Our Role
Caseworkers and interpreters work together
to document a refugee's story of flight from his or her home
country. The staff then prepare a case file to be used by the
U.S. CIS.
Photo: CWS |
JVA/Nairobi works closely with the U.S. State Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and other implementing partners to provide pre- and post-CIS processing services for eligible refugees. JVA works in cooperation with partner agencies to improve, standardize, and streamline the processing of refugees for the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program.
JVA/Nairobi is responsible for the receipt of referrals to the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, researching, and opening of case files for all Priority 1, Priority 2 and Priority 3 applications for refugees in Eastern and Southern Africa. We also process Visa 92 and 93 applications for beneficiaries in Kenya wishing to join applicants who are already resettled in the United States.
- Upon receipt of an application or referral, JVA is responsible for the creation and management of accurate case files. The JVA Field Team conducts a series of verification/documentation interviews after the initial verification and then schedules the refugee applicant for an interview with an officer of the USCIS.
- It is the goal of JVA and USCIS to process refugees in their locations in the country of asylum through regular circuit rides. Personal security is a high priority for CWS; conditions in countries of processing must be politically stable in order for JVA to receive clearance to travel within their borders.
- JVA/Nairobi and OPE/Accra are the representatives, in sub-Saharan Africa, for 10 voluntary agencies responsible for the reception and placement of refugees resettled in the United States. (See U.S. Resettlement Agencies.)