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.

June 16, 2026

• June 30, 2026 Update: Great news: Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship! The Supreme Court ruled that babies born in the United States are U.S. citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. Thank you to ASAP members who led the way to protect this right and defend the U.S. Constitution.

• Reminder: check if your annual asylum fee is due and how to pay. If your asylum case is in immigration court and you have already paid your fee, you may still need to submit proof of payment.

• Some immigration courts are scheduling large court hearings for hundreds of immigrants all at the same time, often with short notice.

• A court has ordered USCIS to start processing applications for immigrants from 40 countries again. But the government has appealed the court order, and we do not know if USCIS will actually process many applications.

• Initial work permits are still being processed for asylum seekers from all countries. Consider applying now if you are eligible. It could become much harder to get an initial work permit later this year.

• USCIS is making it harder to get some green cards based on family and employment.

• Temporary Protected Status for Lebanon is extended until November 27, 2026. Read updates for all countries with TPS.

• ASAP is partnering with the National TPS Alliance to fight back against the annual asylum fee and work permit changes.

• Be aware of common immigration scams.

• See more updates about how laws are changing.

May 13, 2026

• Do not forget to pay your $102 annual asylum fee:

  • If your case is at USCIS, you can check if your annual asylum fee is due. If you do not pay your fee on time, USCIS says that it will reject your asylum application and cancel your work permit.

  • If your case is in immigration court, you can pay your annual asylum fee anytime, but the fee is not officially due until a judge tells you to pay it.

• There are new security checks for USCIS applications, including asylum and possibly work permits. The security checks are causing delays, and some applicants may be asked to provide fingerprints again.

• ASAP has improved our tool to find a lawyer. You can now use a map to search for immigration lawyers or to search for lawyers who specialize in release from detention.

• Here are 10 things to know before your first immigration court hearing.

• Read 5 things to do while you wait for your USCIS interview.

• A proposed rule that could limit work permits is still not final. You can apply for an initial work permit 150 days after you apply for asylum.

• ASAP is fighting for new work permit auto-extensions in court and in Congress.

• ASAP has a new project called WorkPermits.US! The project partners with businesses to fight for stable access to work permits. Learn how asylum seekers raise wages and create jobs for U.S. citizens on our new website, according to research from Harvard Business School.

• See more updates about how laws are changing.

April 29, 2026

• The government says USCIS is issuing some asylum decisions again, but other cases remain paused. Cases are still paused for asylum seekers from these countries:

  • Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Burundi, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, The Gambia, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

• Watch a new video about how to find a loved one in immigration detention.

• The Supreme Court heard arguments about birthright citizenship this month, and ASAP members supported the case. We expect a decision by early July.

• The Supreme Court is hearing arguments about TPS today and will probably make a decision by early July. See Temporary Protected Status (TPS) information for all countries.

• ASAP’s resources are now available in Russian (русский) and Simplified Chinese (简体中文), two languages requested by many members. We will add more languages this year.

• ASAP has a new website about the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), which allows people to sue the U.S. government if they are harmed by immigration officials.

• See more updates about how laws are changing.

• In April, ASAP members successfully mobilized against a proposed rule that would limit work permits for asylum seekers.

• Thank you to the more than 500 members who filled out last month’s survey to share thoughts about the rule! If you filled out the survey, we have included your ideas in our comment to the U.S. government.

• Thousands of people and groups opposed the rule – including states, cities, businesses, labor unions, faith groups, and more!

• You may want to apply for an initial work permit now, before the proposed work permit rule becomes final. You can apply for an initial work permit 150 days after you apply for asylum.

• 88% of initial work permits are still being processed within 30 days. You can read other processing updates.

March 4, 2026

• A proposed new work permit rule would make it impossible for asylum seekers to apply for an initial work permit. The rule would also make some renewals more difficult. This proposed rule is NOT final.

• If you applied for asylum at least 150 days ago, consider applying for an initial work permit now! Most asylum seekers should be able to receive an initial work permit if they apply before the new rule is finalized.

• If you already have a work permit, and it is expiring in 1 year or less, consider applying to renew your work permit.

• Help us tell the government why this rule is wrong! Please fill out our survey by March 11. We will include your thoughts in ASAP’s “comment” to the government (without using your name). [Survey is closed].

• We are also working to make sure the government hears from many groups about the problems with the rule, including businesses, labor unions, cities, and other organizations.

• Finally, thank you to the 1,500+ members who shared their work permit concerns last month. Stopping future changes was members’ top issue, and we will work hard to fight back.

• Asylum decisions at USCIS are still paused. If you have an asylum case pending, here are 5 things you can do while you wait at USCIS.

• Read updated information about immigration detention, including how to find a detained loved one and resources about seeking release.

• Read up-to-date considerations about filing taxes in 2026.

• Temporary Protected Status has ended for Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua.

• If you applied to renew your work permit based on El Salvador TPS, your work permit could be automatically extended until August 31, 2026.

• Watch a new video about how to pay the annual asylum fee in immigration court. A judge can order you to pay the fee after your asylum case has been pending for at least 1 year.

• If your case is at USCIS, you can check if your USCIS annual asylum fee is due.

• ASAP has submitted arguments to the Supreme Court in support of birthright citizenship.

• See more updates about how laws are changing.

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. Read the results].

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.

  • 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.