asylum application cover letter

How To Write a USCIS Cover Letter

Preparing an immigration application for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires filling out complex paperwork and gathering supporting documents. Using a cover letter is a great way to keep your application materials organized and make sure you don’t miss any required documents. It’s also a good opportunity to highlight anything you want USCIS to know about your application. This article explains what a cover letter is and the elements it should include. It also includes a template you can use to write your own.

Written by Jonathan Petts . Updated May 4, 2023

What Is a USCIS Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a document that helps USCIS officers navigate your application materials. You can place a cover letter at the top of your citizenship , permanent resident , DACA , or visa application package. By outlining your reasons for applying and the contents of your application in a cover letter, you give your USCIS officer a useful overview of your case. You can also use your cover letter as a personal checklist to make sure you’ve included all necessary documents in your package.

You may also use a cover letter to explain any special circumstances you want the USCIS officer to be aware of before they start reviewing your application. If you have a unique or complicated background, it is especially helpful to supplement your application with a cover letter. It will ensure that USCIS becomes aware of any special circumstances and can consider your application with this in mind.

Is a Cover Letter Required for My USCIS Application?

USCIS does not require you to submit a cover letter for any immigration benefit or visa application. Many immigration attorneys include cover letters for their clients to prevent any misunderstandings or missing paperwork. Immigration officers read through a lot of paperwork, so any guidance or organization you can offer them will be helpful.

Cover letters may be especially helpful when you are in a unique situation. Suppose you are applying for a marriage green card with Form I-130 : Petition for Alien Relative, and you and your spouse have lived apart for some time. You and your U.S. citizen or green card holder spouse can use a cover letter to explain this or any other unusual circumstances behind your marriage.

USCIS will want to know the reasons behind an unusual living or marriage situation when evaluating your adjustment of status application. A cover letter can help you address any major concerns at the beginning of the process.

What Should My USCIS Cover Letter Include?

When submitting a cover letter with your application, be sure to include the following:

The USCIS filing location or lockbox address to which you’re sending your application

The date of filing

An appropriate subject (re:) line

A short introductory paragraph to describe the contents of your letter and package

If applying for a marriage-related benefit, information about the marriage date and location for yourself (the beneficiary) and your spouse (the petitioner)

An ordered list of the content in your application package, including all supporting documents and filing or biometrics fees included

A closing paragraph including your contact information

Your signature and full printed name

Your supporting documents for an application will depend on which forms you’re filing. You can determine which documents are necessary by reviewing USCIS’ webpage for your specific form. For example, USCIS lists the required supporting evidence on its webpage for Form N-400 applicants.

You’ll also need to identify the right mailing address for your application. To do so, you should consult the USCIS website. For example, naturalization applicants can review USCIS’s webpage for Form N-400 direct filing addresses .

Your filing fees will depend on your specific application type. You can use the USCIS Fee Calculator to determine your costs. For example, suppose you are filing for naturalization with Form N-400. You should select Form N-400 on the Fee Calculator and enter your age. USCIS may ask for additional information, such as your specific application category.

USCIS Cover Letter Template

You may use the sample cover letter below as guidance when writing your cover letter. This specific cover letter sample is for a naturalization application, intended for submission alongside Form N-400. Be sure to personalize this template to reflect your application type and circumstances. If you’d like to use the following template, you may also make a copy of this document to start writing.

[Petitioner’s Street Address]

[Petitioner’s City, State ZIP code]

[Relevant USCIS mailing address]

RE: [Naturalization Application]

Beneficiary: [Immigrant’s Full Legal Name]

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed, please find the Naturalization Application for [Immigrant’s Full Legal Name].

The following documents accompany and support this application:

Filing Fee Payments

[Check or Money Order] in the amount of [Current Fee Amount] for Form N-400

Form G-1450 authorizing payment of the filing fee for Form N-400 (credit card charge authorization if you completed one)

[Form G-1145 (e-notice authorization if you requested them in our system)]

[OPTIONAL Beneficiary’s Form I-912 Fee Waiver Application]

[List of supporting documents]

Beneficiary’s Form N-400 Application for Naturalization

If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at [Phone Number]. Thank you very much for your prompt consideration of my Naturalization Application.

[Immigrant’s Full Name]

[Immigrant’s Signature]

[Signature Date]

Tips for Writing Your USCIS Cover Letter

When writing a USCIS cover letter, be sure to type your letter in English on a computer. Keep your letter concise and only include necessary information. A long cover letter will not be as helpful to a USCIS officer as a brief letter. If possible, keep your letter to one page. Be sure to proofread your letter before submitting your application package.

Continue reading and learning!

Asylum Application and Evidence

In general, you can apply for asylum within one year of entering the United States by submitting an asylum application, Form I-589. Where you submit the asylum application depends on whether you are applying for asylum in immigration court or with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Scroll down or click on the links below to read questions and answers from the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP). You can also watch this video about how to fill out your asylum application.

When do I need to apply for asylum?
If I did not submit an asylum application within one year of entering the United States, can I still apply for asylum?

Is there a fee to file the asylum application?

Do i need to include that i am a member of asap in my asylum application, where do i file my asylum application, how do i file my asylum application in immigration court, how do i file my asylum application with uscis by mail, how do i file my asylum application with uscis online, should i list my spouse or children in my asylum application, what is a certificate of service, how do i get a receipt for my asylum application, i have a case in immigration court, but it does not appear on the automated hotline or website. how can i apply for asylum, what additional supporting evidence can i submit to support my asylum case, when do i need to submit supporting evidence, can i submit evidence in my own language, my asylum application was rejected and returned to me by uscis. what can i do.

See other questions.
Find legal help.

When do I need to apply for asylum?

Generally, you must submit your asylum application ( Form I-589 ) within one year of arriving in the United States. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. Read more below.

If I did not submit an asylum application within one year of entering the United States, can I still apply for asylum?

Maybe! If you did not submit an asylum application within one year of arriving in the United States, you may still be able to apply for asylum depending on your situation. If your case fits one of these below situations, you may still be able to apply for asylum.

You are under 18 years old. In many cases, if you are under 18 years old, you may be able to apply for asylum even if you have been in the United States for more than a year. Read more about applying for asylum as a child .
You had or currently have lawful status in the United States , such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS), parole, or a valid visa. You can apply for asylum anytime while you have the lawful status, even if you have been in the United States for more than a year. You can also apply for asylum after your status expires, and it is best to apply as soon as possible after your status expires.
The conditions in your country of origin have changed and it would now be dangerous for you to return. For example, the country has a new leader that intends to harm people like you.
Your personal circumstances have changed and returning to your country of origin would now be dangerous for you. For example, you converted to a religion that is not allowed in your country of origin. Or, you recently decided to live openly as a gay person and it would be dangerous for you to return to your country of origin as a gay person.
You were originally included in a family member’s asylum application, but you no longer qualify to be included in their asylum application. For example, you were included in your spouse’s asylum application, but you and your spouse have divorced since filing the application.
You suffer from serious illness, physical disability, or mental disability.
You suffered a serious crime or domestic violence recently.
Your attorney committed fraud, and you filed a complaint against them.

If your case fits one of the above situations, you may still be able to apply for asylum after one year of entering the United States. However, you still need to apply as soon as possible . You will also need to submit proof about how you fit one of the above situations.

Also, even if you do not qualify for asylum, you may still qualify for other similar forms of protection under U.S. immigration law, such as withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (“CAT”) . These are similar to asylum because they are also for people who are afraid of returning to their countries of origin. You can apply using the same form as the form for asylum, Form I-589 .

No! Regardless of whether you are applying for asylum with USCIS or in immigration court, there is no fee to submit your asylum application.

No, you do NOT need to include information about ASAP in your asylum application (Form I-589). There are questions in the asylum application that ask about your membership in organizations (Questions 3.A and 3.B in Part B in the paper asylum application, and under “Party or group affiliations” in the online asylum application). However, these questions are only asking about organizations in your country of origin, not in the United States. So you do not need to include information about ASAP in your answer to these questions.

You do NOT need to attach your ASAP membership card to your asylum application.

Where you should file your asylum application depends on your situation. To understand where to file, you can answer the questions on this USCIS website . You can also read more below.

Most people who have a case in immigration court should file their asylum application with the immigration court .

Read instructions about how to file your asylum application in immigration court.
If you are not sure whether you have a case in immigration court, you can check this website or call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180. You can also read about other ways to know if you have a case in immigration court .

In some special circumstances, people with a case in immigration court should file their asylum application with USCIS by mail . These are the special circumstances:

If the automated hotline or website says that your immigration court case was closed or dismissed, you can mail your asylum application to USCIS. Read more information and instructions .
If you believe you will have a case in immigration court in the future, but your information does not yet appear on the automated hotline or website, you can mail your asylum application to USCIS. Read more information and instructions .
If you are an unaccompanied child with a case in immigration court, you can mail your asylum application to USCIS. Read instructions .

People who do NOT have a case in immigration court should file their asylum application with USCIS, either by mail or online .

If you do not have a case in immigration court, in general you should file your asylum application with USCIS. There are two ways to file with USCIS: by mail, or online.
If you would like to file your asylum application with USCIS by mail, read these instructions .
If you would like to file your asylum application with USCIS online, read these instructions . However, unfortunately not everyone is eligible to use the online filing system. You cannot apply online if you are in one of the situations described under the “Special Instructions” tab on this USCIS webpage . If you are in one of those situations, you will need to mail a paper asylum application to USCIS instead.

You can follow the steps below to apply for asylum in immigration court.

1. Complete your Form I-589.

Download or print Form I-589 . The form is long and asks some hard questions. But do not let this discourage you! You can watch this video for step-by-step instructions about how to fill out the asylum application. You can also see Appendix F of this guide for more instructions.
Your answers must be written in English.
Read each question carefully. All of your answers should be complete, accurate, and truthful.
You may be able to include qualifying family members in your asylum case.
After you are done, review the entire application to catch any mistakes.
If you are filling out the application on paper and writing by hand, make sure that your handwriting is clear and easy to read. Use a black pen.
Remember to sign and date your application.

2. Prepare your application packet.

One original Form I-589 for the judge.
One copy for the government attorney.
One copy for you to keep for your records.
You may also need to prepare a certificate of service, if you are submitting your asylum application by mail or at the filing window of the immigration court. A certificate of service is a document that states that you sent a document to the government attorney. You can download and fill out this certificate of service .
You can include other supporting evidence .

3. Submit your application packet. You have three options for how to do this.

Option 1. You can submit your application packet in person during your hearing. You can hand your original asylum application and the two copies you prepared to the judge. The judge should stamp them. The judge should keep the original, and give you back the two copies. Give one of the copies to the government attorney, and keep the other copy for your records. This copy is your receipt proving that you submitted your asylum application.
Take the original asylum application, two copies, and a certificate of service to the filing window in your immigration court. The clerk should keep the original and the certificate of service. The clerk should stamp the copies and give them back to you.
Keep one copy for your records. The copy is your receipt proving that you submitted your asylum application.
The other copy needs to be sent to the government attorney. You can do this by taking the copy to the government attorney office, which is usually located in the same building as the immigration court, or by mailing it to the government attorney. You can find the addresses for government attorneys here .
Make sure you use a mail service that offers tracking. For tips on how to mail documents, watch this video .
Mail the original asylum application, a copy of the application, and the certificate of service to the immigration court. You can find addresses of immigration courts here . In addition, make sure to include an envelope with your address and postage. The immigration court should stamp the copy of your asylum application and then mail it back to you using the envelope. If you do not include an envelope, they will not mail you your copy. The copy is your receipt proving that you submitted your asylum application. Keep this copy somewhere safe.
Mail another copy to the government attorney. You can find the addresses for government attorneys here .

4. Send documents to USCIS for your biometrics appointment (also called fingerprint appointment) .

You have to send certain documents to USCIS in order to be scheduled for a biometrics appointment for the government to collect your fingerprints. Please read these instructions or watch this video .

5. Continue with your asylum case in immigration court.

You can submit more evidence before your individual hearing.
Read about the immigration court process .
Read about applying for your first work permit .

There are two ways that you can submit your asylum application to USCIS: by mail or online. You can follow the steps below to apply by mail. If you want to apply online instead, find instructions for applying online here .

You can include the documents below, in this order. Do not staple the pages – you can use a paperclip, binder clip, or rubber bands instead to hold all the pages together.
Form G-1145 (optional). If you want, you can include Form G-1145 to receive notices about your application by text message or email.
Your completed Form I-589.
A copy of your passport, if you have one. If possible, include a copy of every page, including the front and back covers.
A copy of your Form I-94, if you have one. It may look like this , this , or this .
A copy of a document that proves your family relationship – for example, a copy of birth certificate for a child or a copy of a marriage certificate for a spouse.
A copy of your family member’s passport and Form I-94, if they have one.
If you had an immigration court case in the past but it was dismissed, you can find more specific instructions here .
You can also attach other supporting evidence to your asylum application. You can also choose to submit them later. Read more about additional evidence here .
If a document is not in English, you should also include an English translation with a certificate of translation .

3. Make a copy of the whole packet and keep it for your records.

4. Mail the original application packet to USCIS.

The USCIS address where you need to send your application packet depends on where you live. You can find the correct address by going to this USCIS webpage , and looking under “Where To File.”
However, if you are in one of the special situations described under the “Special Instructions” tab on this USCIS webpage , you have to submit your asylum application to a special processing center called the Asylum Vetting Center.

5. Continue with your asylum case with USCIS.

You should receive a receipt notice in the mail.
You can submit more evidence before or during your asylum interview.
Read about the USCIS process .

There are two ways that you can submit your asylum application to USCIS: by mail or online. Only some asylum seekers can apply online . If you are not sure, read this question to understand whether you can file online.

If you are eligible to file online, you can follow the steps below to apply online. If you want to apply by mail instead, find instructions for applying by mail here .

1. Log in or create your USCIS online account.

Go to this USCIS online account website . This website is only available in English.
Next, log in to your USCIS account if you already have an account. If you do not have an account, click the blue sign up button to create an account. You can watch this USCIS video about how to create an online account.

2. Start the asylum application.

If you are using a phone, click “Menu” in the top right corner, click “Account actions,” then click “File a form online.” If you are on a computer, click “My Account” in the top right corner, then click “File a form online.”
Next, select “I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal” in the drop down menu.
Click “Start form.”

3. Complete the asylum application.

Most of the questions in the online asylum application are identical to the paper asylum application. You can watch this video for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the paper asylum application. Below are some useful things to know when completing the online asylum application:
Pop-Up Window: When you are filling out the application online, you will likely see a pop-up window that looks similar to this:

If you would like to continue, choose “Allow” because the government only accepts asylum applications from people who are located in the United States. If you choose “Block”, the website will not allow you to proceed.

If you entered the United States with parole or a specific type of visa (such as a B2 tourist visa or F1 student visa), choose that from the list.
If you are an asylum seeker who did not enter the United States with parole or a visa, you can choose “999 – Alien awaiting decision of asylum.” You can then leave “Date this status expires” blank.
If you are not sure what to choose, you can choose “ZN – Unknown.” You can then leave “Date this status expires” blank.
Blank questions: If you do not answer a required question, you will get an alert when you reach the “Review and Submit” section. You can then go back and answer. If you do not know an answer, you can write “unknown” or leave it blank.

4. Upload evidence.

You can upload evidence in the online form. There are size limits, so you may have to split large files into more than one file.
We recommend submitting a copy of your passport and Form I-94, if you have them.
A copy of your family member’s passport and Form I-94, if they have them.
Some of the evidence categories may not apply to you. In that situation, you do not have to include evidence for that category, even if you get an alert that says you should provide evidence. For example, if you do not have a Cover Letter, you do not have to submit one. Or, if you do not have a spouse or children, you do not have to submit evidence for Family Identification.
You do not have to submit all evidence at the same time that you are submitting your online asylum application. You can submit more evidence later, before or during your asylum interview. Read more about additional evidence here .

