/live-animals/pets/
- https://www.nda.gov.za/index.php/publication/433-export-procedures
- https://www.dlrrd.gov.za/images/Branches/Economica%20Development%20Trade%20and%20Marketing/international-trade-and-promotions/trade-facilitation/information-packs-18-august-2021/export-certification.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-131-addresses