For the United States a refugee is a person who:

• Is outside the United States
• Is of special humanitarian concern to the United States
• Demonstrates that he or she has been persecuted or is in fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a certain social group
• Has not permanently resettled in another country
• Is eligible for admission to the United States.

Application:

1 - Contact a nearby UNHCR or USRP office.

• Depending on the country you are in, you may need to start by contacting a representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or the United States Refugee Program (USRP) in your location. That office can submit you for an initial assessment, issue a "refugee" designation in your case, and put you in contact with a USCIS office for further processing.

2 - Contact a nearby USCIS office

• Your next step is to find a USCIS office that can provide you with the application form and other necessary materials and guide you through what is required. This is also the office that will make a decision on your application. A USCIS office is not the same as a U.S. embassy or consulate, although you can certainly enlist the help of the embassy or consulate to direct you to a USCIS office.

3 - Form I-590 and other forms

• You must have received a referral to the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to receive refugee consideration. For more information about referral criteria, see the Worldwide Processing Priorities and USRAP Consultations link.
• If you receive a referral, you will receive assistance in completing your application. After that, a USCIS officer will interview you abroad to determine if you are eligible for refugee resettlement. For more information about eligibility, see the Refugee Eligibility Determination page.
• Your case may include your spouse, your children (unmarried and under 21), and, in certain limited circumstances, other members of your family. You may include your same-sex partner on your application if you and your spouse are legally married. Generally, USCIS considers the law of the place where the marriage took place when determining whether the marriage is valid for immigration law purposes. Same-sex couples who are not married but who are qualified to access the U.S. Refugee Admissions program under one of the three globally designated processing priorities may have their cases partnered so that they can be interviewed at the same time, and, if approved by USCIS, resettled in the same geographic area in the United States.

Other considerations:

• You do not have to pay a fee to apply for refugee status. The information you provide will not be disclosed to your home country.
• As a refugee, you may work immediately upon arrival in the United States. When you are admitted to the United States, you will receive a Form I-94 with a refugee admission stamp. In addition, Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, will be processed for you to receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). While you are waiting for your EAD, you may present your Form I-94, Record of Entry/Exit to your employer as proof that you have permission to work in the United States.
• Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) One year after arriving in the U.S. you may apply for permanent residence by filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Refugees do not have to pay a fee to file Form I-485 but must pay the biometrics fee. More details, here.

More details  here.

More information here.