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ASAP Membership – Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated on November 4, 2022

Below are answers to common questions about membership in the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), including who can become an ASAP member, how to apply for ASAP membership, and how to find your ASAP membership card. For more information about ASAP membership, please visit our membership page.

Scroll down or click on the links below to read questions and answers from the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP).

What does it mean to be an ASAP member?

The Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP) is a membership organization of the largest community of asylum seekers in U.S. history. ASAP believes that asylum seekers can make great change by standing together. “I am so glad and proud to be a member of ASAP,” one member shared. “One of the best sentences I have read from ASAP is ‘you are not alone.’ Really, I have this feeling now.”

If you are an asylum seeker who is 18 years old or older, becoming an ASAP member provides you with opportunities to: (1) access critical resources about the asylum process, (2) ask questions to expert immigration attorneys and connect with a community of asylum seekers, and (3) work with other ASAP members to improve the asylum system.

If you are 14 to 17 years old, you will receive an ASAP membership card and begin to receive more benefits when you turn 18.

You can read more about ASAP’s membership benefits here. ASAP membership is completely free, and there is no fee required to submit ASAP’s membership application or to maintain your ASAP membership.

Visit ASAP’s member data page to view numbers and charts that reflect real-time, anonymous data about ASAP’s members, who have come from 175 countries to seek asylum in the United States.

Who can apply for ASAP membership?

ASAP welcomes new members who: (1) have sought or are seeking asylum in the United States, (2) are 14 years or older, and (3) believe in ASAP’s mission. If you previously sought asylum, you can become an ASAP member regardless of whether you lost or won your case. We also welcome individuals who have a case in immigration court in the United States.

What stage in the asylum process do I need to be in to apply for ASAP membership?

We welcome individuals at any stage in the asylum process to apply for ASAP membership! We welcome individuals who are planning to seek asylum in the United States, even if you have not submitted your asylum application yet. We also welcome individuals who have a case in U.S. immigration court. However, ASAP does not provide advice about whether an individual should file an asylum application or not. That can be a complicated decision. If you are not sure whether to apply for asylum, we recommend speaking to an immigration attorney.

If you applied for asylum or had a case in U.S. immigration court in the past, you can also apply for ASAP membership, regardless of the outcome of your case. Please note that ASAP membership is intended for people who are located in the United States at the time of applying. However, you can also become an ASAP member if you are located in Mexico but have a case in U.S. immigration court.

Can my child under the age of 14 apply to become an ASAP member? 

No. ASAP does not accept membership applications for individuals who are under 14 years old. However, if you are a member of ASAP, your benefits extend to your children who are under 14 years old and seeking asylum in the United States. You can visit ASAP’s work permit resources to learn more about work permits for minor children.

I am not the primary asylum applicant. Can I still apply for ASAP membership?

Yes. If you were included as a “derivative” in someone else’s asylum application, you can still apply for ASAP membership as long as you are 14 years old or older. For the A number question in ASAP’s membership application, you can enter your own A number if you have one, or enter “I don’t know.”

How can I apply for ASAP membership?

Please fill out our membership application online! You can fill out the membership application from a phone or a computer. If you need help filling out ASAP’s membership application, please watch this video.

After we review your application, we will send you the results by text message at the phone number you provided in your membership application. Review can take up to 1 week, but you can always check your ASAP membership application status online. For help checking your ASAP membership application status, you can watch this video.

ASAP membership is completely free, and there is no fee required to submit ASAP’s membership application or to maintain your ASAP membership.

If I become an ASAP member, will ASAP become my immigration attorney?

No. Your membership does not mean that ASAP is your lawyer. We encourage all of our members to secure an independent immigration lawyer if possible. You can learn about how to find legal help on this page. Please also note that the information ASAP provides to members does not constitute legal advice.

Will becoming an ASAP member affect my immigration case?

No. Becoming an ASAP member should not negatively impact your asylum case or any other immigration process. If you have any specific concerns, please email ASAP at [email protected].

