Written by ASAP’s expert immigration lawyers · Updated
ASAP members: This page has links to resources from previous ASAP member updates. For our most recent updates, visit this page.
February 4, 2026
Unfortunately, immigration judges and USCIS can require the annual asylum fee again. The fee is now $102. If you do not pay the annual asylum fee by the deadline the government sets in your case, your asylum application could be denied or dismissed. Read more about the immigration court annual asylum fee and the USCIS annual asylum fee, including how to know if your fee is due and how to pay it.
Previously, the annual asylum fee was paused because of ASAP members’ lawsuit. But on February 2, 2026, the judge ended that pause.
There is an updated work permit application. To receive a social security card for the first time, you must now apply separately, after you receive a work permit. Learn how to apply for a work permit and social security number.
Read questions and answers about immigration court hearings and ICE check-ins.
Read information about preparing in case of an emergency.
Unfortunately, TPS for Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua have ended, but immigrants are continuing to fight the termination through a lawsuit. TPS for Burma (Myanmar), Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria are valid for now, thanks to immigrants’ victories in court. Read updates for every country with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
See more updates about how laws are changing.
In December, you told us that work permits are your top priority. Please complete this work permit survey to tell us your biggest concerns [Survey is closed].
January 13, 2026
New work permits for asylum seekers will be valid for 18 months, instead of 5 years. However, if you received a 5-year work permit on or before December 4, 2025, it is still valid for 5 years.
USCIS has stopped approving new immigration benefits for individuals from 40 countries, including work permit renewals, asylum, and green cards. Initial work permits based on seeking asylum should still be processed.
Some immigration judges are starting to require the new $100 annual asylum fee in immigration court. But USCIS is currently not requiring anyone to pay the fee.
Immigration judges are starting to require the annual asylum fee, even though a federal judge paused the fee in ASAP members' lawsuit. ASAP is fighting back.
If you receive an annual asylum fee notice from the immigration court, you can pay online by the deadline, and save a copy of your receipt. Even if you have not received a notice, you can still choose to pay the fee now if you are able to, as long as your asylum application has been pending for more than 1 year.
TPS for Somalia is ending on March 17, 2026. TPS for Ethiopia is ending on February 13, 2026. Immigrants won court victories stopping the government from ending TPS for Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, South Sudan, and Syria for now. Read updates for every country with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments about whether the birthright citizenship Executive Order is legal, as part of a lawsuit filed by a different organization. Today, all babies born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens.
Thank you to the more than 3,000 members who filled out last month’s survey about what policies are most important to you! Read the survey results.
ASAP is working with businesses to fight for access to work permits.
Initial work permit delays improved in November and December, but fewer total work permits were processed.
Learn how to check the status of your case.
Stay up-to-date on how laws are changing for asylum seekers.
December 3, 2025
January 7 Update: Some immigration judges are sending notices to asylum seekers stating that the $100 annual asylum fee in immigration court is due. If you receive a notice, it should include a deadline, and you can pay online. This is happening even though a federal judge had previously paused the annual asylum fee in ASAP members' lawsuit. We do not believe that USCIS is starting to charge the fee again.
Work permits issued after December 4, 2025 to asylum seekers will be valid for 18 months, instead of 5 years. However, if you received a 5-year work permit on or before December 4, 2025, it is still valid for 5 years. This change also applies to some other immigrants.
At this time, USCIS is not approving new immigration benefits for individuals from 40 countries, including asylum, green cards, and renewal work permits. The government also made other negative announcements affecting individuals from these countries.
USCIS is also pausing all asylum decisions for individuals from any country, but they say they will still accept new asylum applications and conduct interviews.
We do not know if immigration court cases will be impacted by the pause. But here are some things to know before your next immigration court hearing.
Asylum seekers can apply for commercial driver’s licenses again. The government tried to stop many immigrants from receiving CDLs, but a court blocked the change for now.
TPS for Burma (Myanmar) is ending on January 26, 2026. TPS for Haiti is ending on February 3, 2026. Courts have stopped TPS for Syria and South Sudan from ending for now. Read updates for every country with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Initial work permit delays have increased.
ASAP and our partners in the Work Permit Coalition are advocating for automatic work permit extensions.
Read about safety measures and other information for asylum seekers.
Read more about how laws are changing for asylum seekers.
With so many changes, we want to understand what issues ASAP members care about most. Please respond to this short survey by December 8 [Survey is closed].
November 13, 2025
In early October, ASAP members filed a lawsuit challenging the unfair new annual asylum fee. On October 30, a judge told the government it must create a better process for charging the annual fee! The judge put a temporary pause on the annual asylum fee, and credited ASAP members for showing how the process was harmful and confusing.
This pause is temporary, and if your asylum application has been pending for more than 1 year, you may be required to pay the fee soon. If the pause ends, we will update our website right away.
In response to the lawsuit, the immigration courts also created a way to pay the fee for the first time and took other steps. Read up-to-date information about the annual asylum fee process in immigration court and at USCIS.