5. Submit your application and get your receipt notice.

Carefully review your application and evidence before you submit.
After you submit your asylum application, check your USCIS account frequently . You will not receive your receipt notice or other important notices by mail. Some people receive their receipt notice online in just 1 to 2 days.
You should be able to see and download a copy of your asylum application from your online account.

6. Continue with your asylum case with USCIS.

Yes! There are 3 things to know about this process.

1. List any spouse or children you have.

If you have a spouse or children, no matter where they live or how old they are, you should list them on your asylum application. You can provide information about them on Part A.II. on the paper asylum application (Form I-589) or in the “Your Family” section if you are filing online.

2. You can include qualifying family members in your asylum case.

If you have a spouse or unmarried children under age 21 who are living in the United States, you may also be able to include them in your asylum case. If you do this, your spouse or children can generally apply for a work permit at the same time as you! And if you win asylum, they will win asylum too – even if your child has turned 21 by then. The steps to include your family members in your asylum case are different depending on if you are applying for asylum with USCIS or immigration court. Read more below.

If you are filing your asylum application with USCIS and want to include your family member in your case, answer “Yes” to the question “If in the U.S., is your spouse/this child to be included in this application?” This check box is in Part A.II. on the paper asylum application or on the “Your Family” section if you are filing online. All family members that you include must attend your asylum interview.

Note: If you file your asylum application with USCIS, but later your case is sent to immigration court, your family members may no longer be included in your asylum case. Read below about how to check if your cases are together in immigration court.

Immigration court:

The process in immigration court is more complicated. To include your family member in your asylum case, your cases must be together in immigration court . This means that you have the same immigration judge, the same court dates, and you are listed together on court documents such as the Notice to Appear or Hearing Notice .

If your cases are already together in immigration court, your family member can automatically be included in your asylum case. When you complete your asylum application, answer “Yes” to the question in Part A.II, “If in the U.S., is your spouse/this child to be included in this application?” Each family member may also want to file their own separate asylum application, because then an immigration judge can grant other protections from deportation .
If you and your family members have separate cases in immigration court , you can all apply for asylum using separate applications. You can also consider requesting that your cases be combined. You may want to seek advice from an immigration attorney to help determine the best strategy for your family.
If your family member does not have a case in immigration court at all , they will not be included in your asylum case.

3. If you win asylum, you can petition for qualifying family members.

If you cannot include your spouse or children in your asylum case but you later win asylum, you may still be able to request immigration status for them.
If you win asylum, you can file a petition called Form I-730 to request asylum for your spouse or unmarried children under age 21 who were not included in your asylum case. You can request asylum for these family members even if they are outside the United States or are living in the United States without immigration status. You must file Form I-730 within 2 years of winning asylum.
Also, if you win asylum, you can become a Permanent Resident after one year . Eventually, you can apply to become a citizen of the United States. Permanent Residents and U.S. citizens have additional options to request immigration status for more family members .

A certificate of service is a document that states that you sent a document to the government attorney. You only need certificates of service if you have an immigration court case! If you are applying for asylum with USCIS, you do not need this document.

If you have a case in immigration court, you may need a certificate of service when you submit your asylum application , or when you appeal your case to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) .

You can download and fill out this certificate of service .

The way to get a receipt showing that you submitted your asylum application (Form I-589) depends on whether you are submitting your application to USCIS or to the immigration court. Read here if you are not sure where to file your asylum application .

If you are applying for asylum with USCIS by mail , USCIS should automatically mail you a receipt notice after they receive your asylum application. Read here if your receipt notice is delayed .
If you are applying for asylum with USCIS online , USCIS should automatically post your receipt notice to your USCIS online account .
If you are applying for asylum with the immigration court , the immigration court will not send you a receipt automatically. Instead, if you want proof of receipt, you need to take action. You may want a receipt because it is useful to have one when you apply for a work permit . Your proof of receipt is the first page of your asylum application stamped with the date of receipt by the immigration court.

If you have not submitted your asylum application yet, follow these instructions to request a stamped copy of your asylum application.

If you already submitted your asylum application to the immigration court , but you did not receive a copy of your asylum application with a date stamp, first you should check that the immigration court received your asylum application. Call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180. Press 1 for English, enter your A Number, press 1 to confirm your A number, and 1 again to confirm your name. Finally, press 2. If you hear a message indicating that a certain number of days is on your “clock,” this means that your asylum application was received by the court that number of days ago.

If you confirmed that the immigration court received your asylum application, and you want a copy with a date stamp, you can call your immigration court to find out how you can get a copy. You can find the contact information for your immigration court here .

This can be a confusing situation. Some people know that they will have a case in immigration court, but when they check their immigration court case status, it says “the A Number information did not match a record in the system” or “no case found for this A Number.” If this situation applies to you, it is best to mail your asylum application (Form I-589) to USCIS within one year of entering the United States. This may seem confusing because your case will actually be in the immigration court, not with USCIS. However, this is the only way you can file your asylum application if the immigration court has not yet entered your information in their system yet.

How do I know if I am in this situation?

You know that you are probably in this situation if both of the following statements are true:

You know that you will have a case in immigration court (for example, because you received a Notice to Appear or you were detained by immigration officials after entering the United States), AND
When you check your case status by calling the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 and after entering your A Number, the hotline says: “The A Number information you entered did not match a record in the system or the case has not been filed with the immigration court.” OR when you check your case status by entering your A Number on the immigration court website , it says “No case found for this A Number.”

If you are in this situation, you can take the steps described below to submit your asylum application. If you are not in this situation, read this question to find out how to submit your asylum application .

How can I apply for asylum in this situation?

To apply for asylum in this situation, you can follow these steps:

Mail an asylum application to USCIS before the one-year deadline. You can follow these instructions to complete your asylum application package and mail it to the correct USCIS address. You cannot file for asylum online in this situation.
Keep a copy of your application because you will need to submit it to the immigration court again later.
After you submit your application, USCIS should send you a notice. Keep this notice in a safe place because it proves that you submitted your asylum application before the one year deadline. You can also include a copy of the notice when you apply for your work permit .
The immigration court should eventually schedule you for your first hearing, known as a master calendar hearing . Check your case status every week so that you learn when your hearing is scheduled. At your hearing, it is important to tell the judge that you filed your asylum application before the one year deadline. You can bring a copy of the notice you received from USCIS and a copy of your asylum application.

You can submit different types of evidence to support your asylum case. This is usually a good idea, but it is not required. It is possible to win asylum based only on your own testimony during your immigration court hearing or your asylum interview. The evidence that you submit should answer these five key questions:

What was the harm you suffered in your country of origin, or what harm do you fear you may suffer if you have to go back to your country of origin?
Who harmed you, or who would want to harm you? If you do not know for sure, who do you think it was?
Why were you, or why will you be, a target for harm in your country of origin?
Why are you not able to seek help or protection from the police or the government of your country of origin?
Is there a safe place inside your country of origin where you can live?

You can watch this video that can help you think about these questions and prepare your asylum case.

Here are some examples of the kinds of evidence you can submit:

However, every case is different! This list is not meant to be complete and the examples will not apply in every case.

A written declaration, describing any harm you suffered in the past, who harmed you, why they harmed you, whether you tried to get help from the police or the government of your country of origin, whether there is a safe place inside your country of origin that you can move to, and what you think might happen to you if you were to return to your country of origin.
Identity documents, such as your passport, birth certificate, and marriage certificate.
Police reports, if you made a report to the police about the harm you suffered.
Medical reports, showing any physical injuries you may have suffered.
Mental health evaluation, showing any mental harm you may have suffered.
Newspaper or magazine articles about the issues that make you afraid to return to your country of origin, or articles about bad things that happened to people who are similar to you in your country of origin.
Letters or declarations from people who know about what happened to you in your country of origin.
Photographs that show parts of your story. For example, the photos can show any harm you suffered, or your participation in a group or activity, if you believe your participation in that group or activity is making you a target for harm.
Text messages, Facebook messages, or any other written communication that contain threats made against you.
Membership cards or other official documents from a group, if you believe your membership in the group is making you a target for harm.
News articles or reports from national or international human rights organizations about the situation that you have fled from.
If you are applying for asylum more than 1 year after arriving in the United States, you can also submit evidence that shows why you should still be able to apply for asylum. Read more about exceptions to the 1 year deadline here .

You can also find more ideas beginning on page 13 of this guide , page 8 of this guide , and page 15 of this guide .

If you are afraid of going back to your country of origin because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status, you can read this guide for more ideas.

Other tips:

Please also remember that if any of the evidence is not in English, you will also need to include a translation and a certificate of translation .

Do not submit any fake or forged documents. Submitting fake documents can have bad consequences for your case. If you cannot get certain evidence, or getting it will put you or someone else in danger, then you can explain to the immigration judge or asylum officer why you could not get that evidence.

You do not have to submit supporting evidence at the same time as your asylum application (Form I-589). Instead, you can wait until you are closer to your individual hearing in immigration court, or your USCIS asylum interview.

If you have a case in immigration court , you first need to submit your asylum application. Then, once your individual hearing is scheduled, you will need to submit additional evidence. The immigration judge should give you a deadline for submitting the evidence, usually at least 15 days before the individual hearing. Read more about applying for asylum in immigration court here , or watch these videos .

If you apply for asylum with USCIS , you will be scheduled for an interview in an asylum office after you submit your asylum application. You will need to submit your additional evidence before your interview, usually at least one week before your asylum interview. It should be sent directly to the asylum office where you will have the interview. You should read your asylum interview notice and follow the instructions. You can also bring additional evidence with you to your asylum interview. You can contact your local asylum office for more detailed instructions.

Read more about applying for asylum with USCIS here , or watch these videos .

Yes. You can submit evidence in a language other than English, but you will also need to include a translation into English and a certificate of translation .

If your asylum application was rejected and returned to you, you should carefully read the rejection notice. The rejection notice explains why USCIS rejected your application. You can correct the problem and resubmit your application. If you need help resubmitting your application, you can look for legal assistance .

Note: This page is for adults who are interested in seeking asylum in the United States. Our hope is that you will use the information to better understand the asylum process and take control of your case. However, this information is not a substitute for legal advice about your particular case. To look for legal assistance, visit ASAP’s find help page .

The Bloggers
In the News
Asylum Office
Asylum Seekers
Immigration Court

A Beautiful Application Is a Successful Application

A poet once said, “It’s not how you feel; it’s how you look. And you look mah-velous!”

What does this gentle wisdom have to do with asylum cases? Simply this: Whether you have a strong case or a weak case, if you present your case in an organized and neat fashion (i.e., if you make it look marvelous), you are more likely to be granted relief.

How do I know this is true? I really don’t. I just made it up. But it seems true. Plus, I have talked to Asylum Officers and Immigration Judges, and I know they sometimes become frustrated with disorganized applications. Also, it makes sense–if you make the decider’s job easier, you are more apt to get a good decision. So how should an asylum application look?

The first thing to know is that there are different rules for the Asylum Office and the Immigration Court. The Asylum Office rules are more lenient. When we prepare evidence for the Asylum Office, we basically follow the Immigration Court rules. In this way, we are prepared in the event that the case goes to Court. Also, the Court rules provide good guidance for how to organize a packet of documents.

First, let’s talk about Asylum Office cases. For such cases, we include a cover letter. This letter is short, and simply explains what type of application we are filing. If there are any issues of particular note, we might mention those in the cover letter–for example a one year bar issue, a criminal conviction or a prior asylum application.

Next, we include the packet of documents. We do not send any original documents; we submit copies (we have the client bring any originals to the interview). We also keep a copy of the entire packet for ourselves. Per Asylum Office rules, we submit two copies of the entire packet of documents. Each page of the packet is numbered. I put the numbers in the bottom center of each piece of paper. Also, each individual exhibit is labeled with a letter (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, etc.). In front of each exhibit is a separate page with a tab (A, B, C, etc.). If the packet of exhibits is tabbed and paginated, it is easy for the officer to find what she needs.

On top of the packet of exhibits, we include an index. The index lists each exhibit by letter and page number. I also include a brief description of each exhibit, so that the officer can read my summary, rather than a (sometimes) lengthy document. An abridged example of how we do the index is here: Example Index

The exhibits we typically submit, aside from the original I-589 form, include copies of: All passports, the applicant’s affidavit , birth certificate, marriage certificate(s), divorce documents, national ID cards, identity documents for spouse and children (passports, birth certificates, national ID cards), education documents (diplomas, transcripts, awards), employment documents, any criminal or arrest documents (from the U.S. or overseas), police reports, medical reports (including forensics reports about scars or psychological trauma), membership documents for political, religious or other organizations, letters from witnesses , threat letters or evidence of threats, relevant photos (of political activities, injuries, etc.), relevant news articles, and country and human rights reports. Any documents not in English need to be translated with a certificate of translation . Of course, the documents we submit vary, depending on the case and what we need to prove . But the format is always the same.

Also, it is a good idea to submit the exhibits on time. These days, under LIFO , we usually complete the entire case and submit everything together with the I-589 application (since we often-times receive a quick interview date). However, if you are submitting documents after the case has already been filed, make sure your Alien number is on the cover page and the index, and make sure everything is submitted on time. Some asylum offices want your exhibits at least one week prior to the interview. You can contact the local asylum office to ask about the filing rules.

If you have a case in Immigration Court, the rules are more strict. First of all, you need to submit one copy of everything to the Court and one copy to the DHS Office of the Chief Counsel (the prosecutor). Second, you need to follow the rules related format, which you can find in the Immigration Court Practice Manual (follow the link called “OCIJ Practice Manuel;” chapter 3 and appendices F and G are particularly useful for format). Also, you need to submit a witness list (check chapter 3 of the Practice Manuel, page 57-58). The list of exhibits will look similar to what I described above for the Asylum Office index. For non-lawyers, this is all a bit much, and for this reason, if you have a case before the Immigration Court, you would do well to find an attorney to assist you (if you cannot afford a lawyer, you might be able to find one for free ).

One last tip: If possible, submit all documents by hand (and bring your copy of the exhibits so the Asylum Office or Court can stamp it with a proof of service) or by certified mail. It is common for evidence to get lost, and so it is a good idea to have proof that you submitted the evidence.

Whether your case is before the Asylum Office or the Immigration Court, it will benefit you to submit a neat, well-organized packet of evidence. And by the way, darling, you look mah-velous!

I granted asylum status on August 2017, But we filled i485 on August 2018 based on derivative on my wife i485 based on NIW Perm i140 approved. Then after less than 2 months I changed my mind and sent i485 amendment and asked USCIS to switch me from derivative of NIW to Asylum granted eligibility. My question is do you know which location of asylum based i485 are they gonna send me to process? I filled to Dulles TX for I485 NIW Got letter from Saint Louis, MO Sent amendment to Saint Louis, MO I live in NY state. My wife lives in Virginia state. So as my understanding there are just two locations which processing i485 based on asylum granted. Texas service center and Nebraska service center or they can process in MO where is my current document?. Since processing time is varies for these two service center and MO too, I want to know what processing timeline I should follow? Please help me out what is your guess about my processing location? and correct me if there are more than two locations to process my case like Saint Louis, MO which I amended there?

Second Question? Do I need to do interview again for i485? while I have interviewed in local asylum office for granting status on August 2017.

