General Orientation

This page has information about the decision to apply for asylum and other general topics. Applying for asylum is a personal choice. It may also be a complicated decision depending on your situation. In addition, immigration and asylum laws are complex and frequently change. As a result, in many cases, it will be best to find legal help and discuss the specifics of your case.

Scroll down or click on the links below to read questions and answers from the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP).

What is asylum?

Asylum is a form of immigration status for people who have come to the United States and are afraid to return to their country of origin. If you win asylum, the United States government cannot deport you.

To win asylum, you must show all of the following:

  • You have been harmed in the past, or you have good reason to believe that you will be harmed in the future, in your country of origin.

  • This harm is because of a specific characteristic like your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or something else about you that you cannot change or should not have to change.

  • The government of your country of origin will cause this harm, or the government will be unwilling or unable to protect you from this harm.

  • You would not be safe if you moved to another part of your country of origin.

You can watch this video (available in multiple languages) to better understand the requirements for asylum in the United States.

Who can apply for asylum?

Generally, you can apply for asylum if:

  • You are currently inside the United States. In order to apply for asylum, you must be inside the United States at the time of applying. If you are afraid of being harmed in your country of origin but you are not inside the United States, you may be able to apply for refugee status, which is a different process. Historically it has also been possible to apply for asylum at the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada, but those options are currently extremely limited and rapidly changing.

  • It has been less than one year since you arrived in the United States, or you qualify for an exception to the one-year deadline. For example, if you have a temporary legal status such as parole or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), you can apply for asylum, even if you have been in the United States for more than a year. You can also apply for asylum after your parole or TPS expires, but it is best to apply as soon as possible after your status expires.

However, the U.S. government prohibits people from getting asylum if:

  • You applied for asylum in the United States before, and you were denied. But you may be able to apply again if there are new circumstances that affect your asylum case.

  • The U.S. government tried to deport you before. If you have received a deportation order in the past, you are often not eligible to apply for asylum.

  • You were offered permanent lawful status in another country that is not your country of origin or the United States.

  • You have certain kinds of criminal convictions that the U.S. government considers “particularly serious.”

  • The U.S. government believes you have participated in terrorism or caused harm to others because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or other specific characteristics.

If you are not sure if you can apply for asylum, you may wish to find an attorney to understand your options.

Even if you cannot apply for asylum, you may still be able to apply for other forms of protection from deportation, such as withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

What are the possible benefits of applying for asylum?

The main benefit of applying for asylum in the United States is that you could eventually win asylum! If you win asylum:

  • You will be protected from deportation, and you will be able to live and work anywhere in the United States for as long as you want.

  • You will be able to request asylum for your spouse and for children who are currently not married and who were under the age of 21 when you submitted your application for asylum —even if they are outside of the United States or living in the United States without legal status.

  • You will be able to ask for permission from the government to travel outside of the United States and return to the United States.

  • You will have access to some public benefits and assistance that you did not have access to before you won asylum.

  • After you win asylum, you can choose to apply to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder). A few years after becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident, you can choose to apply to become a U.S. citizen.

Applying for asylum can also provide you with some protections even before the government makes a decision on your asylum application.  

  • If you already have a case in immigration court, applying for asylum should provide some protection against deportation while your asylum application is pending. For many people, if you applied for asylum in immigration court, you should not be deported until an immigration judge has decided whether or not to grant you asylum. If the judge does not grant you asylum, you will still have an opportunity to appeal the decision.

  • However, this could be changing. On January 24, 2025, the U.S. government announced that it has the power to end immigration court proceedings for people with pending asylum applications who have been in the U.S. for less than 2 years and did not have a visa when they entered the U.S. People in this situation could be put into a different, faster process called “expedited removal.” We do not yet know what will happen in practice, and many immigrant rights organizations are fighting back. 

  • In addition, having a pending asylum application unfortunately does not protect you from being detained. You can still be arrested and held in an ICE detention center while your asylum application is pending.

Finally, even before the government makes a decision on your asylum application, you can apply for a work permit while your asylum application is pending.

What are the possible risks of applying for asylum?

