Who is Eligible for Benefits and Services?

Individuals must provide acceptable documentation of one of the statuses determined by the Office of Refugee Resettlement to be eligible for MORA benefits and services. You may be eligible for services if you meet one of the following conditions:

  • Individuals admitted or paroled into the U.S. as refugees under Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
  • Individuals granted asylum under Section 208 of the INA, or paroled as asylees under Section 212(d)(5) of the INA
  • Cuban or Haitian nationals paroled into the U.S., or who are the subject of removal, deportation or exclusion proceedings under the INA and with respect to whom a final, non-appealable, and legally enforceable order of removal, deportation or exclusion20 has not been entered
  • Certain Amerasians from Vietnam admitted to the US pursuant to Section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Appropriations Act, 1988
  • Victims of a severe form of trafficking certified by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
  • Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders
  • Afghan nationals paroled into the United States between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2023, known as Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (AHPs) OR family members (spouses, children, parents/caregivers) of AHPs already residing in the U.S. paroled after September 30, 2023
  • Ukrainian nationals, as well as non-Ukrainian individuals who last habitually resided in Ukraine, paroled into the United States between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2023, due to urgent humanitarian reasons or for significant public benefit, known as Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees (UHPs), OR family members (spouses, children, parents/caregivers) of UHPs already residing in the U.S. paroled after September 30, 2023
  • Lawful permanent residents who previously held one of the above statuses

Clients are subject to additional eligibility requirements for certain programs, such as income, length of time in the U.S., age, or household composition. Most MORA programs are limited to clients who have held an eligible immigration status for 5 years or less, per the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 45, Section 400.150.

All clients must verify Maryland residency in an applicable jurisdiction/county to receive services.

Enrollment in MORA programs is subject to provider capacity.