How to apply for asylum in the U.S.
Asylum is a form of protection that allows you to stay in the United States. Get current information on seeking asylum in the USA. Learn if you are eligible and how to apply. Know how to prepare for the interview.
Important: New policies have been put in place that make seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border more difficult. Learn more.
What is asylum?
Asylum is a form of protection that allows you to stay in the USA if you have been persecuted or fear persecution in your home country because of your race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.
When you are granted asylum, you can:
- Stay in the USA legally with protection from detention and deportation
- Ask for asylum for your spouse and children
- Automatically qualify for a work permit to work in the USA
- Apply for a social security card, travel documents, Green Card, and citizenship
- Be eligible for resettlement services for a period of time, including financial and medical assistance, English classes, employment, and mental health services
What is persecution?
Persecution is when you are treated badly because of your race, religion, nationality, social group, or political opinion. This can include harm, threats, regularly being followed or watched, unfair arrest, torture, or being denied basic rights like the freedom to speak or practice your religion. It means feel unsafe and your life or freedom is in danger if you stay in your country.
Asylum requirements
You can seek asylum only if you:
- Fear persecution in your home country
- Are physically in the United States
- Arrived in the U.S. less than one year ago (with some exceptions)
- Have not already resettled in another country
- Have not committed certain crimes or are considered a threat to U.S. safety or security
Applying for asylum
You must apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the USA unless you meet an exception. There is no cost or fee to apply. The steps you take will be different depending on if you are seeking affirmative asylum, defensive asylum, or had a positive credible fear screening.
There are 3 ways to get asylum in the United States:
Affirmative asylum
The affirmative process is for people who are not in deportation or removal proceedings. An asylum officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reviews and decides affirmative cases.
Asylum merit interview
This is for people who were placed in expedited removal proceedings and had a positive determination in their credible fear screening. A USCIS asylum officer reviews and decides on the case.
Defensive asylum
The defensive process is for people who are in deportation or removal proceedings before an immigration judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). A judge reviews and decides on defensive cases.
You may be placed in removal proceedings if:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) claims you entered the USA without proper documents
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested you within the U.S. for not having legal status
- Your affirmative asylum was not approved
You need documents showing proof of your identity and nationality, a photograph, a written declaration, and country condition reports. You will need to provide certified translations of any documents that are not in English.
Yes. However, if you seek protection in the U.S. and enter outside of a port of entry you are now subject to a new rule that may make you ineligible for asylum. You may be eligible for lesser forms of protection such as Withholding of Removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture.
This new rule has been called an “asylum ban.” It also restricts who can go to a port of entry to seek protection without a CBP One appointment.
The U.S. government passed this rule to stop people from crossing outside of ports of entry, remove those deemed ineligible for protection faster, and encourage using the CBP One app.
This rule does not affect certain groups. You can still go to a port of entry and may still be eligible for asylum if you are:
- An unaccompanied child
- A victim of severe human trafficking
- Someone with a CPB appointment
- At extreme risk
Anyone authorized to enter the USA can do so at any time at a port of entry. This includes U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and noncitizens with valid visas or legal permission to enter the USA.
This asylum ban happens when the average number of daily crossings reaches 2,500. This number is often reached, so expect this rule to be in place regularly. The rule is lifted when crossings go down, which could take several weeks.
You cannot seek asylum at the U.S.-Canada border if you passed through Canada first unless you meet an exception. This is called the Safe Third Country rule. This rule requires you to apply for asylum in whichever country you arrive in first (the U.S. or Canada). Find more information about this rule.
In some cases, you might be able to apply after being in the U.S. for one year. If you missed the deadline, you must meet strict requirements:
- Changes in the conditions in your country of origin
- Activities you have become involved in that change your fear of persecution
- Previously been a dependent on someone else’s pending asylum application
- A serious illness or mental or physical disability interfered with your ability to apply within one year
- Legal disability, such as your status as an unaccompanied child or you suffered from a mental impairment
- You were wrongly advised by your legal counsel
- Afghan parolees may qualify for an exception to the 1-year filing deadline
| The asylum process is very complicated. It is important to review your options for legal help. Many organizations and lawyers offer free or low-cost legal services and support. You have a better chance of getting asylum with an immigration attorney or accredited immigration representative. They can help you complete your application and prepare for your interview or hearing. |
Affirmative asylum process
You must be in the U.S. or at a port of entry to apply for asylum. A port of entry can be an airport, seaport, or border crossing. If you are not in removal proceedings, you can apply for affirmative asylum directly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
You need to fill out and submit Form I-589.
You can list your husband, wife, or unmarried children under 21 as dependents on your application if they are in the United States. They will get the same decision in the asylum case as you.
They can also apply separately if they have been persecuted or fear persecution. An attorney can help you decide which is best. Children over the age of 21 or married children must file their asylum applications separately.
- An asylum officer with USCIS will review your application and send you a receipt notice.
- There are currently delays in issuing receipts. For purposes of the one-year filing deadline, affirmative asylum interview scheduling priorities, and Employment Authorization Document eligibility, your filing date will still be the date USCIS received your Form I-589.