I really have no idea, and I do not know whether USCIS will allow you to switch from one category of I-485 to another. Even if they do, it would possible affect the time frame for processing the case, and so I doubt the listed processing times will do you much good. Your best bet might be to call USCIS (the number can be found at http://www.uscis.gov ) to see if they can update you about the status. If that does not work, you can inquire with the USCIS Ombudsman – a link is at right. Take care, Jason

Thank you Jason, Just would you please tell me if they are doing an interview for i485 of asylum granted the main applicant or not? I mean in general, not about my case. Because in USCIS I found they only suppose to interview with derivatives of asylum granted, so I want to make sure that should I wait for an interview or not?

https://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume7-PartA-Chapter5.html

Here says Asylees dont need to do an interview for i485. I just want to see if it is correct or not thx

I think in general, they are not interviewing principals and they are interviewing dependents. However, that is only in general. For example, we just had a married couple who got asylum and got their GCs last week. Neither the principal nor the derivative were interviewed. Take care, Jason

Thank you Jason, I really appreciate your time and knowledge.

[email protected] Quick Question…I applied my asylum case in Feb 2015 in Arlington Va office….I live in SC…How long do you think it can take ? and which office my interview will be Atlanta or Arlington ?

My understanding is that SC cases are interviewed in Atlanta. As for the time frame, no one knows. Once in a while, they are pulling old cases, and if so, you should be near the “front” of the line. Otherwise, you can always try to expedite if you have a reason – I wrote about that on March 30, 2017. Take care, Jason

I – 485 received 4/4/2018 Texas based on granted asylum 5/15/2018 Finger Print Reviewed 10/11/2018 My attorney request for update 10/20/2018 My online status changed to ” Addition Evidence Request ” Waiting for the letter to Arrive

I am just wondering what kind of evidence they need, I sent my medical April/2018 I didn’t sent my birth certificated because I thought they can still use what I gave them during asylum application ! Do they request for Birth Certificate ? Thank you !

It is very possible that they want a birth certificate, which can be a problem for some people (I wrote about that in a posting last week). In any event, you need to wait to get the letter, and then you will know what they want. Take care, Jason

I saw your wrote that they need a birth certificate from hospital ! I wonder what will happen if an applicant does not have the one at hapistal because I can’t find bc at hospital but I have one got from district office !

Thank you Jason !

There are alternatives to a birth certificate, but it is very annoying – Affidavits from people who knew you when you were born, early school records, baptism or other document from early childhood, etc. Take care, Jason

Hello Jason, I really appreciate all your effort. I have a pending Asylum case since 2015 and I later got married, filed or the adjustment of status and the case is going well. what if they call me for the Asylum interview now? i don’t want to stop the asylum case until my adjustment of status is approved. Also is there a way to pause the Asylum case ? Kindly advise me my options.

When we have had this situation, the asylum office did not allow us to pause the case. However, given that you filed in 2015, it is unlikely you will have an interview any time soon, and so you should be fine. If you do have an interview, just do your best (or if you prefer, withdraw the asylum case at the interview, but you will lose any work permit you have based on asylum pending). Even if you have the interview and go to court, that does not stop the marriage-based case. Take care, Jason

hello Jason how are you and kudos to you. please do you know how long it is to receive new EAD (c8) I filed after 150 days beginning of this month. I was informed that new EAD take at least 60 days if not more. thank you

It is not so predictable. I tell people 1 to 4 months for the first EAD, but it has been more like 1 or 2 months for most people for the first EAD (renewals are often slower). Take care, Jason

Hello Jason! It’s been long since I last wrote. I have been trying to reach SF Asylum office since months. I called DSHS to inquire about my pending asylum case as I am still waiting for interview(I filed in LA in June 2016) moved my case to SF in Dec 2017. I was able to talk to a gentleman in month of April 2018 and he confirmed that my case is moved to SF Asylum office and I should be able to get the interview sometime in September 2018. I somehow lost the number I called at. Now every time I call DSHS they provide me a number 415 575 1300, when I call that number I hear that this number can not take call or messages the mailbox is full and I should try a different number. I am thinking to expedite my case as my family fears persecution and harm in my home country and my mom is seriously ill. Is there any number to call SF Asylum office to check if I will be interviewed soon OR I will go ahead and do the paperwork to expedite the application. Thank you Jason!

No ones knows when a 2016 case will be interviewed, not even the asylum office, so there is no benefit in calling. Under LIFO, they are interviewing new cases first, and will not be interviewing older cases (though each office is different, and maybe SF is interviewing some old cases, I am not completely sure). Most likely, the only way to get an interview is to try to expedite. I wrote about that on March 30, 2017. Take care, Jason

Dear Jason:

Please help me with this, I am really in a problem.

I will move to a different address on 24th of Oct, and I wanna change my address.

I have friends in this property, where I live now. I wanna put my friends address for my mails, in case if I recieve important mails; they will let me now.

When I move to the new address on 24th of Oct, then I will rechange it back to that address because we are still waiting for lease contract, background and credit run of the new address. To recap, I just don’t wanna miss my mail if I receive from USCÌS.

For now, I don’t know how to change my address, can you please help me with it, since it is a new thing to me. I don’t know about it at all how to change it but yeah, it is not in a different Asylum office, I live in Alexandria, VA, and will move to another address in same area. Let me know, if my friend address works. And I just got that I should change my address within 10 days.

Additionally, won’t be this a problem if I put my friend address now, and after moving to the new address, I rechange it back ?

I wrote something about this on June 24, 2015. That might help. As for changing the address, use form AR-11, available at http://www.uscis.gov . Take care, Jason

Hi Jason. I also have another question I would like you to help me with. Why us it that whenever I enter my receipt number in the USCIS website to check for my case status it’s says error? My receipt number starts with ZAR. Thanks

You cannot check asylum case receipts numbers on-line. If there is something you need to check, you have to contact the asylum office directly. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). Take care, Jason

Hi Jason Please I need your advice. I applied for asylum and according to my receipt my application was received on 20th August 2018. I was called for biometrics which I attended on 12th September 2018in Baltimore MD. If all asylum offices are using LIFO why is it that I haven’t been called for interview? Arlington Asylum office in Virginia is the one handling my case. It’s now a full month since I did biometrics, with the new LIFO system it doesn’t feel right. Please advise me accordingly. Thanks

Only about half of all cases are actually being interviewed under LIFO. This is because the asylum offices are receiving more cases than they can interview. You may still get an interview notice, but if you do not have it in a few weeks, that means your case is in the backlog, and it is unknown how long you will wait for an interview. Take care, Jason

Extremely Important Daily Tips ( I485 form ) No. 65

If for any reason, you are not sure in how to answer a question in I-485 or any other form, you should not guess it and you should always ask for help. You don’t have to ask a lawyer even if it is recommended, but you can also any close person who has gone through this process before.

If you are an asylee applying for Green card on your own without help of a lawyer, then do not risk making mistakes that might negatively impact your case and may result in a denial.

For example: Look carefully at this question

65. Have you EVER lied about, concealed, or misrepresented any information on an application or petition to obtain a visa, other documentation required for entry into the United States, admission to the United States, or any other kind of immigration benefit?

This question if answered in a wrong may cause problem to your case and USCIS may accuse you of Lying to immigration officers without any valid reason and deny your case.

Most of Asylee applied for a visa before coming to US, and if you are someone who applied for visa and lied to the embassy officer about your intentions for going to US which is to apply for Asylum in US and whether you have or have not admitted that on your Asylum interview then you must answer yes to question 65 in I-485.

Attach a statement that explains why you really lied. For example “because I wanted to apply for Asylum and If I have told the embassy officer about my intentions to apply for Asylum, he wouldn’t give me the visa and I wouldn’t be able to seek protection.” DON’T FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE THE STATEMENT.

2- While in the airport, have you told the officer that you want to seek Asylum when he asked about the purpose of the visit if not then you lied and you must answer yes to question 65 in I-485

Attach a statement that explains why you really lied. For example, “I honestly didn’t know about Asylum laws so I lied about it so I can get in and find a lawyer to prepare my case.” DON’T FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE THE STATEMENT.

If you answered no to this question, they may send you a letter to tell you that there are inconsistencies on your case that need to be fixed and will cause long delays and sometimes denial so if you received such a letter, just head to immigration attorney because response to this kind of question is extremely important

Thank you very much everyone

If any has questions, please ask.

I applied for asylum with help of paralegal, today I was cheking my i-589 form and I noticed that on 2b “Have you, your spouse, your child(ren), or other family members, such as your parents or siblings, ever applied for or received any lawful status in any country other than the one from which you are now claiming asylum” it says -No. But when I was little my parents and I lived in another country for a 9 years, (my parents didn’t apply, it was USSR times and countries didn’t have all that refulations). I don’t know why paralegal checked no, unfortunately we sent it already. What should I do? I can explain it at the interview, but will it negatively effect my case? Thank you

It does not sound like a major problem. You might submit written information about that prior to the interview (such as an affidavit). The asylum office may also want evidence that you do not have legal status today to live in that country. Take care, Jason

Do you know when USCIS will/should publish Asylum Quarterly Statistics mainly for July, August and September. Last time they published it in early August, so I was waiting for the beginning of October. Thank you

I think it usually takes a couple months, but I really do not know. Take care, Jason

Hello Mr Jason, thank so much for your support and great job. Could you recommend me a good attorney in New York. Many thanks in advance

Sorry, I cannot recommend lawyers on this website. I did a post on September 22, 2016 about how to find a free lawyer. The article includes a list of non-profits. If you contact some non-profits in NY, they may have a referral list, and this is often more reliable than other sources for finding lawyers. Take care, Jason

Hey Jason, I got my EAd, but I have a pending court date for next year, my family lives in New Jersey and the address I have on file it’s my family house, but I’m traveling to Colorado for work, but I don’t want to change my address since my family lives there and I don’t want my case to be prolong if I change my address to another state. I will be back before my court date, but I just want to know if I can travel with flight and I won’t be detained at the airport? Can I use my EAD card as an ID? Also if I go for my first hearing are there chances of being detained?

You should be able to travel domestically with the EAD and your passport or driver’s license. If you keep your NJ address, you should be able to avoid changing the address of your case. If you are worried about that, talk to a lawyer, as you do not want to be accused of lying about your address. The first court is a Master Calendar Hearing. It would be very unusual, if not impossible, for an asylum seeker to be ordered deported at such a hearing. The Individual Hearing, which is usually the second time in court, is where you present your case and the Judge makes a decision. Take care, Jason

Dear Jason I am going to renew my EAD. I have a question, do we pay for biometric 85$ with our renewal application, or it’s just 410$ for the Asylee? What should I write on my cheque or money order.

No you don’t, just the $410

If it is based on asylum pending, you normally only pay $410. Checks are to “Department of Homeland Security”. Take care, Jason

Hello Jason! Hope you’re doing great! I have a pending asylum application since 2015. Now I was been assaulted (no deadly weapon involved) last week. I didn’t had big injuries but just a black eye. I’ve seen a doctor and a psychiatrist for my physical and mental harm caused by the assault. I’m been helping the local police to investigate the case . Do you think I can qualify for a U visa?

You might, and it is probably worth looking into soon, while you are still involved with the police. Sometimes, non-profit lawyers do such cases – I did a post with links to non-profits on September 22, 2016. Take care, Jason

Hello, My question is that what policy does the San Fransico Asylum Office follow? Does it follow the LIFO or what? and is there any link to see the different asylum offices interview polices?

As far as I know, all offices are now following LIFO. Take care, Jason

I have a general question. Do you think this LIFO policy could be cancelled and changed back to FILO? It’s clear that LIFO isn’t working, asylum offices interview only new applicants, number of which gets more and more every day, it’s really unfair for people who have been waiting for years. As far as I know, a couple years ago was also LIFO policy, what happened then? How did they go back to FILO policy? Thank you

It was LIFO prior to 2015. It really didn’t work then, and it is not really working now either. That said, I doubt they will go beck to FIFO, as that didn’t work too well either. My guess is that they are hoping to reduce the number of applicants and get a handle on the cases. So far, nothing seems to be working, and what they will do in the future is anyone’s guess. Take care, Jason

Hello Jason, We always appreciate your great efforts and your replies which taught us alot about asylum, May god bless you and your family. We had received EAD cards on 9/14/18 on C8 category while pending asylum, then we got granted asylum on 9/21/18 mentioning we will receive new EAD cards on A5 category, but till now we received nothing, I had contacted the asylum office, they referred me to the service center, I had called them, they said you should return back to your asylum office, I don’t know what should I do? Thanks for your quick respond as usual.

I would wait a few months. We have been seeing delays for EADs for people granted asylum, but it seems to resolve itself in 3 to 5 months. Meanwhile, you have an EAD, and you are also eligible to work based on the asylum approval. Take care, Jason

Dear Jason,

Pls would you be kind enough to help understand this,

What should asylum seeker who you to be a B2 status enter in the current status box on the form I765?

How do you advise I package a family (of 4) EAD application while sending it to USCIS office?

You obviously need to get help from an attorney..

Please there is an error in the spelling of on my ead have tried called Uscis several times no one will pick. Please what the I do my current one expires soon.

If you review the instructions for the I-765 (available at http://www.uscis.gov ), it should explain what to do when there is an error. You may have to return the incorrect card and apply for a new one, which unfortunately creates a gap in ability to work (for people with pending asylum cases, at least; if you have asylum already, you can work even without the EAD). You might also try making an Info Pass appointment and going in person to ask about the problem, but I am not sure they can help. If you want to try, there is a link to Info Pass at right. Take care, Jason

I cannot advise people about specific answers on forms. For our clients that have applied for asylum, we often write “asylum pending”. Sometimes we might write “B-2 expired” if that seems more appropriate, but it may depend on your case. For multiple applications, you can send them together, but each application should be complete, as the cases will likely be separated by USCIS, and if each case does not have all required documents, it can be denied. Take care, Jason

Thank you so much Jason.

Itnis perfectly understandable why you can’t answer specific question, you’re doing more than enough.

I will gowith B2 expired. Though I’ve been interviewed already, just don’t have the approval letter yet.

I doubt it will make any difference, as long as you answer truthfully. Take care, Jason

MENTOR October 16, 2018 Thank you so much Jason.

It is perfectly understandable why you may not answer specific question, you’re doing more than enough already and it’s much appreciated.

I will go with B2 expired. Though I’ve been interviewed already, just don’t have the approval letter yet.

Hello Jason,

My brother & my mother answer this question NO ((65. Have you EVER lied about, concealed, or misrepresented any information on an application or petition to obtain a visa, other documentation required for entry into the United States, admission to the United States, or any other kind of immigration benefit?)) on I-485 form, but they receive a letter of deficiency on it. They say they have what it proof they provided a sort of application before that shows this not the right answer. Bringing on mind that the only two things we provided before are applying to Medicaid and it got rejected & when they applied to Asylum, it was before the Visa expiration, Actually it was after 2 months from their arrival to the USA & they were allowed to stay for 6 months. We could not conjecture with any explanation! Can you explain this question to me at least? and if you met any case before about this question. I will be so appreciatable.

It could also be something from the visa interview. I do not know what it is, of course, but a common problem people have on that question is that they list on the I-589 arrests (including political arrests) or organizations that they are members of, but they do not list those arrests or memberships on the I-485. Thus, they “lied” (in the mind of USCIS) on the I-485. In this situation, I think you need to talk to a lawyer about the specifics of the case in order to understand what is going on, and to respond appropriately. Take care, Jason

Thank you very much

Kindly help look into this. I’m currently filling out my first EAD application for my family and I’m stuck with ‘Applicant’s Statement’ (part 3: 1a-2 & 7a), wondering if I should signs for my child age 4?. Not sure what the practice is.

Since the child cannot possibly fill a form like this, can I also put my name as interpreter and preparer?

For children, we have the parent write the child’s name and then put the parent’s initials next to the name. I do not know of an official policy about this, but we have not had a problem with it before. You could include a cover letter indicating that you filled the child’s form; maybe that would help, but we have not encountered issues with parents signing for children, so hopefully, it will be fine. Take care, Jason

Thank you so much.

