Find Help
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) has created and compiled many resources for individuals seeking asylum in the United States. Our hope is that you will use this information to better understand the process, find help near you, and take control of your case!
Work Permits and Asylum
Click on the links below to learn how to apply for asylum, how to apply for a work permit, and more.
Non-Immigration Topics
Click on the links below to read ASAP posts for asylum seekers about other topics. These posts also include information about how to find help near you!
Find an Immigration Lawyer
We hope that the links below can help you find an immigration lawyer near you! You will need to contact the offices directly for details about their services.
Immigration nonprofits: Enter your zip code or select your U.S. state to find local organizations that may offer free or low cost legal help. A zip code is the 5-digit number at the end of your U.S. mailing address.
Private immigration lawyers: These private immigration lawyers were recommended to ASAP by other local nonprofits. ASAP does not know these lawyers personally. Private lawyers usually charge money, but you can always ask if they can offer payment plans.
If no one answers when you call an office, you can leave a voicemail with your name and phone number. And you can keep trying!
If the lawyer says that they cannot help you, you can ask them if they have recommendations of other lawyers in your area or click on the links above to search for a different lawyer. Some offices only take certain types of cases.
Find Help in an Emergency
Call 911 if you are having an emergency. You can also go to the nearest hospital emergency room. You can go to a hospital emergency room even if you do not have health insurance.
If you are having a mental health crisis, there are people who are there to help at any time of day, for free. You can call or text the number 988 (Lifeline). You can also text any message to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line).
If you are experiencing domestic violence, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 or chat with someone on their website to get support and talk about your options. Their services are free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find Other Local Services
Here are some links to help you find other local services. If you call an office and they cannot help, ask them if they have recommendations in your area!
Call 211 in many areas of the United States to get help with things like housing, food, transportation, and health care.
Informed Immigrant: enter your zip code to find lawyers, social workers, and community organizations that serve immigrants. A zip code is the 5-digit number at the end of your U.S. mailing address.
USAHello: enter your city to find a variety of services including job advice, lawyers, and English classes.
Las Americas: click on the name of your city to find legal and other services, including housing and food assistance.
LawHelp: enter your state to find free legal services for housing issues, problems at work, and more.
FindHelp: enter your zipcode to find free or low-cost services, including legal help and food assistance.
Join ASAP and Get Answers to Your Asylum Questions
ASAP is the largest community of asylum seekers in U.S. history. Becoming an ASAP member provides you with opportunities to: (1) access critical resources about the asylum process, (2) ask questions to expert immigration attorneys, and (3) work with other ASAP members to improve the asylum system. Learn more about ASAP membership and become a member!
If you are a member of ASAP and you have a question about your asylum case, you can email your question to info@asylumadvocacy.org. Please include your ASAP member ID in your email if you are able to. Once we receive your question, our team of expert immigration attorneys will answer your question by replying to your email.
What kinds of questions can ASAP answer?
Our attorneys focus on answering questions about applying for asylum and applying for work permits based on pending asylum applications. For other types of immigration questions, we may give a less detailed or helpful response. If a question is not related to immigration, we may not be able to answer it.
What information should I include in my email?
Your email should include your legal question and as much information as you feel comfortable sharing about your situation. Here is some information that could be helpful to include:
Are you currently located in the United States or in another country? If you are located in the United States, what city and state are you living in?
Have you begun the process of seeking asylum or do you plan to seek asylum?
Please also include your ASAP member ID in your email if you are able to.
ASAP keeps members’ personal information confidential and does not share information about members without permission. See our privacy policy here.
How quickly will ASAP respond?
If we receive many questions at once, it may take us multiple weeks to send a response. We will do our best to reply as quickly as possible, but we currently serve more than 600,000 members with a small team of lawyers.
Will ASAP charge me money to answer my question?
No. We answer our members’ questions about asylum for free.
If anyone says they work for ASAP and asks you for money in exchange for immigration services, they are not telling the truth. They do not work for ASAP.
How can I become a member of ASAP?
You can become a member by filling out this Membership Application form. ASAP membership is free. One benefit of ASAP membership is that you can ask questions and get answers from expert immigration attorneys for free.
Can ASAP become my lawyer?
No. Unfortunately, ASAP cannot become your lawyer. We will try to answer your questions to help you apply for asylum on your own. We can also give you information about how to find legal help in your area. But due to capacity constraints, ASAP cannot provide you with a lawyer for your case. We are sorry we cannot do more.
Can I speak with someone on the phone?
No. Unfortunately, ASAP cannot answer members’ questions on a phone call or in person. We cannot do this because our team is small and we receive a very large number of member questions. We are sorry we cannot do more.