This lawsuit is not over. While we may not win everything we are fighting for in the lawsuit, we are proud of what ASAP members have already accomplished, and we will continue to fight as hard as we can.
The government has stopped issuing new automatic work permit extensions for people applying to renew their work permits on or after October 30. But if you already received a 540-day extension on or before October 29, your extension is still valid!
See recent data about work permit processing. Delays are growing for renewals.
Asylum seekers can apply for an initial work permit 150 days after applying for asylum. Watch this video about how to apply for a work permit online.
On October 28, USCIS made it harder to submit payments by check or money order. See updated information about how to make payments for new applications.
The government is trying to stop many immigrants from getting new commercial driver’s licenses. However, immigrants have won a temporary victory in court on November 10, and can continue to apply for new commercial driver’s licenses for now.
Read more about how laws are changing for asylum seekers.
October 16, 2025
The government has created many new fees for asylum seekers, including a $100 annual fee to be paid each year an asylum application is pending.
If you applied for asylum with USCIS, you can now check whether your USCIS annual asylum fee is due, and you can pay the fee on a new USCIS website. If you applied for asylum more than a year ago, we recommend checking this website every week, in case you do not receive a notice about the fee.
If you applied for asylum in immigration court, read what we know so far about the annual asylum fee in immigration court.
This month, thousands of ASAP members voted to file a lawsuit to challenge these annual fees, and shared information to support the lawsuit. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to complete the survey.
ASAP filed a lawsuit about the annual asylum fees after members voted. We do not know if this lawsuit will be successful, but we believe these fees are not fair, and we will fight as hard as we can.
We will provide updates about the lawsuit in our member update each month. We will also update the lawsuit page even more frequently, and you can check this page for updates any time.
See new data on work permit processing. Delays are growing for work permit renewal applications.
October 1, 2025
It now costs $100 to file a new asylum application with USCIS and in immigration court. Learn about the initial asylum fee.
The government is now charging asylum seekers $100 per year if their case is still pending. Learn about the new annual asylum fee.
The government has asked the Supreme Court to decide if the birthright citizenship executive order is legal. Today, all babies born in the U.S. are U.S. citizens.
TPS for Syria is ending on November 21, 2025. See updates for each country with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get new videos about work permits and asylum.
Read 37 common questions and answers about work permits, updated this week.
The government is now ending some immigration court cases without a full hearing.
Last month, ASAP members filled out a different survey, about work permits. Thank you to the nearly 3,000 members who replied! Here are the survey results.
Read more about how laws are changing for asylum seekers – we update this page every week.
Should ASAP file a lawsuit about the new annual asylum fees? Vote by October 2 [Survey is closed. Read the results].
September 8, 2025
TPS for Venezuela is extended to October 2, 2026 because of a court order - but Venezuela TPS holders need to re-register by this Wednesday September 10 to qualify, if you have not already!
Reminder for asylum seekers: If you renew your work permit before it expires, your work permit is extended for 540 extra days!
Watch ASAP’s new video about USCIS asylum interviews.
If you received your work permit but did not get a social security card, watch ASAP’s new video about how to apply for a social security card.
ASAP has been working hard to get more information about USCIS asylum dismissals.
ASAP has updated our driver’s license resource to include information about REAL ID licenses. Reminder: work permits can also be used as REAL IDs.
Temporary Protected Status has ended for Afghanistan, Cameroon, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. Learn more about applying for asylum here.
Learn how laws are changing for asylum seekers, for example updates about immigration court.
August 8, 2025
Unfortunately, new fees for work permits, asylum, and other applications are now in effect.
The fee to apply for an initial work permit as an asylum seeker is now $550.
The fee to renew your work permit as an asylum seeker is now $745 online, and $795 by mail.
The fee to apply for asylum is now $100.
Asylum seekers will be charged $100 each year their application is pending, starting later in 2025.
Unfortunately, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan, Cameroon, and Nepal have ended. Immigrants are fighting the terminations through lawsuits.
USCIS processed more initial work permits this month, but delays continue.
Thanks to ASAP members, the government is currently required to recognize the U.S. citizenship of all babies born in the U.S.!
Watch ASAP’s new video about biometrics (fingerprint) appointments.
ASAP forced USCIS to release information through the Freedom of Information Act.
See a list of more than 900 private immigration lawyers who have been recommended by nonprofits across the U.S.
Watch ASAP’s new video about how to send documents by mail.
Read more news about changing laws – we update this page every week.
July 11, 2025
ASAP members stopped work permits from becoming shorter – this was a huge win! But the “Big Beautiful Bill” still adds fees for work permits and asylum applications.
Some people have received letters dismissing their USCIS asylum cases. ASAP is trying to learn more about this problem.
Birthright citizenship is protected again – even after July 27, and in every U.S. state! If you are pregnant and want to speak out publicly, please complete this survey.
Watch ASAP’s new video about the asylum clock, which counts the days to apply for your first work permit.