If you do not have a case in immigration court, the U.S. government may not know that you are in the country. Applying for asylum will alert immigration authorities that you are here. You will also need to provide your address to the government when you apply for asylum, and if you move, you are supposed to update your address with the government.

If an asylum officer does not grant you asylum and you do not have other immigration status, your case will be sent to immigration court. In immigration court, you will have another chance to fight for asylum. However, if an immigration judge denies your case, you could eventually be deported.

If you already have a case in immigration court, then the U.S. government already knows you are in the country, so some of these risks may not affect you. However, applying for asylum still gives the government more information about you than they had before. In the asylum application, you need to provide a lot of personal information, including your current address, information about your family members, and why you are afraid to return to your country of origin.

In addition, it is important to be honest in your asylum application. If the government thinks you lied about important facts about your asylum claim, they may say that your asylum application was “frivolous.” If that happens, the government may bar you from getting other types of immigration status, even if they are not related to asylum.

When do I need to apply for asylum?

Generally, you must submit your asylum application (Form I-589) within one year of arriving in the United States.

However, some people in specific situations may be able to apply for asylum even after one year of arriving in the United States. For example, children under 18 years old, people who have another type of immigration status, and others in special circumstances may be able to apply for asylum after one year. Read more here.

Also, even if you have been in the United States for more than a year, you may still qualify for other forms of protection under U.S. immigration law.

Can I apply for asylum without an attorney?

Yes, you can fill out the application for asylum (Form I-589) and apply for asylum on your own, without an attorney. Continue reading to learn more about the process!

However, applying for asylum can be easier to do with the help of a trusted lawyer or non-profit organization. You can find legal assistance here.

How do I apply for asylum?

The process of applying for asylum can be different depending on your situation. First, it is important to understand if you have a case in immigration court or not. Read here if you are not sure if you have a case in immigration court.

If you do NOT have a case in immigration court, you can apply for asylum with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Applying for asylum with USCIS is also called the “affirmative” asylum process.

If you DO have a case in immigration court, you most likely should apply for asylum in immigration court. Applying for asylum in immigration court is also called the “defensive” asylum process. However, there are some special circumstances when people who have an immigration court case should apply with USCIS.

For example, if you are under 18 years old and you are applying for asylum, you may be able to apply for asylum with USCIS, even if you have a case in immigration court. Find more information about applying for asylum as someone under 18 here.

Can I apply for asylum if I have parole or TPS?

Yes. If you already have a temporary legal status such as parole or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), you can also apply for asylum. Unlike parole or TPS, winning an asylum case means that you can apply for permanent residence (a green card) and United States citizenship in the future.

You can apply for asylum anytime while you have parole or TPS, even if you have been in the United States for more than a year. You can also apply for asylum after your parole or TPS expires, but it is best to apply as soon as possible after your status expires.

Do I have a case in immigration court?

If you are not sure if you have a case in immigration court, here are some ways to find out.

1. Review your immigration documents to see if you have received a Notice to Appear. If you have a Notice to Appear, this means that either you have a case in immigration court already, or the U.S. government is planning to start a case in immigration court against you in the future.

Then, enter your A Number (listed as the “File No.” on the Notice to Appear) on this immigration court system or call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180. If your information is in the system, your immigration court case has started. If your information is not in the system, your immigration court case has not started yet.

2. Review your other immigration documents to see if any of them lists an A Number. An A Number is an 8 or 9 digit number assigned to you by immigration officials. Some people have A Numbers, but some people do not.

If you have an A Number, enter your A Number on this immigration court system website or call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180. If your information is in the system, that means that you have a case in immigration court. If your information is not in the system, you do not have an active case in immigration court. However, it is possible that the U.S. government could start an immigration court against you in the future. You can continue to check the immigration court system occasionally.

3. Consider other information. You may have a case in immigration court if one of these circumstances applies to you:

  • You were detained by immigration when you entered the United States at the Mexico-U.S. border.

  • You were detained by immigration at some point after entering the United States.

  • You have check-in appointments with ICE.

  • The government told you to report to ICE after you arrived in the United States.

  • You applied for immigration status with USCIS, such as asylum, and USCIS did not grant you asylum.