I will do as advised.

Jason , Please tell me if my case file in Miami and later I move to sfo at the same time if I need to file for ead renewal which address I need to send for renewal ? There would be any problem if I do both in few month gap ? As people say if take 6 month to move case . I m confused about renewal address

If you plan to renew your EAD, you do not have to wait for the case to be transferred to the new office. Just file the I-765 to renew based on your current address. As for the mailing location, you have to check the I-765 instructions, available at http://www.uscis.gov . Take care, Jason

I got it that I can apply for ead but my qus is if I transferred my case to sfo as it take few month to move file which address do I need to send ead Miami or some sfo address

You send the EAD to the address in the instructions for the I-765 – you do not send it to the asylum office. Take care, Jason

In case, I-730 rejected by USCIS, can the person independently apply for asylum? What about 1 year bar?

The person could apply for asylum. The fact that a prior application (such as the I-730) is pending may be an excuse for the one-year bar, but I am not sure. Maybe talk to a lawyer to determine whether the I-730 is likely to be approved. If not, then it might be best to file for asylum now. Take care, Jason

Can you file I-730 while the derivate (spouse) is in country after asylum is approved? Does this make the process faster? I saw that several people quoted 6+ months waits to be reconciled with spouse and/or children.

Thanks as always.

If you have a spouse at the time asylum is approved, you can file for that person whether they are in the US or some other country. The processing time is not so predictable. Maybe most cases are resolved in under a year, though. Take care, Jason

I gave my interview 3 weeks ago still no reply. I applied in February 2015. The wait has been really long and this anxiety takes away more than half of my energy. I am going to school for undergrad and work full time and trying to focus on school as much as I can. Thank you for this website as I cant talk about this to anyone except writing here.

My EAD expires in May 2019. Last time it was lost in the mail And I had a very difficult and frustrating moment. When do you think Would be appropriate to apply for my EAD?

Many thanks and god bless you always

Hopefully, you will get a response soon. But if not, you can apply for the new EAD up to 180 days before the old card expires. I think you should inquire with the asylum office if there is no decision in a month or two. But if there is no news, it may be worthwhile to renew the EAD, just to be on the safe side. Take care, Jason

can you please share some information with us? did you expedite or short list your case? and which asylum office did you apply? thanks

Hi – I shorlisted my case and got a phone call for the interview. Boston asylum office.

Can you please tell which asylum office did you apply? Dis you expedite your case?

Hi applied asylum since Oct 2015 still no interview my question is that normale?

It is normal. Cases from 2015 are not currently being interviewed under the LIFO system. You can request that your case be expedited – I wrote about that on March 30, 2017. Take care, Jason

Hi Jason, Do you have any idea what year and month cases are being interviewed at the Arlington office? I applied in August 2015 and there is nothing yet.

They are following LIFO, and they seemingly do not have the capacity to interview additional case. However, we just received an interview notice for a case from October or November 2014. The client attempted to expedite the case (without telling me), and so that may the reason for the interview, but we really do not know. In any event, they are not likely to interview an August 2015 case any time soon unless you can expedite – I wrote about that on March 30, 2017. Take care, Jason

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate that.

Can a derivative in an asylum application apply for asylum on her own if the application of the principal applicant is still pending? Does the one-year filing rule apply to the derivatives? Thanks.

The person can apply on her own, but the filing procedure is different. Basically, the case has to be filed at the local office with an explanation. You can check the I-589 instructions, which cover this point. The one-year deadline does apply, but the fact that the person was a derivative in an asylum case can be used as an exception to the one-year rule. Take care, Jason

Hi Jason. I got Asylum status from immigration court in june 2018. I applied i730 for my family in my Home Country in July 2018. My Questions are: 1. How much time take for Approval in uscis? 2. Can i Apply i730 for my Father?

1 – It is a two step process. You can check the processing time for step one at http://www.uscis.gov (processing times). The second step, at the embassy, varies by country and case, but it might be 3 to 5 months on average. 2 – You cannot file for a parent; only a spouse or child who was unmarried and under 21 at the time your asylum case was filed. Take care, Jason

Hi there. Congrats on your status. You wrote that you have gotten your approval from immigration court that means that asylum officer referred your case to the court and you won it there? Can you share please your reason for denial of asylum after the interview? And how did the court hearing go?

Jason, The congressman has returned to me with an answer that the asylum office needs to schedule a third interview and that should happen within the next 60 days. For some reason, I think this is a bad sign. I have not heard of anybody who was able to survive three interviews. All three-interview asylum seekers I know have been denied and referred to the court. Please advise, do you know anybody who was approved after three interviews?

I don’t remember – we have only had a few people with three interviews. One was denied. I think at least one was granted, if I remember correctly. We have had many people with two interviews who were granted. If they had made a negative (or positive) decision already, they would not need another interview, so I think you still have a change. Make sure to review your case as if this is a first interview, and try to recall anything unusual that happened at the prior interviews. Take care, Jason

Hello Jason, I really wish I had known you before I applied for asylum. All I read in this post makes me feel like my application was incomplete or just a kind of mess. This inspirational blog is a kind of great school as we learn from you on a daily basis. However, I feel worried because for almost a month now, nobody has posted that they won asylum lately. This is worrisome as we guys have been waiting for a decision for about two years now. Again, thank Jason for your eye-opening post

People post in different places, and we have had seen some people who won asylum in the last couple days. Also, we have won some cases in our office recently, and so have other lawyers I know, so it is still possible to win. As for your application, you can always organize everything nicely and resubmit it before the interview (according to your asylum office rules) and explain that you are just trying to make a more organized application, but the documents are the same. Take care, Jason

Thank you for the update. I was already interviewed almost two years but my application is still pending final decision. This is very frustrating

Dear Dear Respected Sir.

Is there any fee for EAD for asylum seekers? Because for some categories, there is a fee of almost 500.

If you are filing based on a pending asylum case, there is no fee for the first EAD. You have to pay for renewals or apply for a fee waiver using form I-912, available at http://www.uscis.gov . Take care, Jason

Your blog is so helpful and I have several questions: 1. Is it better to fill in Green Card application myself or with lawyer with whom I work since interview (I have to tell you that I prepared everything myself, my lawyer is just a figure 🙂 2. If I apply to Green card on December 1st, what is the estimated time that I will receive it? (I was granted in interview stage)

1 – You can do it yourself if you are careful and make sure not to be inconsistent with any prior applications. These days, cases can be denied for small mistakes, so it might be advantageous to use a lawyer (probably a different lawyer than you used before), but GC applications are much less complicated than asylum cases, so you can probably do it on your own. 2 – Probably in the neighborhood of one year, but it could be longer (or maybe shorter). You can check the processing times on http://www.uscis.gov . Take care, Jason

Hello Jason, I have several questions that need your advise on. I’m engaged to someone in NY and planning in getting married soon. We both are asylum seekers (I’m located in FL). His individual hearing is in 2021 and I was just referred to court in FL and did my master, my individial will be in 2019. 1) If we got married before my court date, AND I got granted, will he automatically be granted ? (and then he could withdraw his case from NY). Or there is a lengthy process to grant him asylum as well? 2) If I got denied, and he kept his case in NY, will he be affected by the decision (since we’d be married)? 3) If I got denied, can I move my case to NY under/ attached to his case? 4) I googled my judge and he has a high denial’s rate, is there statistics that show denial rate based on nationalities? AKA, Florida has higher denial for Central American which could be why rates are high. Not sure though. Very confused on what to do!

Thanking you in advance!

1 – Unless you combine the court cases, he will not be granted at the time you are granted. You would need to file an I-730 petition for him. But that should work out fine, even if he is in court. 2 – It would not effect him unless maybe your cases are related. Of course, it doesn’t look great if you are an asylum seeker and your spouse’s asylum case was denied. 3 – You may be able to move to NY, but you could not attach to his case at that point. The time to join the cases – if you want to – is before the final hearing. 4 – There used to be such data available (I think from TRAC Immigration), but I have not seen it for a while. The denial rates are not all that reliable. If you have a decent case, even if you are from a country that frequently gets denied, you should have a chance to win. Take care, Jason

Does anyone have an update on their case in NYC? Any LIFO cases?

Are those with long term visas like H1B and F1 being processed on LIFO?

LIFO is only for asylum cases. Take care, Jason

To clarify: if you have one of those visas and are applying for US asylum, will the application be processed on LIFO or added to backlog due to length of visa?

Also, thanks for your incredible articles and guidance. God bless you immensely.

I think that all cases are processed under LIFO, but since they cannot interview everyone (there are too many new cases), some cases are sent to the backlog. But as far as I know, this is random, and does not depend on your type of visa or anything else. Take care, Jason

Looking great young Jason 🙂

Hello Jason! My name is Luis, and I am a US citizen. Thank you for everything you do. I hope you can give me some advice.

I got married this year with my boyfriend, now husband, and we are beyond happy. He did not came in a legal way to the US, but he asked for an asylum at the border. Unfortunately, his case was denied, and now is on the Ninth Circuit. Is there a way he could get a green card with our marriage? Is there any law that forbids him from receiving any green card?

Thank you so much in advance.

It may be possible, but at this point, I suspect it will be very difficult. Probably, the path would be for you to file an I-130 petition for him (form I-130 can be found at http://www.uscis.gov ). At the same time, check to see whether there is any way he can get Voluntary Departure. If so, he might try to reopen the case at the BIA (the appeals court before he went to the 9th Circuit) and ask for Voluntary Departure, which would allow him to leave without a deportation order. This will make it less difficult to return here based on the marriage. One issue: Most likely, he is not eligible for Voluntary Departure, but it is worth checking into. If he cannot get that, he would be deported and if he left, he could try to return based on the approved I-130. He likely will be barred from returning here for 5 or 10 years (or more, depending on the facts of the case). There are most likely waivers available to help him return before then. Obviously, all this is tricky and involves him leaving the US, and so you should talk to a lawyer and ask the lawyer to map out exactly what needs to be done to see whether it is possible. Good luck, Jason

Hi Jason, is Luis again, thank you for your prompt answer.

Let me give you a few more pointers because I don’t think I was clear or specific enough before. I live with my husband in New York, and we have been living together for over a year. I have already filled the I-130 application from my end, which we did on Oct 1st. Also, we submitted all applications regarding his lawful permanent residency (LPR), but we received a last minute update saying that one of the laws was changed around the beggining of October. Now his case is on standby and I would like to know what to do next, or if you know of any institution that can help with our case. Do you know anything about this new change in law? I’ll really appreciate it. Thank you once again.

I do not know of a change in the law that would affect an I-130. It seems to me that you need to talk to a lawyer to go over the specifics of the case. If you cannot afford a lawyer, I did a post about finding a free lawyer on September 22, 2016. Take care, Jason

Dear Mr. Jason:

Thanks for everything your doing for us. It worths a lot to us.

Dear Sir, I applied for asylum in 10, Aug, 2018, and recieved the blue reciept on 14, Aug, 2018. Also, I completed my biometric on 05,sep,2018. Since that time, I haven’t heard anything back in regards to interview as per new LIFO system, I saw some people got thier interviews after 3 to 4 months, but some recieved within two months. Can you please give me a clue on my situation, I would be really appreciated.

I think, If I don’t receive it within 6 months, it will be definitely on backlog. Please let me have your feedback.

I think if you have not received an interview notice within 2 months, you are probably in the backlog, but maybe a notice could arrive 3 or 4 months after filing. From the latest data we have, the asylum offices (nationwide) interviewed about 51% of applicants within 43 days of filing. I think this means that 49% of all cases went into the backlog. Take care, Jason

wow.. someone is excited today.. lol. maybe is it because you enhanced the “Hyperlink” feature in the blog ?

now seriously, thank you for this blog.. your post was.. MAH-VELOUS..!!

Sharing my yesterday’s experience:

Calling the congressman office:

**STORY BEGINS** John: Hello this is John the case manager Ertugrul: Hello John, wondering if you have received an answer from the asylum office regarding the (help with a federal agency) form I submitted 8 weeks ago John: The log says that the asylum office will schedule an interview. They are limited with resources (officers) which have caused the unfortunate delay for six years!!! Ertugrul: John, I have already informed your office that I have completed 2 interviews during the last 6 years. Do you mean the asylum office requires a third one? John: Oh, it might be a mistaken answer from the asylum office then. Let me e-mail them again to confirm. Ertugrul: Ok, can you e-mail me the current answer you received from the asylum office stating that they need to schedule me for an interview. I need to keep it in my record please. John: I need to check that as the asylum office asks us sometimes to not share specific type of information with the applicant. **STORY ENDS**

My comment: Even the congressman/ombudsman cannot let you know if your case has sensitive information. AMBIGUOUS, AMBIGUOUS, & AMBIGUOUS are the rules for asylum cases..

I don’t think the Congressional inquiries are very useful. You might inquire yourself and see what they say. Sometimes, it is better to go in person during their walk-in hours. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). Also, given the length of time, you might consider a mandamus lawsuit. The article last week on this blog discusses that option. Take care, Jason

Thank you for this Jason. On our application we didn’t keep copies of evidence which was mostly newspaper articles related to our case and pictures of my husband’s injuries. We only kept the completed form. Will we be expected to have these when we go to an interview?.

You do not need them for the interview, but it is a good idea to have copies of everything you submitted, so you are fully aware of your case. If you want, you can get a copy from the government using form G-639, available at http://www.uscis.gov . This takes maybe 5 or 6 months, but it is free. Take care, Jason

Jason this write up is totally amazing thank you. Please can you enlighten me. I was refered to a judge so i am still pending. My daughter is a us citizen . I am due for my ead and social security in a month. However i would like to get my daughter to a daycare so i can job hunt. Would it be okay to apply for a daycare voucher for her? Would that be considered as a public charge i mean benefit. I know you have said asylum applicants have been excluded from that memo but anything can change. Just wanted your opinion please

I do not think it will change. The statue indicates that asylees are exempt from the public charge requirement, and unless Congress changes the law on this (and there is no movement in that direction), you should be fine. Take care, Jason

Write a comment Cancel reply

Table of Contents
Preface & Acknowledgements
Acronyms & Abbreviations
1. A Brief History
2. Sources of Law
3. Elements of Asylum Law
4. Precedential LGBTQ/H Asylum Cases
5. The One-Year Filing Deadline
6. Withholding of Removal
7. Relief Under CAT
8. Voluntary Departure
9. Real ID Act
10. Safe Third Country
11. Challenging Asylum Cases
12. Working with Asylum Seekers
13. Working with LGBTQ/H Asylum Seekers
14. Elements of an Application
15. Preparing the I-589
16. Sample I-589
17. Preparing the Asylum Declaration
18. Declaration Dos and Don’ts
19. Annotated Sample Declaration

20. Corroborating Client-Specific Documents

21. Corroborating Country Conditions
22. Indexed Country Conditions Sample
23. Sample Cover Letter
24. Assembling Everything
25. Affirmative Application Process
26. Immigration Court Proceedings
27. Board of Immigration Appeals
28. Federal Court Review
29. Detained Asylum Seekers
30. Obtaining an Employment Authorization Document
31. Asylee Status
32. Withholding Status
33. CAT Status
Important Resources

The information contained herein is for reference only and may not be up to date. It does not constitute legal advice. You should always consult an attorney regarding your matter.

One of the greatest fears that an asylum adjudicator has is that the applicant has fabricated their story and that nothing they are saying is actually true.

It is therefore essential to provide as much supporting documentation as possible to corroborate the applicant’s claim. Obviously, the most important documentation is that which goes to the heart of the applicant’s claim – police records, medical records, affidavits and letters of partners, friends and family who witnessed the harm the applicant suffered – but it is also helpful to provide corroborating documents for other aspects of the applicant’s story, including school records, employment records, and proof of community involvement.