Learn how to request a virtual hearing in immigration court.
Read updates about work permit processing times.
The government is trying to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Read updates.
Stay up-to-date about how other laws are changing for asylum seekers.
June 27, 2025
Many people are now being detained at immigration court hearings. The government is also trying to dismiss court cases so they can use a faster deportation process. Other organizations have filed lawsuits to challenge this.
The U.S. government is considering big changes to work permits that could make it very difficult for asylum seekers to receive work permits in the future. Based on last month’s survey results, we will focus even more efforts on defending work permits.
Learn about virtual (online) hearings in immigration court and how to request them.
The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the government to end TPS for Venezuela for some people, and end CHNV parole. Other organizations are continuing to fight these changes with lawsuits.
The government is banning or limiting travel to the United States from several countries.
Read about many legal changes, including topics not discussed above, such as “self-deportation” messages, SIJS, and other issues in immigration court.
May 14, 2025
Many asylum seekers are no longer receiving a social security card automatically when they get their initial work permit. If this happens, you can request a social security card by filling out a form and going to a social security office.
New government data shows that work permit processing delays are getting worse. We know this issue is important to members, and ASAP is fighting to defend work permits.
If you do not receive your initial work permit based on asylum within 30 days, there are steps you can take to request a decision on your initial work permit.
If you renew your work permit based on asylum before the expiration date, your current work permit will be automatically extended for 540 days.
If you are an asylum seeker traveling in the United States, consider carrying a U.S. ID or other proof of your immigration status.
Find resources if you have a loved one in immigration detention.
If you received CHNV parole, your parole and work permit are still valid until the expiration date – even if you received a separate notice ending them.
On May 15, you can listen to birthright citizenship arguments at the Supreme Court in ASAP members’ lawsuit.
Read more about how laws are changing for asylum seekers.
Please fill out this survey [survey is closed] about work permits and social security numbers to help us understand how ASAP members have been impacted by recent changes.
April 23, 2025
Some people received a notice ending their CBP One parole early. But please know if you have another pending immigration application, a work permit that is not based on parole, or an immigration court case, those are still valid.
The CHNV Parole and TPS for Venezuela programs have been protected by courts! The government tried to end these programs early, but immigrants filed lawsuits and judges have stopped the changes for now.
Do you have questions about ICE check ins or immigration court hearings? Get updated information.
Starting in May, you will need a “REAL ID” to travel by plane within the United States. A valid work permit qualifies as a REAL ID.
Are you thinking about applying for asylum? Learn about the steps.
The government has paused making decisions on permanent residence applications for people who have already won asylum.
ASAP’s page has tools to search for a lawyer near you. When you are making complicated decisions about your immigration case, you may want to consult a lawyer.
New data shows that work permit delays are continuing to grow.
ASAP members are defending birthright citizenship at the U.S. Supreme Court. An in-person argument is scheduled for May 15, 2025.
Find other news about how laws are changing for asylum seekers. We update our website every week.
March 12, 2025
Read about ways to stay safer on social media for your immigration case, and how to show that you have been in the United States for more than 2 years.
Immigration laws are becoming more difficult. But some laws are still the same – for example, if you have a work permit based on a pending asylum application, it is still valid. Read about the following changes and more:
TPS for Haiti and Venezuela are ending early.
Immigration application decisions are paused for people with parole through the CHNV, U4U, and Family Reunification programs.
The U.S. government could soon prevent people from specific countries from entering the United States, even if they were traveling with a valid visa.
ASAP members’ lawsuit to protect birthright citizenship won another victory. The government has now challenged that victory at the Supreme Court, and ASAP will continue to fight back.
ASAP is defending the 540-day work permit extension in U.S. Congress.
On average, processing times for initial work permits are still under 30 days, but delays are growing.
Do you want to speak out about why work permits are important to you? Fill out this survey if you want to talk to the media [survey is closed].
February 5, 2025
Today ASAP members won a major victory to protect birthright citizenship! A judge has temporarily blocked the Birthright Citizenship Executive Order!
Do you have TPS from Venezuela or parole through CHNV or Uniting for Ukraine? Consider taking these steps now.
Members are asking how laws are changing and what they can do. Get up-to-date information about topics including:
The government has announced immigration raids. But there are things you can do to protect yourself and your family.
See the most recent data about work permit processing times.
January 21, 2025
January 7, 2025
ASAP members, we need your help! Last month, members voted to file a lawsuit to protect birthright citizenship. Please fill out this survey to support the lawsuit [survey is closed].
ASAP is trying to get more information about asylum backlogs from USCIS.
The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) aims to provide factual information about current immigration laws. This information is not legal advice.
All legal content is written and legally reviewed by ASAP’s team of expert immigration lawyers. ASAP’s expert lawyers have decades of experience in immigration law and litigation. Collectively, they have won hundreds of cases. Our lawyers are admitted to the Bar in several U.S. states, hold law degrees from universities including Harvard, Yale, and UCLA, and have won multiple awards for their legal work.