One-off deal to send refugees to US

HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT'S US REFUGEE DEAL WORK?

* Refugees who are now on Nauru and Papua New Guinea's Manus Island will get the chance to resettle in the United States

* One-time only offer for up to 1250 asylum seekers

* Priority will be given to women, children and families

* Does not extend to people found not to be refugees

* Not available to any asylum seekers sent to Nauru or Manus Island in the future

* US Homeland Security officials have begun vetting refugees to decide which will be accepted

* US President Donald Trump described the deal as "dumb" during a fiery phone conversation with Prime Malcolm Turnbull shortly after his inauguration

* Vice-President Mike Pence reaffirmed the Trump administration's reluctant commitment to the deal, during his visit to Australia on Saturday.