- You will receive a fingerprinting appointment notice with your local Application Support Center (ASC).
- You will receive a notice scheduling you for an interview with an asylum officer at the closest USCIS office.
You can check the status of your application online by typing in your receipt number.
You may ask USCIS to expedite your asylum interview to process it faster if you meet certain requirements such as serious financial harm.
USCIS is interviewing new applicants first and working back towards the list of older filings. The scheduling order is:
- Applicants who were originally scheduled for an interview, but had to be rescheduled for certain reasons.
- Applications that have been pending for 21 days or less.
- All other pending affirmative asylum applications start with newer filings and work back toward older filings.
An asylum officer will review your asylum application and ask you questions about your fear of returning to your home country. A lawyer can help you prepare and be at your interview. Learn what to expect at the affirmative asylum interview.
If you need language support, you must bring an interpreter to your asylum interview. Your interpreter must be 18 years or older. Your interpreter must be fluent in English and your language. Your interpreter cannot have a pending asylum case. Your attorney or accredited representative, witness, and anyone involved in your case cannot serve as your interpreter.
The law guides USCIS to make a decision on asylum cases within 180 days of receiving applications. You may have to wait longer due to the current backlog. Many asylum cases are waiting to be processed.
USCIS will let you know when you can pick up your decision at the asylum office that interviewed you. USCIS may mail your decision to your home if it takes longer to process your claim.
While you wait for a decision, you should:
- Apply for a work permit. If you are a pending asylum seeker you must wait 150 days before applying.
- Avoid traveling outside the U.S. except for emergencies. If you must leave the country, you will need to file Form I-131 with USCIS to re-enter the USA. You may not be allowed back into the country.
Yes. If you are denied asylum, you can ask for a judge to review your decision given by the asylum officer. This will put you in defensive asylum processing. An immigration judge will review your case and give a new decision.
Credible fear screening process
If you are placed in expedited removal proceedings and say you want to apply for asylum, you will be referred to USCIS for a credible fear screening.
A USCIS asylum officer will conduct an interview to determine whether you have a credible fear of persecution or torture. They may offer you a second interview called the Asylum Merit Interview or refer you to an immigration judge for the defensive asylum process.
Asylum merit interview
If you have an Asylum Merit Interview, they will consider if you are eligible for protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). If they decide you are, you will be granted asylum. The written record of the positive credible fear determination will act as your application for asylum. You will not need to file Form I-589.
Defensive asylum process
If you are in a U.S. immigration detention center or removal proceedings, you can apply for defensive asylum with an immigration judge. If you do not have an asylum application already on file, you must fill out and submit Form I-589.
Your case will be defensive asylum if you:
- are placed in removal proceedings after USCIS did not grant you affirmative asylum
- were subject to expedited removal, found to have a credible fear, and were issued a Notice to Appear (instead of an Asylum Merit Interview)
- are placed in removal proceedings by ICE or CBP for immigration violations
The asylum process is very complicated. It is important to review your options for legal help.
- An immigration judge with EOIR will review your application and send you a receipt notice.
- You will receive a fingerprinting appointment notice with your local Application Support Center (ASC).
- You will receive a hearing notice with an immigration judge to present your asylum claim.
You can check the status of your court case online or by calling the EOIR hotline at 1 (800) 898-7180.
TIPS: Be sure to go to all of your appointments with ICE and your court hearings with EOIR.
If you move, send a change of address form to ICE and EOIR within 5 days of moving.
The individual or merits hearing is when a judge listens to your story. Your lawyer and the ICE lawyer will ask you questions. You may also have witnesses speak on your behalf.
You will be provided an interpreter if you are not fluent in English.
The law guides EOIR to make a decision on asylum cases within 180 days of receiving applications. You may have to wait longer due to the current backlog. Many asylum cases are waiting to be processed.
The immigration judge will likely give their decision at the end of your final hearing. The immigration judge may choose to mail you a written decision shortly after your final hearing.
Yes. You can appeal the decision of the immigration judge to a higher court called the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). You must file Form EOIR-26, a Notice of Appeal, within 30 days of the date of your decision. An immigration attorney or accredited representative can help you with this.
If you are not eligible for asylum, you can see if you are eligible for another immigration status.
Next steps after being granted asylum
- Get help with resettlement services.
- Apply for a social security card.
- Get a driver’s license or state identification card.
- Find a job. You can work without having to apply for a work permit or EAD.
- Travel outside the U.S. You must first apply for a travel permit. File Form I-131 with USCIS before your trip. A travel document is valid for one year.
- Ask to bring your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years to the U.S. Learn more about family reunification.
- Apply for a Green Card one year after receiving asylum.
- Apply for citizenship 4 years after receiving lawful permanent residence (Green Card).
Know how to protect yourself from notarios and fake websites. Learn what to do if you have been a victim of fraud.
The information on this page comes from DHS, USCIS, and other trusted sources. We aim to offer easy to understand information that is updated regularly. This information is not legal advice.
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