When US citizens are abroad and visiting foreign soil there are no guarantees that the unexpected won’t happen. If events impact your safety, health, security, or personal finances, you may be eligible to be repatriated to California. We will discuss how the Repatriation Program works, who it is for, and how you can apply for consideration. We will also provide contact information if you need to begin your application right away.
- What is the Repatriation Program in California?
- What assistance does the Repatriation Program in California offer?
- Who is eligible for the Repatriation Program in California?
- How to apply for the Repatriation Program in California
- How long does repatriation normally take?
- Return Home Safely with the California Repatriation Program
- FAQ’s
What is the Repatriation Program in California?
The Repatriation Program delivers temporary assistance to US citizens who the Department of State judges to be in urgent need of returning home from overseas. The program also covers any dependents who are traveling with the primary citizen listed on the application for repatriation.
Repatriation programs are common practice for all countries that actively assist their traveling citizens. The idea is that when personal finances and resources make a timely return impossible, the state will step in and oversee the process of going home. This is essential for citizens who would otherwise not be able to come home.
What assistance does the Repatriation Program in California offer?
The program is comprehensive in terms of the level of support it can offer eligible citizens and includes:
- 💵 Cash that can be placed directly in the hands of citizens in countries where electronic forms of payment may not be accessible or operational
- 🏠 Safe shelter from the elements and any hostile parties on foreign soil who are putting a citizen’s life in danger
- ✈️Transportation, both at a local level and internationally if a flight or voyage is required to get home
- 🧑💻Personal case management by an experienced State Department aide who is fluent in any local languages and dialects and sensitive to cultural clashes that may occur
- 🚑 Medical assistance to treat serious injuries, severe illnesses, and the worsening of pre-existing chronic conditions
👉 The program also provides assistance if you need to apply for long-term government programs once you return home, such as disability benefits and disaster unemployment assistance.
Who is eligible for the Repatriation Program in California?
The Department of State is tasked with identifying eligible individuals and their dependents who will qualify for state-funded repatriation. While these types of complex cases are always assessed in detail and on an individual basis, the following circumstances will virtually always result in timely repatriation:
- You are suffering from a severe illness, whether acute or chronic, that makes it impossible for you to return home by private means
- You have encountered financial hardship or destitution and have no way of making a private trip back to California
- You are stuck in the middle of a rapidly evolving humanitarian crisis due to a natural disaster, political upheaval, or armed conflict
How to apply for the Repatriation Program in California
To be repatriated you have to contact the US embassy in the foreign country you are currently in. You don’t have to have any form of resident status in the country, you simply have to be within its borders at the point you make contact.
The nature of repatriations means that there is no one-size-fits-all form that you need to complete. As well as establishing direct contact with your local embassy, we highly recommend the following key steps:
- Contact the Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) using 916 654-4356
- Read the condensed repatriation fact sheet for California to learn more
- Connect with Adult Protect Services in your home county by clicking here if you have concerns about loved ones who are currently in the US
👉 While this may sound like an open-ended process for what is a serious issue, rest assured that your local US embassy will guide you through everything without delay.
How long does repatriation normally take?
Repatriation times will vary due to different geographic locations, health issues, and local political stability. The process averages between 5 and 15 days and the State Department goes to great lengths to ensure that US resources and access to financial aid are never delaying factors.
Return Home Safely with the California Repatriation Program
Repatriation is a safe, secure, and state-funded ticket home for US citizens and their dependents who are unable to leave foreign soil. The process is overseen from beginning to end by the State Department, who you can contact by visiting your local US embassy. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/refugee-services/repatriation
FAQ’s
1. Who oversees the repatriation program?
The State Department’s Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR) oversees repatriation and can provide ongoing support once you return home.
2. Why do we need a repatriation program?
Repatriation is simply the process by which the state intervenes when a private citizen is unable to make it home by their means. It is essential to protect the freedom and liberty of all Americans.
3. Are there safe alternative programs for repatriation?
No, the best approach is always to contact your local US embassy as this will give you full access to all legal channels. They will give you a detailed breakdown of the range of services they can provide and how they are going to get you home.