Does it cost money to become a member of ASAP?

No. ASAP membership is completely free, and there is no fee required to submit ASAP’s membership application or to maintain your ASAP membership.

If I become an ASAP member, will ASAP share my information with the government or others?

No. ASAP keeps members’ personal information confidential and does not share information about members without permission. See our privacy policy here.

Can I fill out my ASAP membership application in another language other than English and Spanish?

Currently, the membership application can only be filled out in English and Spanish. Additionally, ASAP staff can currently only assist people in English or Spanish. We are working on creating more language capacity as our membership grows. We appreciate your patience, and we are deeply sorry for our limitations.

Can I speak to someone at ASAP by phone?

Unfortunately, due to a very high number of requests, we do not have capacity to connect by phone. Please visit our resources page for information that may be useful. Or, email your questions to [email protected].

Do you have advice for organizations whose clients would like to become members?

If you are a legal advocate or nonprofit employee, you are welcome to help your client(s) fill out ASAP’s membership form. Please make sure that you have your client’s consent to submit ASAP’s membership application on their behalf, and include your client’s contact preferences and contact information on the application so that they can receive updates from ASAP. If you have helped your client(s) fill out the form, please also acknowledge your assistance and include your contact information on the helper section of their application.

What is my ASAP membership card?

If we approve your membership application, you will receive a text message to the phone number you provided in your application. This text message will include your member ID and a link to your membership card.

Your membership card serves as proof of your ASAP membership. Your membership card will have your full name and your member ID. Your member ID is a combination of letters and numbers. Each member ID is unique and linked to your identity.

To save your membership card, you can print it out, download it, or take a screenshot of it on your phone. If you lose your membership card, you can use your member ID to view your membership card online.

What should I do if I lose my membership card?

If you remember your member ID, you can use it to view your ASAP membership card on this page. For help using your member ID to view your membership card, watch this video.

If you do not know your member ID, you can view your membership card by entering your date of birth, cell phone number, and A number into our membership status page. For help recovering your member ID, please watch this video.

If you cannot recover your membership card using the webpages mentioned above, please email us at [email protected]. In your email, please include your name, date of birth, A number, and the phone number you included in your membership application.

When I enter my member ID to view my membership card online, it says my member ID is not valid. What should I do?

Please try again and check that your member ID was entered correctly. Below are some common errors:

  • Every member ID includes dashes. Make sure to include the dashes in your member ID, like this: XXXXXXXXX-XX-XX
  • If your member ID includes an accent, include the accent when typing your member ID.
  • If your member ID includes a 0 or O, make sure you are correctly entering the number 0 or the letter O.
  • If your member ID includes a 1 or I, make sure you are correctly entering the number 1 or the letter I.
  • The first 7 characters of your member ID are letters, not numbers.
  • Don’t include extra spaces or periods when typing your member ID.

If you are still having trouble, you can try looking up your membership card using our membership status tool instead or email [email protected]. In your email, please include your name, date of birth, A number, and the phone number you included in your membership application.

The name on my membership card is incorrect. How can I correct it?

If your ASAP membership has already been approved and the name on your membership card is incorrect, please fill out this survey to request a correction. ASAP’s team will correct your name and then send you a text message with your updated membership card. Name corrections may take up to 1 week.

I have changed my contact information. How can I make sure ASAP has my correct information?

If your ASAP membership has already been approved and you would like to change your contact information, please fill out this survey to request the change. ASAP’s team will update your information and send you a text message to confirm the changes. Updates may take up to 1 week to confirm.

Can I apply for a work permit as a member of ASAP?

Yes! For information about applying for a work permit as an ASAP member, please visit our work permits page.

Do I need to include that I am a member of ASAP in my asylum application?

No! For information about your ASAP membership and asylum application, please read this question and answer.

Do I need to include that I am a member of ASAP in my green card (permanent residence) application?

Yes! For information about your ASAP membership and green card application, please read this question and answer.