Comprehensive Overview of Immigration Law (COIL) Practice Exam

If a refugee's adjustment application is approved, when does their LPR status become effective?

1. Upon application approval

2. Date of first admission as a refugee

3. Upon receipt of the green card

4. At the end of the refugee status

The correct answer is: Date of first admission as a refugee

The effective date of a refugee's Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status is based on the date of their first admission as a refugee. This reflects the legal framework that grants a refugee status and subsequently the adjustment to LPR status. When a refugee applies for adjustment and that application is approved, their LPR status is treated as having been established from the time they first entered the U.S. as a refugee, which is critical for various benefits and responsibilities that arise from their residency status, including eligibility for certain programs and the accrual of time toward citizenship. This interpretation aligns with both immigration laws and practices, which recognize the unique situation of refugees and provide them with a pathway to permanent residency that is retroactively effective from their initial admission date. Such an approach acknowledges their protection needs and the continuity of their status from refugee to LPR, offering them stability and a clearer pathway to citizenship.