ASAP Members
Become a Member
ASAP welcomes new members who are asylum seekers in the United States age 14 or over. Members learn how to apply for asylum and work permits, receive news updates, and come together to build a more welcoming United States. ASAP membership and services are free.
Membership Application (English)
Solicitud de Membresía (Español)
Not an asylum seeker? You can sign up for ASAP’s general newsletter here!
View My Membership Card
Use your member ID to access your membership card. If you are having trouble, please read this FAQ.
Update My Information
If your ASAP membership has already been approved and (1) the name on your membership card is incorrect OR (2) you would like to update your contact information, please fill out this survey for updating information.
The Benefits of ASAP Membership
If you are an asylum seeker who is 18 years old or older, becoming an ASAP member provides you with opportunities to: (1) access legal resources and information about the asylum process, (2) ask questions to expert immigration attorneys, and (3) work with other ASAP members to improve the asylum system.
If you are 14 to 17 years old, you will immediately receive an ASAP membership card, but you will begin to receive the benefits below when you turn 18.
(1) ASAP members gain access to legal resources about the asylum process that are viewed thousands of times each month.
ASAP regularly sends members resources about the asylum process by text message and email. Viewable from a cell phone, ASAP’s video and written resources help members to learn critical information about the asylum process. By signing up for ASAP membership, asylum seekers gain access to new resources as soon as they are published.
One member shared, “Browsing through your website for the last few days gave us so much information and what’s more important — hope.”
Another member wrote, “Thanks to your instructions, I filled out my work permit application and it was approved!”
(2) ASAP members have the opportunity to ask questions of expert immigration attorneys.
ASAP members can ask questions that are answered by our team of expert immigration attorneys. These attorneys have answered thousands of ASAP members’ questions about every aspect of the asylum process, including how to seek asylum with USCIS, how to seek asylum in immigration court, how to apply for a work permit, and more.
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.
After receiving a response from one of ASAP’s expert immigration attorneys, one member wrote: “Thank you so much for your help! Your email helped me to retrieve all the necessary information for a change of address, and I have managed to successfully change our address for everyone in our family.”
(3) ASAP members set ASAP’s priorities and work together to improve the asylum system.
ASAP members vote to collectively set ASAP’s priorities and guide ASAP’s work. For example, we asked ASAP members to share their ideas for how to improve the asylum system, and thousands of members responded! These ideas now guide ASAP’s decisions about what issues to focus on in our efforts to make the asylum system work better for asylum seekers.
ASAP members also receive opportunities to work together to address specific issues. For example, in 2020, thousands of ASAP members came together to challenge new rules that made it harder for asylum seekers to get work permits. Hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers were able to receive work permits as a result of members’ efforts.
Finally, ASAP members also receive opportunities to speak out. ASAP members have spoken to national media outlets and high-ranking U.S. government officials about topics such as access to work permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for ASAP membership?
ASAP welcomes new members who are asylum seekers in the United States, age 14 or over, who believe in ASAP’s mission. We welcome individuals at any stage in the asylum process to apply!
Can someone who is under the age of 14 apply to become an ASAP member?
No. ASAP does not accept membership applications for individuals who are under 14 years old. However, if you are a member of ASAP, your benefits extend to your children who are under 14 years old and seeking asylum in the United States.
How can I apply for ASAP membership?
Please fill out our Membership Application online! You can fill out the membership application from a phone or a computer. If you need help filling out ASAP’s membership application, please watch this video.
After we review your application, we will send you the results by text message at the phone number you provided in your membership application. Review can take up to 1 week.
What should I do if I cannot find my member ID?
When you joined ASAP, you should have received a text message with your member ID. Try searching for “ASAP” in your text messages to find it.
If you still cannot find your member ID, please fill out a new Membership Application. If ASAP can locate your information in our system, we will text you your member ID after you complete the new application. If ASAP cannot locate your information in our system, we will process your new membership application within one week.
If I become an ASAP member, will ASAP become my immigration attorney?
No. Your membership does not mean that ASAP is your lawyer. We encourage all of our members to secure an independent immigration lawyer if possible. You can learn about how to find legal help on this page.
Does it cost money to become a member of ASAP?
No. ASAP membership is completely free and voluntary, and there is no fee required to submit ASAP’s membership application or to maintain your ASAP membership.
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.
If I become an ASAP member, will ASAP share my information with the government or others?
No. ASAP keeps members’ personal information confidential and does not share information about members without permission. See our privacy policy here.
Can I speak to someone at ASAP by phone?
Unfortunately, due to a very high number of requests, we do not have capacity to connect by phone. Please visit our resources page for information that may be useful. Or, email your questions to info@asylumadvocacy.org.