It often takes considerable time and effort for an applicant to obtain corroborating documents, especially since such documents generally come from their country of origin, and they may not be in touch with family members or friends there anymore. It is therefore important to begin brainstorming with the applicant almost immediately about what kind of corroborating documentation they will be able to provide.

Pursuant to the Real ID Act of 2005, asylum applicants are required to provide corroborating documents for their claims or offer a specific explanation of why it would not be possible to obtain the supporting documents. See Section #9 for a practice advisory on the Real ID Act.

20.1 Supporting Documentation Checklist

Understanding the significance of supporting documentation, the next question is what types of documentation should the applicant include? How can supporting documentation help prove the claim? The following is a “brainstorming” list, but it is not exhaustive. The more supporting documentation the applicant can provide (so long as it’s not needlessly redundant) the better.

20.2 Proof of the Applicant’s Membership in a Particular Social Group (PSG)

20.2.1 for lgbtq applicants.

Affidavits/letters from the applicant’s current and/or former partner(s) to establish sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Affidavits/letters from the applicant’s family member(s) or close friends who are aware of the applicant’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
Photographs of the applicant with their partner or former partner(s).
Letters from LGBTQ rights or advocacy organizations which the applicant is/was a member of, volunteers with, etc.
Letters from therapists or other mental health professionals who can attest to therapy sessions which deal with “coming out,” gender identity, and/or or other LGBTQ-specific issues. But be careful: letters corroborating an existing therapeutic relationship can be helpful, even if the therapist can only recount what the applicant has indicated during prior meetings. Seeking a “one-off” or “for litigation purposes only” letter or affidavit wherein a therapist “confirms” sexual orientation and/or gender identity runs dangerously close to medicalizing LGBTQ/H persons, which the advocacy community has worked hard to move the discourse away from.

20.2.2 For Transgender Applicants

Affidavits/letters from medical and/or mental health professionals describing any steps the applicant has made in “transitioning.”

20.2.3 For Applicants Living with HIV

Affidavits/letters from medical and/or mental health professionals confirming the HIV diagnosis and describing in detail the applicant’s treatment regimen. If the medical provider has sufficient knowledge, this letter should include information about the unavailability of treatment in the applicant’s home country.

20.3 Proof of Past Persecution

Affidavits/letters from partners, friends, family members, or anyone else who was present during the act(s) of mistreatment.
Affidavits/letters from partners, friends, family members or anyone else who the applicant confided in about the incident. This is particularly important if the witness saw proof of physical harm (injuries, torn clothes, etc.) or mental harm (crying, anxiety etc.).
Newspaper or other media coverage, or coverage by human rights groups of the particular incident in which the applicant was involved.
Arrest records. These are generally not available since most LGBT asylum applicants are never actually charged with a crime.
Records of police complaints. Sometimes, applicants will make an official complaint with the police after an act of violence by a third party. The record of the complaint can help verify that the incident actually happened and corroborate the applicant’s account that the police did not protect them if the perpetrator was never caught or if the applicant continued to have problems after seeking police protection.
Medical records. If the applicant required medical treatment for an act of mistreatment, it is vital to provide the medical records. If it is impossible to obtain the medical records from the home country, the applicant should document the injury, if possible by seeing a medical professional in the United States who can write a letter. For example, if the applicant’s nose was broken in a beating, the applicant should provide a letter from a medical professional confirming that their nose has been broken and that the pattern of the break is consistent with being hit by a blunt object;
Death certificates. If a partner or close friend of the applicant was killed because of their sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or HIV status, it is very important to document this, if possible with the death certificate.

20.4 Proof of Well-Founded Fear of Future Persecution – Country Conditions

See Section #21 for more in depth information on documenting country conditions.

U.S. State Department Reports on Human Rights.
Human Rights Reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, OutRight Action International, or other local human rights or LGBTQ/H rights organizations;
Newspaper or other media stories of human rights abuses against LGBTQ/H individuals in the country of origin.
Expert affidavits on country conditions. Note that such affidavits are generally only required in defensive proceedings—or in affirmative proceedings where esoteric issues cannot be confirmed with other documentation.

20.5 One-Year Filing Deadline

I-94 and/or stamped passport. If the applicant is filing within one year of their last entry into the United States and they entered with inspection, they should submit a copy of their I-94 and/or stamped passport as proof of the date of entry. Even if they entered using a fake passport, they should submit a copy of that document, if they still have it, because it is important evidence of their entry date.
Other proof of date of entry. If the applicant is filing within one year of their last entry but entered without inspection, they should provide documentary evidence that proves they were outside the United States within the last year, such as work records or medical records. Additionally, proof of travel (airline tickets, bus tickets, hotel receipts) within Mexico or Canada can be very helpful. Proof of travel from a border state to the final United States destination doesn’t hurt, but is not really dispositive since the applicant could have been living in the border state for a long time.
If the applicant missed the one-year filing deadline, it is essential to submit adequate documentation about the changed or extraordinary circumstances that justify an exception to the filing deadline. This documentation could include medical records, affidavits from mental health professionals, reports of substantially changed conditions in the home country, etc. See Section # 5.2 on one-year filing deadline exceptions.

20.6 Criminal Issues

If your client has ever been arrested in the United States, even if they were never convicted of anything, or even if the case was dismissed and sealed, they must obtain original, certified dispositions of the criminal cases. You can submit photocopies of the dispositions when you send in the asylum application, but by the time of the interview or hearing your client must have original, certified dispositions to give to the Asylum Officer or Immigration Judge.

20.7 Proof that the Applicant Merits a Favorable Exercise of Discretion

In addition to meeting the legal definition of refugee, an asylum adjudicator will look at all the relevant facts to determine if the applicant “deserves” asylum. Any documentation of positive factors should be included (especially if there are negative factors, such as arrests, to counterbalance.) This proof could include:

Proof of volunteer work, in the form of affidavits/letters on the organization’s letterhead.
Proof of rehabilitation. If the applicant committed a crime or had a substance abuse problem, proof that the applicant has completed community service or attended a drug rehabilitation program should be included.
Proof that the applicant has been attending school, or otherwise been productive while waiting for the asylum application to be adjudicated.
Proof that the applicant is part of the community. This could include an affidavit/letter from a religious leader stating that the applicant regularly attends religious services, or affidavit/letter(s) from LGBTQ/H or other community organizations in which the applicant participates.
Proof that the applicant has a partner who relies upon them, in the form of an affidavit/letter.

20.8 Supporting Documentation Format: Affidavits and Letters

In an affirmative asylum application, sworn or affirmed affidavits are submitted with the application. Asylum Officers will generally allow submission of unsworn letters, but may give them less weight than sworn statements. If the person who wrote the letter was afraid to get the document notarized (in many other countries, obtaining a notarization is a much more formal procedure than in the United States), the person writing the letter should explain the basis of her fear of doing so. The witnesses writing these statements are not required to appear at the asylum interview.

Affidavits from family or friends which are being used to corroborate LGBTQ/H status should include: 1) the approximate date when the family member or friend first learned of the sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status of the applicant, and/or the relationship between the applicant and their partner; 2) how long the family member or friend has known the applicant or partner, and; 3) any LGBTQ/H-oriented activities in which the applicant participates (e.g., pride parades, support groups, bars, films or other community or relevant cultural events).

In an application for asylum before the immigration court, the Immigration Judge (IJ) may not allow the introduction of statements by individuals who are not willing to appear in court to testify, unless they are unable to do so because of prohibitive travel costs, or for other compelling reasons. In such cases, the IJ may or may not admit the affidavits. In general, and as discussed in Chapter 27, Immigration Courts have much stricter rules for admitting evidence than Asylum Officers do. This is one of many reasons that it is important to do the best possible job in preparing the application at the Asylum Office level.

20.9 Translation of Documents

All foreign-language documents must be translated into English, or they will not be accepted by the Asylum Office or the immigration court. Anybody but the applicant who can swear that they are competent in English and the foreign language can do the translation and sign the certificate of translation. There is no requirement that the translator have any professional training in translation; they must simply be able to certify in a notarized certificate that they are competent to render the translation.

Although it is not preferred, there is no rule prohibiting the attorney of record form certifying translations. Whenever a foreign language document is being submitted, the entire document must be translated, not just the relevant sections.

Every foreign language document must have its own certificate of translation attached. For each exhibit, you should attach first the English version, then the foreign-language version, then the certificate of translation.

Two examples of a typical translation certificate follow:

20.9.1 Sample One – Certification of Accurate Translation

I, Rita Garcia, hereby certify that I translated the attached document from Spanish into English and that to the best of my ability it is a true and correct translation. I further certify that I am competent in both Spanish and English to render and certify such translation.

_________________________________ Rita Garcia Sworn to before me this 7th day of September 2005

_________________________________ Notary Public

» Practice pointer: Sometimes, if the applicant is fluent in English and their native language, you can ask the applicant to do the translations (since they may have more time to spend on this than do the staff in your office), and you can then have a third party who is fluent in both languages review the translation and submit a Certificate confirming that they have reviewed the translation and that the translation is accurate.

An example follows:

20.9.2 Sample Two – Certification of Accurate Translation

I, Rita Garcia, hereby certify that I reviewed the attached documents and that to the best of my ability I certify that the English translation of the Spanish document is true and accurate. I further certify that I am competent in both English and Spanish to render and certify such translation.

This Manual is intended to provide information to attorneys and accredited representatives. It is not intended as legal advice. Asylum seekers should speak with qualified attorneys before applying.

This handbook is intended for use by pro bono attorneys and immigration attorneys working on LGBTQ/HIV asylum cases.

If you are in detention, call:

Calls from people outside of detention will not be accepted.

For general inquiries, call:

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

MENU Legal Careers Home

Why Justice?
Search Attorney Vacancies & Volunteer Legal Internships
Volunteer Legal Internships
Eligibility
Participating Components
Current Attorney Vacancies
Valuing Diversity

Legal Careers

Law student volunteer, fall 2024 - ny immigration court.

The United States Department of Justice has several openings for legal interns with the New York Immigration Court for Fall 2024. Rising second-year and third-year law students are eligible to apply. Prior knowledge of immigration law is preferred but not necessary. Strong research and writing skills are required. Issues commonly before the Court include asylum eligibility, cancellation of removal, and motions to reopen. The types of projects assigned to legal interns vary depending on the Court's docket and will entail: * Research and preparation of memoranda on complex legal issues * Drafting decisions on motions pending before the Court * Drafting decisions on applications for relief from removal

As the federal agency whose mission is to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice for all Americans, the Department of Justice is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. To build and retain a workforce that reflects the diverse experiences and perspectives of the American people, we welcome applicants from the many communities, identities, races, ethnicities, backgrounds, abilities, religions, and cultures of the United States who share our commitment to public service.

This internship offers an excellent opportunity to develop research, writing, and analytical skills. Legal interns will work under the supervision of the Court's law clerks, but will also have interaction with individual Immigration Judges. This internship is an unpaid/volunteer position. However, students may be eligible for academic credit or work-study funding. Students interested in receiving credit or work-study should contact the appropriate person at their law school to determine their eligibility. The internship is part-time and will begin in September. Interns are expected to be available for 10-12 weeks.

All applicants must be United States citizens. Applicants will be required to meet a residency requirement and must pass a background and security clearance check. For more details, visit: https://www.justice.gov/legal-careers/conditions-employment.

Interested students should submit a cover letter, detailed resume, official or unofficial law school transcript, the names of three references, and a writing sample of no more than ten pages. The sample should be an original piece of work that provides evidence of the candidate’s skills in legal analysis and writing and has not been heavily edited by a third party.

Please compile all components of the application into one PDF file in the following order: (1) cover letter, (2) resume, (3) law school transcript, (4) three references, and (5) writing sample. Please note, applicants who do not follow these instructions will not be considered.

Email completed applications to: Natalie Ciabattoni, Attorney Advisor [email protected]

cc. Jennifer Labbadia, Attorney Advisor [email protected]

Electronic submissions only. Applications will be accepted until Friday, May 3, 2024. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

This position is unpaid/volunteer; students may be eligible for academic credit or work-study funding.

* * *

Department Policies

Equal Employment Opportunity : The U.S. Department of Justice is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Except where otherwise provided by law, there will be no discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex - including gender identity, sexual orientation, or pregnancy status - or because of age (over 40), physical or mental disability, protected genetic information, parental status, marital status, political affiliation, or any other non-merit based factor. The Department of Justice welcomes and encourages applications from persons with physical and mental disabilities. The Department is firmly committed to satisfying its affirmative obligations under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, to ensure that persons with disabilities have every opportunity to be hired and advanced on the basis of merit within the Department of Justice. For more information, please review our full EEO Statement .

Reasonable Accommodations : This agency provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify the agency. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Outreach and Recruitment for Qualified Applicants with Disabilities : The Department encourages qualified applicants with disabilities, including individuals with targeted/severe disabilities to apply in response to posted vacancy announcements. Qualified applicants with targeted/severe disabilities may be eligible for direct hire, non-competitive appointment under Schedule A (5 C.F.R. § 213.3102(u)) hiring authority. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to contact one of the Department’s Disability Points of Contact (DPOC) to express an interest in being considered for a position. See list of DPOCs .

Suitability and Citizenship : It is the policy of the Department to achieve a drug-free workplace and persons selected for employment will be required to pass a drug test which screens for illegal drug use prior to final appointment. Employment is also contingent upon the completion and satisfactory adjudication of a background investigation. Congress generally prohibits agencies from employing non-citizens within the United States, except for a few narrow exceptions as set forth in the annual Appropriations Act (see, https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/non-citizens/ ). Pursuant to DOJ component policies, only U.S. citizens are eligible for employment with the Executive Office for Immigration Review, U.S. Trustee’s Offices, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Unless otherwise indicated in a particular job advertisement, qualifying non-U.S. citizens meeting immigration and appropriations law criteria may apply for employment with other DOJ organizations. However, please be advised that the appointment of non-U.S. citizens is extremely rare; such appointments would be possible only if necessary to accomplish the Department's mission and would be subject to strict security requirements. Applicants who hold dual citizenship in the U.S. and another country will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All DOJ employees are subject to a residency requirement. Candidates must have lived in the United States for at least three of the past five years. The three-year period is cumulative, not necessarily consecutive. Federal or military employees, or dependents of federal or military employees serving overseas, are excepted from this requirement. This is a Department security requirement which is waived only for extreme circumstances and handled on a case-by-case basis.

Veterans : There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to attorney appointments in the excepted service; however, the Department of Justice considers veterans' preference eligibility as a positive factor in attorney hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation (e.g., the DD 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty and other supporting documentation) to their submissions. Although the "point" system is not used, per se, applicants eligible to claim 10-point preference must submit Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, and submit the supporting documentation required for the specific type of preference claimed (visit the OPM website, www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf for a copy of SF 15, which lists the types of 10-point preferences and the required supporting document(s). Applicants should note that SF 15 requires supporting documentation associated with service- connected disabilities or receipt of nonservice-connected disability pensions to be dated 1991 or later except in the case of service members submitting official statements or retirement orders from a branch of the Armed Forces showing that their retirement was due to a permanent service-connected disability or that they were transferred to the permanent disability retired list (the statement or retirement orders must indicate that the disability is 10% or more).

USAO Residency Requirement : Assistant United States Attorneys must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships . The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.

International edition
Australia edition
Europe edition

Number of asylum seekers left homeless after Home Office eviction soars

Exclusive: Data reveals 239% rise among those evicted from assigned accommodation, including hotels, in two years

There has been a 239% increase in homelessness among asylum seekers evicted from Home Office accommodation including hotels in two years, according to a report.

