Solutions

• If you are a refugee and you seek UNHCR’s support in returning to your country, you may send the application by email ([email protected]) or by post (UNHCR, B- 2/16, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110057) or call UNHCR on the toll free number. After the screening of your application, you will be invited for an interview with UNHCR staff. Please mention the language in which you wish to have the interview so that interpreter arrangements can be made accordingly. A valid passport or travel document is required from those seeking support to return to their home country, or their willingness to acquire one. UNHCR staff will keep you informed about the process and policy on return to your country of origin. Note that requests for support from refugees will not be processed at the UNHCR registration centre in Vikas Puri. UNHCR staff will keep you informed about the process and policy on return to your country of origin.
• If you are an asylum seeker and you would like to return to your country, you may approach UNHCR Registration Centre at Vikas Puri with a signed application requesting asylum withdrawal. You can also send the application, mentioning a phone number on which you can be reached, by email ([email protected]) or by post (UNHCR, B- 2/16, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi-110057).

• Resettlement means that a refugee leaves his/her country of asylum and legally settles in another country. Only recognized refugees may be eligible for resettlement.
• Resettlement is a limited option for individuals that meet specific criteria that are applied to identify cases in an objective and transparent manner.
• No refugee has the right to resettlement. While it is UNHCR’s obligation to ensure the protection of refugees where necessary by promoting their resettlement, resettlement is not automatic. Globally, resettlement has always been an option for a small group of refugees and the needs are much more than available places. UNHCR India also continues to have very few resettlement places, as resettlement countries offer only a limited number of resettlement places every year to India. Resettlement is benefits less than 1% of the refugee population worldwide.
• Thus refugees need to understand and accept that you may never be able to benefit from resettlement and you should work towards self-reliance in India, if the option for safe and sustainable return to the country of origin is currently not available.
• UNHCR refers limited number of cases to resettlement countries. The resettlement country is the final decision maker and acceptance by this country is not automatic.
• If you have been told by anyone that you would automatically be resettled from India before you came here, you were misled.
• The length of time you have spent in India is not a resettlement criteria. UNHCR applies specific criteria, established by resettlement countries and UNHCR, when identifying refugees for resettlement. UNHCR uses these criteria to identify cases in an objective and transparent manner.
• The decision to accept a refugee for resettlement remains with the resettlement country, not UNHCR. Decisions on resettlement are not taken by any individual staff member of UNHCR or its partners, whether in India or globally.
• UNHCR, partner staff, community leaders, members of the community or any other person cannot promise resettlement. All resettlement documents, information and services are FREE of charge.
• UNHCR may be compelled to consider you ineligible for resettlement if you demand resettlement in an abusive, aggressive or violent manner, including by camping outside the UNHCR or partner offices, by indulging in violent protest. The same may happen if you display abusive aggressive or threatening behavior towards UNHCR or partner staff, guards or other refugees or asylum seekers, if you self-harm.
• Committing fraud in the resettlement process is breaking the law and may result not only in the closure of your case’s resettlement file, but also in criminal prosecution. Misrepresenting family composition, or providing false information, is a form of fraud. If fraud is discovered after resettlement it can have serious consequences resulting in a cancellation of residence permit and possible deportation.
• Should UNHCR or partner staff, leaders or members of the refugee community or any other persons ask for money or favors in lieu of resettlement, please report this immediately to UNHCR through
  • the complaint box (red color box) which is available at all UNHCR and partner locations,
  • email: [email protected], if possible with supporting evidence.
  • You can also contact UNHCR’s Inspector General’s Office (IGO) by
    • confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80,
    • confidential email: [email protected],
    • post: 94 rue de Montbrillant, CP 2500, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland,
    • submitting a complaint form available on https://www.unhcr.org/igo-complaints.html.
  • Any false accusation would be taken up seriously.
• For further general information on resettlement please see the UNHCR resettlement website. UNHCR also has frequently asked questions about resettlement www.unhcr.org/4ac0873d6.html
• Since resettlement is not based on requests made by the individuals, please do not send letters or emails requesting resettlement.

Foreign countries have different family reunification schemes (for spouses and dependent family members) and most of them require an interview to obtain a visa. Many countries have sponsorship programmes in which an adult family member, citizen of that country or someone with permanent residence status and a certain level of minimum income, can sponsor certain dependents living abroad. All these family reunification sponsorship schemes require that the sponsors initiate the process in the country of reunification. Countries with sponsorship schemes for family reunification are Canada, Australia and the USA, among others. For further information please check the website of the particular country.