Past Updates for ASAP Members

ASAP members: This page has links to resources from previous ASAP member updates. For our most recent updates, visit this page.

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.

  • Learn more about these fees and others.

• 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: 

  • asylum

  • work permits based on asylum

  • dismissed immigration court cases 

  • TPS

  • CBP One and parole

  • ICE check ins

• 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

• On January 20, 2025, the U.S. government changed many immigration laws. But many immigration laws also stayed the same. Learn how these changes impact asylum seekers.

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].

• Learn about 7 safety measures for asylum seekers.

• The biometrics (fingerprint) process just became easier for asylum seekers in immigration court, thanks to ASAP members!

• ASAP is trying to get more information about asylum backlogs from USCIS.

December 16, 2024

• ASAP members won a more permanent 540-day work permit extension!

• Should ASAP file a lawsuit to protect birthright citizenship? Vote by December 18 [survey is closed].

• We are ready to protect asylum seekers’ access to work permits in 2025.

• Learn how to check the status of your immigration case.

• Reminder: Renew your work permit and consider taking these steps before January.

November 22, 2024

• Consider taking these steps in your immigration case before January.

• Apply for your work permit online.

• Whenever there is a new president, many policies can change. Complete this short survey by December 1 to tell ASAP what immigration policies are important to you. We will focus our work on the issues that ASAP members care about most [survey is closed].

• ASAP has worked with businesses, cities, and members of Congress to ask USCIS to process work permits before January.