Data analysed by the Refugee Council found that 12,630 households in England faced homelessness after eviction from asylum accommodation in the two years to the end of September 2023.

When the Home Office has finished processing asylum seekers’ claims they are evicted from its accommodation. Many are granted refugee status.

The report, which is published on Thursday, finds that 970 newly granted refugees were facing homelessness in the last quarter of 2021, but the figure for the third quarter of 2023 had jumped to 3,290 households. Many of the households include children. The report states that the rise in homelessness among newly granted refugees is unprecedented and represents “a moment of significant crisis”.

The chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, said: “The process refugees go through when granted status is setting them up to fail from the very start. A mere 28 days to get on their feet and find a private tenancy with no income and no savings is completely unrealistic. This dysfunctional system is causing an entirely avoidable crisis of homelessness and destitution.”

The report calls for further support from government and local authorities for asylum seekers transitioning to refugee status.

The Home Office, however, said on Wednesday that it would close 50 more asylum-seeker hotels by the end of this month. It announced last month that 100 hotels had been closed with a reduction of 20,000 asylum seekers in hotel accommodation since the end of September 2023.

Despite the closures the number of asylum seekers accommodated since the end of September 2023 has not reduced, suggesting that more people are being squeezed into fewer hotels. The Home Office has previously announced a room maximisation policy in hotel accommodation requiring more people to share rooms.

The government’s use of the overseas aid budget to pay for supporting refugees in Britain is “wreaking havoc” with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s development partnerships , according to the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) , which oversees international aid.

It found that loading the housing costs of UK asylum seekers on to a budget set aside to alleviate poverty abroad was creating “perverse incentives” and that the FCDO had in effect “to take the financial hit” for the Home Office’s overspending.

The chief executive of Care4Calais, Steve Smith, said: “Our volunteers have seen hundreds of people who have been granted refugee status being made homeless over recent months. We know that habitable housing, embedded in communities, provides the best foundation for those granted refugee status, who only want to integrate into society and move forward with their lives.”

after newsletter promotion

The director of the No Accommodation Network, Bridget Young, said: “The closing of hotels should be an opportunity to ensure that everyone awaiting a decision on their asylum claim is provided with accommodation that is safe and good quality, located within communities which are equipped to support them. Focusing solely on closing hotels and speeding up evictions just places people in the asylum system in ever worsening housing or increased risk of homelessness.”

Announcing the latest figures on asylum-seeker hotel reductions on Wednesday, the home secretary, James Cleverly, said: “We promised to end the use of asylum hotels and house asylum seekers at more appropriate, cheaper accommodation; we are doing that at a rapid pace. These closures deliver on the government’s plan to cut the use of hotels in the asylum system and we will keep going until the last hotel is closed.”

The shadow immigration minister, Stephen Kinnock, said Cleverly’s announcement was “celebrating failure”.

“So-called ‘asylum hotels’ didn’t exist before the Tories lost control of the asylum backlog, and Rishi Sunak promised to end them by the end of 2023,” he said. “Yet here we are with around 250 still in use come mid-April.”

Immigration and asylum
Home Office

More on this story

Sunak welcomes Kagame to No 10 as Rwanda scheme hits fresh snags

Albanians willing to be repatriated detained for weeks in UK, watchdog finds

Record 5,000 cross Channel to UK in first three months of 2024

Robert Jenrick calls for nationality data scheme to prevent UK ‘importing crime’

Home Office tried to cover up my critical reports, says sacked border chief

Home Office granted 275 care worker certificates of sponsorship after ‘false’ application

Revealed: UK-funded French forces putting migrants’ lives at risk with small-boat tactics

Home Office attempt to deport UK-born man was illegal, judge says

‘Volunteers have reached breaking point’: Activists supporting homeless asylum seekers run out of tents

1,700 male asylum seekers now homeless while women and children being left without accommodation now ‘an imminent possibility’.

The situation outside the IPO is 'now completely unsustainable', warned volunteers and activists in a letter to the Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times

Volunteers providing food, bedding and clothing to male asylum seekers staying in a makeshift camp outside Dublin’s International Protection Office have reached “breaking point” and say they have run out of funding for tents and sleeping bags.

Activists supporting the estimated 170 men camping out on Mount Street said resources are running out and that the State’s reliance on grassroots organisations and homelessness charities to support homeless asylum seekers cannot continue.

Some 1,700 male asylum seekers are homeless and awaiting an offer of accommodation, an increase of 80 on last week, according to the figures from the Department of Integration. It is understood that some of the latest arrivals are sharing tents with other asylum seekers.

[ MEPs to vote on divisive migration policy in ‘big moment for Europe’ ]

The measures being taken by Government to deal with this issue are “reactive, temporary and ad hoc” and the situation outside the IPO is “now completely unsustainable”, volunteers and activists said in a letter to Minister for Integration Roderic O’Gorman on Wednesday.

O’Gara takes La Rochelle to Cork to prepare for big Champions Cup clash with Leinster

Hungarian sex abuse scandal hits close to home for Viktor Orban

Is Dunnes breaking consumer law when it comes to returns?

John Magnier’s Coolmore pays €8.925m for 591 acres in Tipperary

“The volunteers who for four months have organised food, bedding and clothing have reached breaking point,” says the letter, which is to be delivered to the Minister on Friday.

“Similarly, homeless services such as Mendicity, Capuchin Day Centre, Lighthouse and Merchant’s Quay are unable to meet the basic needs of these men. The residents of Grattan St., Madison Court, Grattan Hall, and Grattan Court have an informal refugee camp on their doorsteps, with severe implications for privacy, health and safety,” it continues.

[ The five landmines that lie ahead for Simon Harris ]

“Most importantly of all, the IP applicants themselves, most of whom have fled war or persecution, are deprived of the most basic dignities and comforts such as shelter, privacy, and access to sanitation. These men are also highly vulnerable to racially motivated assault, and there have been several incidents of assault, theft, damage to tents, attempted arson, and verbal abuse.”

The letter notes the department’s recently announced accommodation strategy but states that housing is needed immediately unless the Government wants to see “male IP applicants simply ‘pile up’ on the streets of Dublin”.

Róisín McAleer, of the Social Rights Ireland group, said those camping outside the IPO, as well as their belongings and bedding, had been “soaked” during recent rainfall.

“They’re trying to dry them and it’s an impossible situation,” she said. “The mental and physical deterioration of the men is very noticeable. I can see people losing weight, I can see their faces are pale and sickly looking.”

The number of Palestinian refugees arriving on the streets of Dublin is also starting to increase, she added.

Ms McAleer said volunteers have read the Government’s accommodation strategy but feel there is “no urgency” in the plan. “We need a deadline for housing these men – that this building will be open by this time and this is the money we have allocated. Because there’s none of the detail in that plan and the lack of detail would make you cynical about the genuine impetus to act.”

Aubrey McCarthy, chair of Tiglin at the Lighthouse, said the charity temporarily ran out of sleeping bags and tents on Tuesday night due to unprecedented demand, but had secured supplies on Wednesday to cover the next few days. The Dublin drop-in centre, which provides hot meals and clothing to the homeless, is now feeding about 500 people a day, up from around 60 a few months ago.

Mr McCarthy said the department had engaged positively with the charity by providing additional funding for homeless asylum seekers, but that “the wet weather has made sleeping conditions crazy and demand for sleeping bags has exploded”.

“Volunteers are coming up to us saying we need more tents and sleeping bags but we don’t have funding to help everyone on the streets of Dublin,” he said. “We’re dealing with human beings and the demand is phenomenal. The weather, the homeless situation and the numbers coming in – this is the perfect storm.”

A department spokesman said “regular meetings” were taking place to “ensure adequate supports are in place for charities facing additional demand on their services” and that plans were in place to “procure further stock” for charities in receipt of Government grant agreements.

Department officials are “working tirelessly” to secure more bed spaces and “is doing all it can to ensure families and children have been accommodated”, he said.

However, he warned of the “imminent possibility” of a “shortage of family accommodation” due to increased arrivals and delays in opening new properties.

Drop-in day services, including hot showers, meals and laundry services, remain available to any asylum seekers living in tents or without accommodation, said the spokesman.

International protection applicants who do secure accommodation receive a temporary increase of €75 to their daily expense allowance, increasing the weekly rate from €38.80 to €113.80 for those who are homeless.

Join us for The Irish Times Inside Politics podcast live in Belfast on April 10th
Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
Find The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

Sorcha Pollak

Sorcha Pollak is an Irish Times reporter and cohost of the In the News podcast

IN THIS SECTION

Almost 400 apartments planned for dublin’s grand canal cost-rental scheme, two members of defence forces hospitalised after parachuting incident, all uniformed gardaí must do 30 minutes of road policing per shift - commissioner, gardaí in cork investigate whether house attack is linked to earlier shooting, hse controls 183 vacant properties, some empty more than a decade, seanad hears, developer fails in supreme court bid to save planning permission for 1,593 drumcondra apartments, tánaiste defends state’s payment of up to €1m a month for ukrainian pets, sinn féin is watching the polls and beginning to panic, says stephen donnelly, latest stories, the masters: despite a blustery first day, dechambeau will know it is all to play for, ukraine says russian drones damage energy infrastructure in south, banquet room with preserved frescoes unearthed among pompeii ruins, israel’s defence minister has said the country will respond directly to any attack on israel by iran, ‘it is lovely to see a six-year-old child planting a tree. when he is 25, he will have memories with that tree’.

Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy
Cookie Information
Cookie Settings
Community Standards

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Create Account

USCIS Issues New Instructions for Filing Asylum Applications with USCIS After EOIR Dismissal or Termination of Removal Proceedings

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing new instructions for asylum applications submitted by individuals whose removal proceedings were dismissed or terminated by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).

Effective Oct. 16, 2023, if EOIR dismissed or terminated your removal proceedings and you choose to pursue a claim for asylum, you must submit a current version of Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal , to the USCIS lockbox that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. If you had a pending asylum application when EOIR dismissed or terminated your removal proceedings, you should include in your submission any additional or updated information regarding your claim for asylum. We also recommend that you submit proof demonstrating that:

EOIR dismissed or terminated your removal proceedings, such as a copy of the EOIR Order of Dismissal or Termination; and
You had a Form I-589 pending with EOIR when your removal proceedings were dismissed or terminated.

If the evidence establishes that you filed Form I-589 before the date when EOIR dismissed or terminated your removal proceedings, we will issue a receipt notice with your original Form I-589 filing date. This is the date we will use for purposes of the one-year filing deadline, employment authorization eligibility based on a pending asylum application, asylum interview scheduling priority, and age determinations for child dependent applicants. If you did not file Form I-589 before the date when EOIR dismissed or terminated your removal proceedings, we will issue a receipt notice with your current Form I-589 filing date.

If you originally filed an asylum application with USCIS (known as an affirmative asylum application), and we referred, forwarded, or transferred your asylum application to immigration court where it remained pending until the removal proceedings were dismissed or terminated, we intend to issue a new discretionary Notice to Appear to send your application back to EOIR if you file a new asylum application.

To avoid processing delays, carefully review the “Where to File” and “Special Instructions” sections of our Form I-589 webpage before submitting your application. Use our Filing Instructions Tool to find out whether you are eligible to file Form I-589 with USCIS either by paper or online. Visit our Form I-765 webpage for information about Employment Authorization Documents for applicants with a pending application for asylum or withholding of deportation or removal under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(8).

Election 2024
Entertainment
Newsletters
Photography
Personal Finance
AP Investigations
AP Buyline Personal Finance
Press Releases
Israel-Hamas War
Russia-Ukraine War
Global elections
Asia Pacific
Latin America
Middle East
Election Results
Delegate Tracker
AP & Elections
March Madness
AP Top 25 Poll
Movie reviews
Book reviews
Personal finance
Financial Markets
Business Highlights
Financial wellness
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media

Russian soldiers who quit Putin’s war get no hero’s welcome abroad as asylum claims surge

A Russian officer who goes by Yevgeny speaks during an interview at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He had a friend shoot him in the leg so he could get out off the frontline in Ukraine. “Many of my friends have died. And these were really good guys who didn’t want to fight,” he said. “But there was no way out for them.” (AP Photo)

This late 2023 photo shows downtown Astana, Kazakhstan, where some Russian soldiers who deserted the war in Ukraine live in hiding while they apply for asylum. Overall asylum claims from Russian citizens to the U.S., France and Germany have surged since Russia’s full-scale invasion, but few are winning protection. Policymakers remain divided over whether to consider Russians in exile as potential assets or risks to national security. (AP Photo)

Farhad Ziganshin, a Russian officer who deserted in 2022, pauses during an interview in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He was detained for three days by Kazakh authorities when he tried to board a flight to Armenia. “It’s not safe to stay in Kazakhstan,” he said. (AP Photo)

A Russian officer who goes by Yevgeny speaks during an interview at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He had a friend shoot him in the leg so he could get off the frontline in Ukraine. “There is no mechanism for Russians who do not want to fight, deserters, to get to a safe place,” he said. (AP Photo)

Farhad Ziganshin, a Russian officer who deserted in 2022, stands at the door of his shared room in a temporary apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. “Here I am living sleeping on coats, eating I don’t know what. And without any money in my pocket. It’s very depressing,” he said. (AP Photo)

Farhad Ziganshin, a Russian officer who deserted in 2022, speaks during an interview in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He was detained for three days by Kazakh authorities when he tried to board a flight to Armenia. “It’s not safe to stay in Kazakhstan,” he said. (AP Photo)

Farhad Ziganshin, a Russian officer who deserted in 2022, takes a walk after work in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He dreams of starting a family but can’t afford to take a woman out to the movies. “I can’t fall in love with someone and have someone fall in love with me,” he said. “So I just walk around and sing songs.” (AP Photo)

A Russian officer who goes by the nickname Sportsmaster speaks during an interview at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He faces criminal charges in Russia for refusing to go to war in Ukraine. “I immediately decided that I would not support it in any way, not even lift my little finger to support what had begun,” he said. “I understood that this was a point of no return that would change the lives of the entire country, including mine.” (AP Photo)

A Russian soldier who goes by the nickname Sparrow speaks with reporters at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. After being forcibly conscripted, he ran away from his barracks because he didn’t want to kill anyone. Now he faces criminal charges in Russia. “I did the right thing,” he said. “I’d rather sit here and suffer and look for something than go there and kill a human being because of some unclear war, which is 100 percent Russia’s fault.” (AP Photo)

A Russian soldier who goes by the nickname Sparrow prepares tea at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. After being forcibly conscripted, he ran away from his barracks because he didn’t want to kill anyone. Now he faces criminal charges in Russia. “I don’t want anything in life. I have no interest in my own affairs,” he said. “I just sit all day on the Internet, on YouTube, and read news, news, news of what’s going on in Ukraine, and that’s it.” (AP Photo)

A Russian soldier in Astana, Kazakhstan who goes by the nickname Sparrow sketches the route he took to escape his military barracks in Russia in 2022, at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. After being forcibly conscripted, he deserted because he didn’t want to kill anyone. “I did the right thing,” he said. “I’d rather sit here and suffer and look for something than go there and kill a human being because of some unclear war, which is 100 percent Russia’s fault.” (AP Photo)

A Russian soldier who goes by the nickname Sparrow sits at his kitchen table in his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. After being forcibly conscripted, he ran away from his barracks because he didn’t want to kill anyone. “I don’t want anything in life. I have no interest in my own affairs,” he said. “I just sit all day on the Internet, on YouTube, and read news, news, news of what’s going on in Ukraine, and that’s it.” (AP Photo)

Farhad Ziganshin, a Russian officer who deserted in 2022, sits at a table after lunch at his temporary apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. “I realized that I didn’t want to serve in this kind of Russian army that destroys cities, kills civilians, and forcibly appropriates foreign land and territory,” he said. (AP Photo)

A Russian officer who goes by the nickname Sportsmaster speaks with reporters at his apartment in Astana, Kazakhstan, in late 2023. He faces criminal charges in Russia for refusing to go to war in Ukraine. “I immediately decided that I would not support it in any way, not even lift my little finger to support what had begun,” he said. “I understood that this was a point of no return that would change the lives of the entire country, including mine.” (AP Photo)

Copy Link copied

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (AP) — If the choice was death or a bullet to the leg, Yevgeny would take the bullet. A decorated hero of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Yevgeny told his friend and fellow soldier to please aim carefully and avoid bone. The tourniquets were ready.