  • You previously had a form of immigration status, such as parole or TPS, which has now expired.

If one of these circumstances applies to you, you may have a case in immigration court. Review your immigration documents and keep checking your mail to see if you receive a Notice to Appear. If you receive a Notice to Appear, that means the U.S. government has started or will start a case against you in immigration court.

If you are still unsure if you have a case in immigration court, you may want to find an attorney to understand your case status.

What is the difference between CBP, ICE, USCIS, and Immigration Court?

The U.S. government has multiple immigration agencies. Each agency is responsible for a different part of the immigration system. These agencies include: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Immigration Court (also called the Executive Office for Immigration Review or EOIR).

If you want to pursue your asylum case, it is very important to attend ALL your scheduled appointments and hearings. If you move, make sure to update your address with these agencies separately. The different agencies do not tell each other when someone has moved, so you need to update them separately.

  • CBP is the government agency that enforces immigration laws at the border, ports, and airports. They make an initial determination about who can enter the United States and who cannot. They can also arrest and detain people near the border.

  • ICE is the government agency that enforces immigration laws within the United States. ICE acts as the immigration “police.” They can detain people who they think violated immigration laws. Some people have regular check-in appointments with ICE. These check-in appointments sometimes happen with private companies that work for ICE, through a program called “ISAP.”

  • USCIS is the government agency that processes many immigration applications. If you do not have an immigration court case, you can apply for asylum with USCIS. Whether or not you have an immigration court case, USCIS is where you go for your biometrics appointment (where fingerprints are taken). USCIS also processes applications for work permits, permanent residence (green cards), U.S. citizenship, and more.

  • The immigration court is the government agency that decides whether certain immigrants can stay in the United States. If you apply for asylum in immigration court, an immigration judge will decide your case. An immigration court case is also called “immigration court proceedings,” “removal proceedings,” “deportation proceedings” or “EOIR.” If an immigration judge denies asylum, you can appeal to the next level of immigration court system, which is called the Board of Immigration Appeals.

How do I check the status of my case?

To learn the status of your case, first you need to know which immigration agency to check. Some asylum seekers have a case in immigration court. Other asylum seekers do not have a case in immigration court, and apply for asylum with USCIS. Whether your asylum case is with immigration court or with USCIS, your work permit application will be submitted to and processed by USCIS.

Immigration Court

USCIS

  • Check online at this USCIS webpageto find out the status of your application to USCIS, such as an application for asylum. For detailed instructions, see this flyer.

  • You will need to enter your receipt number, which you can find at the top left of your receipt notice.

  • If you have submitted an asylum application to USCIS and have not received a receipt notice after three months, learn what steps you can take.

Work Permits

What is my A Number?

An A Number is an identification number that is assigned to a non-citizen by the U.S. government. It is also known as an “alien number” or “alien registration number.” Each A Number is unique and nobody has the same A Number as you. An A number is usually 9-digits long, but can be 7 or 8 digits as well.

You can find your A Number in various documents you receive from USCIS, ICE, or immigration court. You can look at these sample documents to see where you can find your A Number on your immigration documents.

If you have not had any interactions with an immigration agency, it is possible that you do not have an A number yet. For example, you may not have an A number if you have never been detained, you have not submitted any applications, and you do not have an immigration court case. Additionally, if you were released from the border with a Notice to Report, you may not have an A number yet.

If you lost your immigration documents, you can ask the government to send you a copy of them, through a process called a “FOIA request.” You can watch this video about FOIA requests. You can submit a FOIA request to USCIS here. Please note that this process may take a long time.

What is this document that I got from the government?

Please take a look at these sample documents to see if one of them matches what you have received from the government. You can also try using Google Translateto translate text from English to another language.

How do I mail documents related to my immigration case?

You have a few different options for mailing documents related to your immigration case:

  • First, you can choose to send mail using the United States Postal Service (USPS), commonly known as the post office. USPS is run by the U.S. government. They offer several kinds of mailing services with tracking, such as Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. They also offer Regular Mail but it does not come with tracking. To find a post office near you, go to this website and enter your city and state. For the “Location Type,” select “Post Office.”

