US to open field office in Doha on May 7 to boost refugee processing

Qatar is a critical location and a regional refugee processing hub;

Biden administration sets refugee admissions ceiling for 2024 at 125,000 refugees.

NT Bureau

DOHA: US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced plans to open international field offices in Doha and Ankara to increase capacity for refugee processing, strengthen strategic partnerships, and facilitate interagency cooperation.

Agencies Athens: HE Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Qatar’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, held a meeting with Dr Mohammed bin Mubarak bin Daina, Oil and Environment Minister of Bahrain amd Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, on the sidelines of the ninth UN Our Ocean Conference, held in Athens, Greece, under the theme “Our Ocean… an Ocean of Potential”. Dr. Bin Daina welcomed the Qatari minister, highlighting the fraternal relations between the two countries and their peoples, Bahrain News Agency reports. He stressed the importance of enhancing bilateral, as well as regional and international cooperation in the environmental and climate fields to achieve sustainable development goals and climate security. The Qatari Minister of Environment and Climate Change lauded the Qatar-Bahrain relations, affirming his interest in developing bilateral cooperation and coordination in the fields related to preserving the environment and climate security. He wished the kingdom continued success in the environment and climate action.

“Opening these field offices establishes a USCIS presence and expertise in critical locations in the Middle East and is part of our commitment to the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to facilitate safe, lawful, and orderly migration and family reunification,” said USCIS Director Ur M Jaddou.

“Our presence in Qatar and Turkey expands USCIS’ footprint outside the United States, supports our humanitarian mission, and strengthens the integrity of the US immigration system.”

The Biden-Harris administration set the refugee admissions ceiling for fiscal year 2024 at 125,000 refugees.

Establishing USCIS field offices in Qatar and Turkey will support the US Refugee Admissions Program’s infrastructure in the region. It also will directly support long-established and increasing USCIS refugee processing circuit rides.

Qatar is a critical location and a regional refugee processing hub. Refugee coordinators from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), as well as a suboffice for the Resettlement Support Center for the Middle East and North Africa, are already in Qatar.

USCIS’ Doha Field Office will be located in the US embassy facility at Camp As Sayliyah, and staff will also periodically meet with the public for scheduled appointments at the US Embassy in Qatar, USCIS has announced.

With the opening of the Doha Field Office on May 7, 2024, and the Ankara Field Office on May 9, 2024, USCIS will have 11 international field offices. Other international field offices include Beijing; Guangzhou, China; Guatemala City; Havana; Mexico City; Nairobi, Kenya; New Delhi; San Salvador, El Salvador; and Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

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