The pain that followed was the price Yevgeny paid for a new chance at life. Like thousands of other Russian soldiers, he deserted the army.

“I joke that I gave birth to myself,” he said. “When a woman gives birth to a child, she experiences very intense pain and gives new life. I gave myself life after going through very intense pain.”

Yevgeny made it out of the trenches. But the new life he found is not what he had hoped for.

The Associated Press spoke with five officers and one soldier who deserted the Russian military. All have criminal cases against them in Russia, where they face 10 years or more in prison. Each is waiting for a welcome from the West that has never arrived. Instead, all but one live in hiding.

For Western nations grappling with Russia’s vast and growing diaspora, Russian soldiers present particular concern: Are they spies? War criminals? Or heroes?

Russian Emergency Situation Ministry rescuers ride a boat to help local residents during evacuations from a flooded area in Orenburg, Russia, on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Russian officials are scrambling to help homeowners displaced by floods, as water levels have risen in the Ural River. The river's water level in the city of Orenburg was above 10 meters (33 feet) Wednesday, state news agency Ria Novosti reported, citing the regional governor. (AP Photo)

Overall asylum claims from Russian citizens have surged since the full-scale invasion, but few are winning protection. Policymakers remain divided over whether to consider Russians in exile as potential assets or risks to national security.

Andrius Kubilius, a former prime minister of Lithuania now serving in the European Parliament, argues that cultivating Russians who oppose Vladimir Putin is in the strategic self-interest of the West. Fewer Russian soldiers at the front, he added, means a weaker army.

“Not to believe in Russian democracy is a mistake,” Kubilius said. “To say that all Russians are guilty is a mistake.”

All but one of the soldiers spoke with AP on condition of anonymity, fearing deportation and persecution of themselves and their families. The AP reviewed legal documents, including criminal case files, Russian public records and military identification papers, as well as photos and videos to verify their stories, but it was impossible to independently corroborate every detail.

Independent Russian media outlet Mediazona has documented more than 7,300 cases in Russian courts against AWOL soldiers since September 2022; cases of desertion, the harshest charge, leapt sixfold last year.

Record numbers of people seeking to desert – more than 500 in the first two months of this year – are contacting Idite Lesom, or “Get Lost,” a group run by Russian activists in the Republic of Georgia. Last spring, just 3% of requests for help came from soldiers seeking to leave; in January, more than a third did, according to the group’s head, Grigory Sverdlin. The numbers of known deserters may be small compared to Russia’s overall troop strength, but they are an indicator of morale.

“Obviously, Russian propaganda is trying to sell us a story that all Russia supports Putin and his war,” Sverdlin said. “But that’s not true.”

The question now is, where can they go?

German officials have said that Russians fleeing military service can seek protection, and a French court last summer ruled that Russians who refuse to fight can claim refugee status. In practice, however, it’s proven difficult for deserters, most of whom have passports that only allow travel within a handful of former Soviet states, to get asylum, lawyers, activists and deserters say.

Fewer than 300 Russians got refugee status in the U.S. in fiscal year 2022. Customs and Border Patrol officials encountered more than 57,000 Russians at U.S. borders in fiscal year 2023, up from around 13,000 in fiscal year 2021.

In France, asylum requests rose more than 50% between 2022 and 2023, to a total of around 3,400 people, according to the French office that handles the requests. And last year, Germany got 7,663 first-time asylum applications from Russian citizens, up from 2,851 in 2022, Germany’s Interior Ministry told AP in an email. None of the data specifies how many were soldiers.

As they count the days until their legal right to stay in Kazakhstan ends, Yevgeny – and the others – have watched other deserters get seized by Russian forces in Armenia, deported from Kazakhstan and turn up dead, riddled with bullets, in Spain.

“There is no mechanism for Russians who do not want to fight, deserters, to get to a safe place,” Yevgeny said. He urges Western policymakers to reconsider. “After all, it’s much cheaper economically to allow a person into your country -- a healthy young man who can work -- than to supply Ukraine with weapons.”

Sitting in his spartan room in Astana, Kazakhstan, Yevgeny rummaged through a cardboard box that holds the things he thought to save.

“It’s like a woman’s handbag, there’s so much stuff,” he muttered, poking around real and fake passports, a letter with hearts on it, blister packs of pills.

He can’t find his military medals. He has the certificates, though, commemorating his service in Syria and Ukraine.

Yevgeny seems suddenly ashamed. “I don’t care about them,” he said, shoving everything back in the box.

The son of postal workers, Yevgeny went to military school mostly because it was free. He did 41 parachute jumps, and learned to ride horses, dive, shoot and handle explosives. The cost of his education would come after graduation: five years of mandatory military service.

The night of Feb. 23, 2022, Yevgeny and his unit barely slept. Their tanks, hulking and dark, cast long shadows on a thin layer of snow beside the railroad tracks that would carry them toward Ukraine. Yevgeny was too drunk with fatigue to think much about what would happen next.

On Yevgeny’s second day at war, an officer leaned against his machine gun and shot off his own finger, he said. Later, a guy fell asleep under a military vehicle and died when it drove over him. People got lost and never came back.

In the chaos, around 10 men in his unit were accidentally killed with guns or grenades. One soldier shot another square in the chest. What were they doing, Yevgeny wondered, testing their bulletproof vests? None of it made sense in a world where life mattered. But Yevgeny wasn’t in that world anymore.

The deeper Yevgeny moved into Ukraine, the uglier things got.

“We didn’t want to kill anyone, but we also wanted to live,” explained Yevgeny, a senior lieutenant who oversaw a platoon of around 15 men. “The locals would come in civilian cars and shoot at our military. What would you do?”

He said that Ukrainian prisoners of war were executed because the Russians couldn’t get them back to Russia and didn’t want to build detention centers.

“Special people were chosen for this, because a lot of others refused,” he said. “People with a special, so to speak, psyche were appointed executioners.”

There are things Yevgeny can’t forget: A 14-year-old Ukrainian boy who seemed to be making Molotov cocktails and was executed. A 24-year-old Ukrainian woman caught with compromising information on her phone raped by two Russian soldiers.

Yevgeny was within breathing distance of Kyiv when Moscow ordered a retreat. In a single day in April 2022, around seventy people from his brigade died in an ambush, he said. The Ukrainian military released a video of the encounter with the retreating column.

Pop, pop, pop go the fireballs. Little flags bob above the tanks, giving it the feel of a video game. Shells crash a bit off to the left. Then, a hit. The video cuts to a magnified image of a Russian tank pluming black smoke, two lifeless bodies curled beside it.

“Very cool,” wrote someone in the comments.

“The best sight in my life is to see how the Russians die,” wrote another.

Yevgeny was in that column. He knows men who are dying in those balls of fire. His face is flat. He doesn’t want to see it again.

“Many of my friends have died. And these were really good guys who didn’t want to fight,” he said. “But there was no way out for them.”

He is crying.

If he could, Yevgeny would go back to 2013, the year he entered military school. He would stand sentinel at the gates of his school and tell all the boys go home, stay away, this place is not what it seems.

He wants them to understand three words: “You will die.”

It took Yevgeny less than three months at war to decide to get himself shot in the leg.

“You can only leave wounded or dead,” Yevgeny explained. “No one wants to leave dead.”

He made a pact with three other soldiers. They called it their Plan B. Yevgeny would take the first bullet, then the comms guy, then the sniper. The machine gunner said he didn’t want to leave Ukraine without his brother, who was also fighting, but he’d stand by their story.

One chill May morning, as they trudged through even columns of pine trees on their way to retrieve a drone that had landed in Ukrainian territory, Yevgeny and his friends decided it was time for Plan B. They’d already lost one man in that area and now felt like they were on a suicide mission.

When the sniper shot Yevgeny, the pain was like a strong man hammering a 9 mm metal bar into his flesh. Then the comms guy took a bullet to his thigh. After seeing the two of them crumple and scowl, the third man chickened out.

Blood kept gushing, despite the tourniquet, and Yevgeny was shocked to discover he couldn’t walk. His friends dragged him 300 meters back through the woods. He was given sweet tea and evacuated that same evening.

Yevgeny spent months in rehabilitation and figured he could ride out his injury until his contract expired in June 2023. But after Putin’s announcement of partial mobilization in September 2022, it no longer mattered what his contract said. Soldiers like him were now obliged to serve until the end of the war.

He knew he had to leave. He made it to Kazakhstan in early 2023, with the help of Idite Lesom. Russian authorities filed a criminal case against him. His relatives back in Russia were questioned, his apartment there searched.

Since then, Yevgeny has been doing his best to disappear. He found a place in Astana in an apartment that stank of cat. They were four men with only three cups, three spoons and three chairs to go around. They boiled water with an electric coil in a glass jar because no one wanted to splurge for a kettle.

He worked for a few weeks skittering around Astana on an old motorcycle delivering food. But his paychecks never arrived, possibly because his SIM card and bank account were in different people’s names.

He doesn’t know what he’ll do when his savings run out. He said he’s applied for asylum in France, Germany and the United States – obviously the best place to hide from Russia, he said. He’d like serve in a U.N. mission somewhere, but it’s hard for him to conceive a path from here to there.

He wakes at ten o’clock, steps out of the shower into another molten, formless day. That night, he will comb his hair and go out to a bar with other deserters, to pass a few sparkling hours as a normal guy.

At the bar, someone remembered that it was the one-year anniversary of Russia’s September 2022 mobilization. Putin drafted 300,000 troops to fight in Ukraine. Tens of thousands of them are now dead.

The table went quiet. Yevgeny searched for a word that meant the opposite of evil so they could drink to it.

In the end, they raised their glasses to virtue, then to peace.

Within hours of Putin’s September 2022 mobilization decree, threatening messages started pinging in on Farhad Ziganshin’s phone. A small man with a big voice, Farhad had abandoned a career in music for the military to please his dad. He’d tried to resign from the armed forces, but the military school where he taught rejected his application, he said.

Panicked, he piled into the family Chevrolet with his mother, sister, dog and aunt and took off for the Kazakh border near midnight. They’d try to make it look like a fun family vacation. The roads were jammed with other Russians fleeing Putin’s draft.

“Hurrah!” shouted Farhad, pumping his fists in the air, as they left Russia.

Farhad landed a job at a burger joint near the border, then followed a friend of a friend to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, where he’d been promised work as a singer. He ended up working in a banquet hall, sleeping on a vast, golden bed in a newlywed suite and eating as much leftover food as he wanted.

Life was good, but uncertain. Kazakhstan was playing a delicate game, trying to assuage Russia without distancing allies in Europe. In December 2022, Kazakhstan deported a Russian intelligence officer, Mikhail Zhilin, who had deserted. In March 2023, a Russian court sentenced Zhilin to six and a half years in prison.

That same month, Farhad decided to move to Armenia, thinking it was probably safer. But he was blocked from boarding his flight. “Are you on the wanted list?” a border agent asked as he flicked through Farhad’s passport. Farhad went pale. Cold sweat prickled over his body.

He was led to a room for questioning. A man in civilian clothes sat across from him.

“You are my Muslim brother,” he told Farhad. “I’m also against the war. Tell me everything.”

Farhad confessed.

Farhad tried to brace himself for what was to come. He slipped his toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, slippers, snacks and a book – Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” — into a transparent bag. His cell at the detention center had a metal door with a small window and slot for food, a security camera and a hole in the floor for a toilet.

Farhad stared at the ceiling all night, his panic mounting: How am I going to live here? Will I be beaten or raped? I’d kill myself first.

The morning of his third day in detention, three huge bags arrived for Farhad, packed with food, clothes and cigarettes from local human rights activists. “I lay down and thought that’s the end,” Farhad said. “Kaput.” Why would he need all this stuff if he weren’t in for a long incarceration?

Two hours later, a police officer appeared. “Take your things and get out,” he ordered.

Farhad was free.

Farhad’s lawyer told AP he was released because under the Kazakh criminal code, as well as multilateral agreements with Russia, suspects accused of military crimes can’t be extradited. Farhad was safe, at least for the moment.

“We don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” said his lawyer, Artur Alkhastov, who works with the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law in Astana. “In Kazakhstan, politics is higher than the law. . . Everything can change.”

In July, independent Russia media reported that France had rejected Farhad’s application for asylum. What actually happened was that Farhad’s application for a travel permit to France to apply for asylum had been denied, Alkhastov said.

Without an international passport, Farhad was stuck in Kazakhstan. Moreover, the publicity raised fears that Russian authorities would take fresh interest in his case. Farhad moved from Almaty to Astana, the capital, to lower his profile.

“It’s not safe to stay in Kazakhstan,” he said. “I just try to lead a normal life, without violating the laws of Kazakhstan, without being too visible, without appearing anywhere. We have a proverb: Be quieter than water and lower than grass.”

He changes his SIM card every few months, doesn’t live at his registered address and avoids employers who ask too many questions. After six weeks, he ran out of money and moved in with another Russian deserter, Yevgeny. His bed was a pile of coats and sweaters on the floor. It was impossible to sleep. His back was killing him.

He thought of the life he’d left behind in Russia. “In Kazan, I had a completely different life. I had my own apartment, I had a job there, I earned money, I had staff under my command,” he said. “Here I am living sleeping on coats, eating I don’t know what. And without any money in my pocket. It’s very depressing,” Online, people call him a coward and traitor and say he should be killed.

Farhad got a job at a real estate startup that didn’t ask for documents. Every morning, he sang Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” to his co-workers.

After work, Farhad liked to walk around Astana, singing deep slow songs to himself to fill the darkening hours. He dreamed of starting a family but couldn’t afford to take a woman out to the movies. “I can’t fall in love with someone and have someone fall in love with me,” he said. “So I just walk around and sing songs.”

But he wanted to believe that he had made a worthy choice.

“I realized that I didn’t want to serve in this kind of Russian army that destroys cities, kills civilians, and forcibly appropriates foreign land and territory,” he said. “If perhaps watching, listening to my story could bring even one person to reason, I would have made a certain contribution.”

Six months later, the real estate business has collapsed and Farhad is trying to sell flooring instead. He moved into an apartment of his own, but keeps missing rent payments. He’s been warned that his legal right to stay in Kazakhstan is coming to an end. He doesn’t know what to do next.

Sparrow knew from the start that money could mean the difference between life and death. The month before he was born, his father was killed in a gambling dispute over money. His mother raised him, along with his brother and sister, alone, working as a cook in an orphanage in a tiny village.

Later, he moved farther north, to work in a diamond-mining town not far from the Arctic Circle.

The company Sparrow worked for owned more than diamonds. They effectively owned the town, sponsoring its theater, schools, hospital, sports complex and apartment blocks. As it turned out, they also owned Sparrow.

Sparrow finished his shift the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, and was cleaning his Bobcat when his boss came by and told him to report immediately to human resources. They took his passport and military ID and locked them in a safe.

“They said, ‘You’re fired,’” Sparrow recalled. “You have one hour to get to the military recruitment point. If you don’t, you’ll have a criminal case against you.”