  • Or, you can choose to send mail using a private company such as Federal Express (FedEx) or United Parcel Service (UPS). The private companies are usually more expensive than the post office, but can often guarantee a faster delivery time.

Whatever option you choose, there are some important points to keep in mind:

  • It is important to have a way of tracking your mail and to have proof of delivery! Most mailing options except for Regular Mail at the post office should allow you to track your mail. Make sure to keep the tracking number (usually located on the receipt) somewhere safe. One way you can do this is to take a photo of the tracking number with your phone.

  • If you are given an option to have the recipient sign when they receive the package, do not choose this option! USCIS and immigration courts do not have staff available to sign for documents. This means your documents may not be delivered if you choose this option.

  • Make sure that you are sending your documents to the correct address. Sometimes USCIS uses one address for USPS, and a different address for the private companies UPS and FedEx.

You may also qualify to file online for asylum in certain situations, or to file online for a work permit based on asylum.

How can I avoid immigration scams?

Unfortunately, immigration scams or frauds are common in the United States. Sometimes it is hard to know what is a legitimate service and what is a scam. Do not pay money or give your personal information until you are completely sure! Read this post for tips about how to avoid immigration scams.

What if I am not satisfied with my lawyer?

If you are not satisfied with your lawyer, you can learn about possible steps below.

1. You can get a second opinion.

  • You can ask a different lawyer for their opinion. You can search for legal assistance here, including free and low-cost legal help and private attorneys who charge fees. 

  • If a lawyer says that they cannot help you, you can ask them if they have recommendations of other trustworthy lawyers in your area. Some offices only take certain types of cases so it can be helpful to call multiple offices.

  • You can also find information about the asylum process here.

2. You can get your documents from your lawyer. 

  • You have the right to a copy of any written contract for the lawyer’s services.

  • You have the right to a complete copy of all documents in your case, except for the lawyer’s personal notes. The lawyer may charge a reasonable fee to provide that copy, but cannot refuse to give it to you.

  • You have the right to all of your original documents, such as passports or birth certificates.

  • You also have the right to confidentiality. Your lawyer cannot share your documents or information that you tell them with the government or other people without your permission.

3. You can ask your lawyer for information about your case, to help you make decisions. 

  • You have the right to communication from your lawyer. If you ask questions, they must provide you with information about your case within a reasonable time.

  • If no one answers when you call your lawyer’s office, you can leave a voicemail with your name and phone number. And you can keep trying! You can also try going to your lawyer’s office in person during business hours. 

  • You have the right to make all important decisions in your case. Your lawyer should advise you what they think is best and why. But you have the right to make final decisions.

4. If you decide you do not want to continue working with your lawyer, you can fire them.

  • If you decide you do not want to continue working with your current lawyer, you have the right to fire them.

  • If the lawyer did not do all the work that you hired them to do, they may be required by law to return money to you. If you have a written contract, you can review it and compare what was promised to what was actually done. 

5. If you had a serious problem with your lawyer, you can file a complaint. 

  • To look up how to file a complaint against a lawyer in your state, Google “lawyer complaint in [your state]”.

  • If you were a victim of an immigration scam or fraud, learn about next steps.

Can I apply for a green card (permanent residence) after I win asylum?

Yes. However, on March 25, 2025, the news reported that the U.S. government has stopped issuing decisions on green card applications for most people who have won asylum (asylees). 

In general, you can apply for permanent residence by submitting a green card application (Form I-485) to USCIS. You should download the form directly from this USCIS webpage to make sure that you are getting the latest version of the form. 

You can submit a green card application any time after you win asylum. In the past, USCIS waited to decide on the green card application until after you had asylum for at least one year. However, right now, USCIS is reportedly not making decisions on green card applications based on asylum at all for most applicants. You can still submit a new application, but the government may likely not make a decision on it. 

You can find more information about applying for a green card after winning asylum on this USCIS website. You can also learn about applying for a work permit after winning asylum.

Note: This information is for adults who are seeking asylum in the United States without a lawyer. We hope this information helps you navigate the immigration process. This information is not intended to be legal advice and ASAP is not your lawyer. To look for legal assistance, visit ASAP’s find help page.