Sparrow obeyed. At 6 a.m. the next morning, he and hundreds of other conscripts boarded a heavy old plane bound for a military base in the regional capital.

The thought of war did not cross Sparrow’s mind. All he could think about was his job. Sparrow is delicately composed, with a pale, Asian face, ink-dark eyes and bone-china cheeks. Unable to finish university, he worked hard at laying road. Winters, he endured temperatures so extreme they could crack a backhoe. Why had they fired him?

When he arrived, the military base was chaos. Some 6,000 people were crammed into the barracks, he calculated, and no one was giving orders. Men spilled over each other, hiving off into small groups to drink. He couldn’t find a free bed, so he dropped his bag in a corner and curled up on the floor.

The next day, he found his way to an information stand to figure out who was in charge. But instead of a list of personnel, he found photographs of dead people and an exhortation to kill Ukrainian soldiers. “I saw this photo – what is all this?” he thought. “I’m not going anywhere to kill people – never!”

Sparrow pulled his commander aside to try to find a way to avoid going where he was being sent. He would serve in a different way. He could pay.

The commander was not interested in bribes and told him that if he didn’t fight with the Russian armed forces, he’d end up with a private military company, like Yevgeny Prigozhin’s then-powerful Wagner Group. “You still have just one path,” his commander told him. “Write a refusal, you will go to jail, and we know where you will end up, at PMC Wagner.”

He was 30 years old. He called his mother for help.

Sparrow’s guts couldn’t take it. He ran to the bathroom. He paced in anxious circles. Then ran to the bathroom again. And again.

“What’s wrong with you?” his commander demanded.

“I just have some stomach problems,” Sparrow said.

While the commander was at lunch, Sparrow grabbed his ID, telephone and civilian clothes and headed for a hole in the wall. His mother was waiting on the other side.

The next morning, they boarded the first flight out of town. Forty hours later, Sparrow was in Kazakhstan.

Astana felt fresh and warm. He realized he’d been cold his entire life.

“I am free,” he told himself.

Freedom for Sparrow actually meant a bigger cage.

Two weeks after he fled, Russian authorities opened a criminal case against him. Russian media reported on his case, and Sparrow felt the publicity only increased the size of the target on his back. The charges against him were soon upgraded under a tough new clause in Russia’s criminal code. Now he faces up to 15 years in prison if he gets sent back to Russia.

Security agents interrogated his mother back in Russia. Before he ditched his Russian SIM, he used to get calls from Russian police who said they knew where he was. In October, a man claiming to be a Kazakh policeman started calling him to set up a meeting. He said he’d wait for a summons. None ever came.

Sparrow is afraid of the background checks that come with permanent employment. Instead, he picks up occasional jobs collecting trash or hauling equipment at construction sites.

He was going to bed at 4 a.m. and waking at noon. He couldn’t even get back to Russia to bury his grandfather.

Sparrow’s eyes went red with tears.

“I don’t want anything in life. I have no interest in my own affairs,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t understand myself. I just sit all day on the Internet, on YouTube, and read news, news, news of what’s going on in Ukraine, and that’s it.”

He doesn’t know the status of his own asylum applications. Without a foreign passport, how could he leave Kazakhstan anyway? Every time he dared to believe something good might happen to him, it hasn’t. Why try?

Outside his bare apartment, he could hear the cries of children who are not his, the thwack of a ball from a game he is not playing, the voices of men speaking to friends he does not have.

“There are moments I regret, but I did the right thing,” he said. “I’d rather sit here and suffer and look for something than go there and kill a human being because of some unclear war, which is 100% Russia’s fault. I don’t regret it.”

SPORTSMASTER

As a child, the boy was not particularly good at school, but he could run. His mother was raising him alone in a village in Western Russia hemmed in by busted coal mines, a place as short on hope as it was on jobs. She called a friend to get her son a spot at a military school. The family wouldn’t have to pay a cent. It looked like a ticket to a better life.

At the military academy, the boy studied engineering to become a radio technician. But his real passion was sports. He wanted to run faster than anyone else.

Now known by the nickname Sportsmaster, he ultimately commanded 30 men, but said he never went into combat. He stayed in service even after he’d fulfilled his five-year contract: He didn’t want to be a burden on his mother and who else was going to pay him to run?

The night Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Sportsmaster jolted awake for no reason at 3 a.m. and spent three sickening hours glued to the television in disbelief. By dawn, all hope had drained from his body. He knew he would be ordered to fight.

“At that moment, I immediately decided that I would not support it in any way, not even lift my little finger to support what had begun,” he said. “I understood that this was a point of no return that would change the lives of the entire country, including mine.”

Sportsmaster said he stopped showing up at his base. In October 2022, his paychecks stopped coming.

His coach, the head of military sports training, told him to report to the base, they’d find something easy for him to do and he’d get paid again. It was a tempting offer from a trusted mentor.

His commanders were waiting for him beneath a huge portrait of a legendary Russian military hero. As he entered the room, they began to speak. It took a moment for the words to become clear: Special Military Operation. Order. Luhansk.

He realized they were reading out his combat orders. He’d been tricked. They told him to sign.

He refused to touch the pen.

The brigade’s chief of staff picked up a book with a Russian flag on the cover, a copy of Russia’s Criminal Code. “You either go to jail or you go there,” he said. “You have only two options.”

Seized by panic, Sportsmaster turned to leave. He had to get out of the building before they locked him inside. His division’s chief of staff grabbed him by the shoulder, but he slipped away and did what he did best: run.

He pounded down three flights of stairs, taking six turns on a zig-zagging staircase, blew past the guards at the door and beelined for a stretch of fence far from any checkpoint. He grabbed onto the black metal bars of the fence and heaved himself over, clearing the speared tips, 2.5 meters tall, without a scratch.

“What I felt was only disgust,” he said.

Idite Lesom gave him step-by-step instructions for how to slip out of Russia. AP is withholding details of the route.

Before he left, he recorded a video, a political message for the keepers of whatever country he might end up in, a plea to convince them of his friendship.

“They wanted to force me to go fight against the free people of Ukraine,” he said to the camera. “Our freedom is taken away from us every day, but Putin wanted to steal it from them in three days.”

And he did what he could to make a grand gesture.

“Putin wanted me to be in a bag,” he said. “But it’s his uniform that will be in a bag.”

He shoved his military uniforms in two black trash bags and threw them in a dumpster.

Near midnight that same day, his mother stood in a pool of streetlight in an empty parking lot, weeping. As her son filmed her from the bus taking him away, she forced a strained, sorrowful smile.

The bus carried Sportsmaster and his girlfriend back to the town where he learned to be a soldier.

“I always thought I was being trained to protect my country and defend it, but it turned out that I was being taught to attack and conquer,” he said.

By that afternoon, they were out of Russia and beaming. He was optimistic. At the least, he would not have to show up to his court hearing in Russia, where he faced criminal charges for not participating in the war.

“The worst thing that could have happened has happened,” he said. “Now only good things are coming.”

Sportsmaster and his girlfriend found a studio apartment in one of the teeming, anonymous buildings slapped up at the edges of Astana.

Six months later, like the other deserters, he’s hiding in plain sight. No SIM card of his own. No clear path to citizenship or asylum. The gnawing peril of a knock at the door.

“There are Russian agents here who try to push Kazakhstan under Russia’s wing,” he said. “I can’t say it’s as safe here as I would like because where the wind blows, Kazakhstan will turn.”

He doesn’t have an international passport and if he tried to cross the border, he’d likely be arrested because of the criminal case against him in Russia.

While he waits for the wind to turn in his favor, Sportsmaster has found work as a trainer in Astana. Business is booming.

“I teach people to run with pleasure,” he said, bursting into an incandescent smile. “I am for people to not get stuck.”

On his daily runs, Sportsmaster eats through 10 kilometers in 40 minutes with animal grace. His breath is even, his heartbeat slow, at ease — if only for a moment — with his place in the world.

He wants people to understand that there are Russians with dignity.

“Something new is starting,” he said. “I will not let anyone decide my destiny for me.”

AP journalists Geir Moulson in Berlin, Lori Hinnant in Paris and Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed to this report.

In a joint production, The Associated Press and Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting broadcast the story of an underground network of Russian anti-war activists helping soldiers abandon Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.

IMAGES

Sample Letter Seeking Asylum In Usa
Sample USCIS Cover Letter
Asylum Letter Sample
Asylum Application Sample
Immigration Paralegal Cover Letter Sample
Instructions for Form I-589 Application for Asylum ...

COMMENTS

23. Sample Cover Letter
23.1 Cover Letters for Affirmative Applications 23.1.1 Cover Letter for "Barebones Submission" If you are submitting an affirmative application, as discussed in Chapter 14, it is advisable to submit the I-589 almost completely by itself, with other documentation to follow later, so as to get your client, as soon as possible, a spot in the long line for an asylum interview.
How To Write a USCIS Cover Letter
Preparing an immigration application for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires filling out complex paperwork and gathering supporting documents. Using a cover letter is a great way to keep your application materials organized and make sure you don't miss any required documents. It's also a good opportunity to highlight anything you want USCIS to know about your ...
Asylum (Affirmative) Cover Letter for Filing I-589 with USCIS
I came to the U.S. in the winter of 2006. Life back home in Mexico was tough for me and my family. I dreamt of going to college and graduating but with my family's economic status, that dream was too costly and impossible.
PDF 2020 Sample EAD Cover Letter
The following documents are enclosed in support of my application for employment authorization: Form G-1145. Form I-765. Two (2) Passport Photos. ASAP Membership Card. [PROOF OF FILING I-589, like a stamped first page of the I-589 from an immigration court] Copy of Passport/National ID and certified translation. Thank you for your time.
How to Prepare an Affirmative Asylum Application
Prepare a Form I-589, "Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal" to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Prepare and include supporting documentation of your fear of persecution, including your own personal declaration. Submit all these to USCIS within the one-year deadline (unless you qualify for an exception).
PDF RE: Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal
Asylum - Sample Cover Letter for Filing I-589 with USCIS Affirmative Due to the nature of the persecution that Ms. [last name] experienced, she would be more comfortable with a female Asylum Officer. If possible, please ensure that the Asylum Officer scheduled to conduct her interview is female. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
PDF ASYLUM Toolkit Sample Cover Letter
ASYLUM - Toolkit Sample Cover Letter [DATE]x USCIS [LOCATION] Service Center [ADDRESS LINE 1]x [ADDRESS LINE 2]x Re: Joao Doe (A-Number XXX-XXX-XXX) To whom it may concern: I am a pro se applicant for asylum in the United States. Enclosed please find: 1. An original Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal (Form I-589). 2.
Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal; I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition; I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status; Newsroom. Newsroom. All News. ... then you may submit a new Form I-589 and request a grant of asylum nunc pro tunc. In your letter, please provide information about your previous Form I-589 ...
Preparing for Your Affirmative Asylum Interview
Mail, fax or email a letter to the asylum office where your interview is scheduled to be held; or; Go to that asylum office and complete an In-Person Reschedule Request. ... (EAD) until your asylum application has been pending for at least another 30 days, for a total of 180 days. 8 CFR 208.7(a)(1).
I-765 Cover Letter (Oct 2021)
Tags: Humanitarian Parole & Re-Parole, I-589: Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, I-765: Employment Authorization Document (EAD)/Work Authorization, I-821: Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Samples & Templates. Published on: 10-01-2021. Updated on: 03-27-2024. A sample I-789, by ASAP. Download Resource.
Preparing Persuasive Documents for Your Asylum Application
Reasons to Add Supporting Documents to an I-589 Asylum Application. In order to do prepare persuasive supporting materials, you first need to understand what factors are important to an asylum officer or immigration judge (IJ) reviewing your application. ... (such as envelopes, fax transmittal letters, or cover letters that came with your ...
Asylum Application and Evidence
Asylum Application and Evidence. In general, you can apply for asylum within one year of entering the United States by submitting an asylum application, Form I-589. ... For example, if you do not have a Cover Letter, you do not have to submit one. Or, if you do not have a spouse or children, you do not have to submit evidence for Family ...
How to Write an Asylum Declaration for Your I-589 Application
Writing About Your Background. Each asylum declaration should start with the applicant's basic information, including name, date of birth, and country of origin. You'll also need to explain the "ground" on which your asylum application is based. The "grounds" are your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, and membership in a ...
PDF Preparing Your Statement in Support of Your Request for Asylum
Help the asylum officer understand your background. Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights | National Immigrant Justice Center 224 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 600, Chicago, Illinois 60604 | ph: 312-660-1370 | fax: 312-660-1505 | www.immigrantjustice.org.
A Beautiful Application Is a Successful Application
First, let's talk about Asylum Office cases. For such cases, we include a cover letter. This letter is short, and simply explains what type of application we are filing. If there are any issues of particular note, we might mention those in the cover letter-for example a one year bar issue, a criminal conviction or a prior asylum application.
Standard cover letter (English)
Search form. Find a country. Search for the country site. Country profile. Country website. Standard cover letter (English) Click here to download. Support our work. Please help refugees in need.
PDF ASYLUM MANUAL FOR
Appendix 1A Cover Letter When Filing Complete Affirmative Application Appendix 1B Form G-28: Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney Appendix 1C Form I-589: Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal Appendix 1D Index of Exhibits in Support of Affirmative Asylum Application Appendix 1E(i) Declaration of Asylum Applicant (Non ...
PDF I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
To apply for withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture, you must check the box at the top of Page 1. of the application and fully complete Form I-589. You must include a detailed explanation of why you fear torture in response to Part B, Question 4 of the application.
20. Corroborating Client-Specific Documents
20.8 Supporting Documentation Format: Affidavits and Letters. In an affirmative asylum application, sworn or affirmed affidavits are submitted with the application. Asylum Officers will generally allow submission of unsworn letters, but may give them less weight than sworn statements.
Appendix E
Appendix E - Cover Pages MENU Additional Reference Materials Chapter 1 - Introduction to EOIR; Chapter 2 - Access EOIR ; Chapter 3 - Attorney Discipline ... Appendix Q - Immigration Court Three Letter Codes; Table of Changes; Additional Reference Materials. Shared Practice Manual Appendices. Appendix E - Cover Pages. Share.
Law Student Volunteer, Fall 2024
Issues commonly before the Court include asylum eligibility, cancellation of removal, and motions to reopen. ... Interested students should submit a cover letter, detailed resume, official or unofficial law school transcript, the names of three references, and a writing sample of no more than ten pages. ... 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran ...
The Affirmative Asylum Process
For information on asylum eligibility, see the Asylum Eligibility and Applications page. Bars to Applying for Asylum. You may not be eligible to apply for asylum if you: Did not follow the one-year filing deadline for Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. The 1-year deadline is calculated from the date of your last ...
Number of asylum seekers left homeless after Home Office eviction soars
Home Office tried to cover up my critical reports, says sacked border chief 27 Mar 2024 Home Office granted 275 care worker certificates of sponsorship after 'false' application
'Volunteers have reached breaking point': Activists supporting homeless
Volunteers providing food, bedding and clothing to male asylum seekers staying in a makeshift camp outside Dublin's International Protection Office have reached "breaking point" and say they ...
USCIS Issues New Instructions for Filing Asylum Applications with USCIS
If you originally filed an asylum application with USCIS (known as an affirmative asylum application), and we referred, forwarded, or transferred your asylum application to immigration court where it remained pending until the removal proceedings were dismissed or terminated, we intend to issue a new discretionary Notice to Appear to send your ...
Russian soldiers who quit Putin's war get no hero's welcome abroad as
2 of 14 |. This late 2023 photo shows downtown Astana, Kazakhstan, where some Russian soldiers who deserted the war in Ukraine live in hiding while they apply for asylum. Overall asylum claims from Russian citizens to the U.S., France and Germany have surged since Russia's full-scale invasion, but few are winning protection.