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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? 

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? 

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.
  • Circumstances have changed since you first entered the United States. Here are some examples:
    • The conditions in your country of origin have changed and it would now be dangerous for you to return.
    • Your personal circumstances have changed and returning to your country of origin would now be dangerous for you. For example, 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 have other special circumstances. Here are some examples:
    • You had or currently have lawful status in the United States, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
    • 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. 

How do I fill out the asylum application, Form I-589? 

You can visit this USCIS webpage for the most current version of the asylum application and instructions for how to submit it. You may also be able to complete and submit your asylum application online instead of mailing a paper asylum application to USCIS. To file online, you will need to create an online myUSCIS account.

The asylum application is long and asks some hard questions. But do not let this discourage you! This video explains in detail how to fill out the asylum application, Form I-589. The video goes through each of the sections and explains how to answer each question. For a written resource with step-by-step instructions, visit Appendix F of this guide.

Your answers must be written in English. If you are writing by hand, make sure that your handwriting is clear and easy to read. Please use a black pen.

Make sure to read each question carefully. All of your answers should be complete, accurate, and truthful. After you are done, make sure to review the entire application to catch any mistakes. Remember to sign and date your application!

In addition to filling out your asylum application, you will also have to submit some additional documents together with your application. Read here for instructions on how to prepare your additional documents. Read here for instructions on where to send your asylum application when it is ready.

Do I need to include that I am a member of ASAP in my 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). 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.

Do I need to submit any documents with my asylum application? 

Yes, you have to submit some initial evidence together with your asylum application (Form I-589), as well as the correct number of copies of your application and evidence.

  1. Attach two passport photos to your completed asylum application. 
    • Attach two passport photos to your application on page 9. On the back of the passport photos, write your full name and A-number in pencil. If you do not have an A-number, write “A# None.”
  1. If you are including any family members, take this additional step:
    • Make a copy of your completed asylum application.
    • Attach two passport photos of your family member to the copy of application on page 9. On the back of the passport photos, write your family member’s full name and A-number in pencil. If your family member does not have an A-number, write “A# None.”
  1. Make a copy of the following documents, and attach them to the application. 
    • Your birth certificate.
    • Marriage certificate.
    • Passport (every page, including the front and back covers).
    • I-94, if you arrived in the United States with a visa, if you entered on a visa waiver program, or if you received parole.
    • If you are including your spouse in your application, also include a copy of:
      • Your spouse’s birth certificate
      • Your spouse’s passport (all pages)
      • Your spouse’s I-94 (if available)
      • Marriage certificate showing that you and your spouse are married.
      • Proof of termination of any prior marriages (for example, a divorce judgment) for you and your spouse.
    • If you are including your child in your application, also include a copy of:
      • Your child’s birth certificate
      • Your child’s passport (all pages)
      • Your child’s I-94 (if available)
    • If you (or a family member included in your application) were arrested in the United States for a criminal violation, you must submit a copy of records relating to that violation. If you don’t have the records, you can explain that you will look for them and provide them in the future.
    • If any of the documents are not in English, you will also need to include a translation and a certificate of translation.
  1. Take the whole package (application and evidence), and make an appropriate number of copies. 
    • If you are applying for asylum with USCIS, you need:
      • One original.
      • One copy.
      • One additional copy for each family member that you are including in your asylum case.
      • One copy for you to keep for your records.
    • If you are applying for asylum in Immigration Court, you need:
      • One original for the judge.
      • One copy for the government attorney.
      • One copy for you to keep for your records.

Please note that you may wish to submit more evidence supporting your asylum case. You can look for an attorney to help you with this. You can submit such evidence together with your application. Or if you need more time to prepare the evidence, you can also submit them closer to your USCIS asylum interview or immigration court hearing.

Read here for instructions on how to fill out the asylum application. Read here for instructions on where to send your asylum application when it is ready.

Is there a fee to file the asylum application?

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

Where do I file my asylum application?

The answer to where you should file your asylum application depends on if you have a case in immigration court or not.

If you do NOT have a case in immigration court, you can apply for asylum with the immigration agency USCIS. Mail your asylum application package to the correct USCIS address. The USCIS address depends on where you live. You can find the correct address by going to this USCIS webpage, and looking under “Where To File.” You may also be able to complete and submit your asylum application online instead of mailing a paper asylum application to USCIS. To file online, you will need to create an online myUSCIS account.

If you have a case in immigration court, you need to submit your asylum application to the immigration court and the government attorney. You have three options.

  • Option 1. You can submit your application packages 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.
  • Option 2. You can submit your asylum application packages in person at the filing window in immigration court. If you are planning to do this, you need to prepare a certificate of service.
    • 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.
  • Option 3. You can mail your asylum application packages to the immigration court and government attorney. If you are planning to do this, you need to prepare a certificate of service.
    • 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.
  • Please note: you have to take another step after submitting your asylum application to immigration court. You need to also 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.

If you have a case in immigration court, but when you check your case status, the immigration court system says “the A Number information did not match a record in the system” or “no case found for this A Number,” follow these steps to submit your asylum application.

I have a case in immigration court, but it does not appear on the automated hotline or website. Where do I file my asylum application?

If you check your immigration court case status and it says “the A Number information did not match a record in the system” or “no case found for this A Number,” it is best to file your asylum application (Form I-589) with USCIS within one year of entering the United States. This may seem confusing because your case is actually 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:

  1. You know that you 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
  2. 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:

  1. Submit 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.
  2. Keep a copy of your application because you will need to submit it to the immigration court again later.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

Can I file my asylum application (Form I-589) online?

Maybe. The answer depends on whether you are applying for asylum with USCIS or in immigration court, as well as some other factors. If you are not sure if you have a case in immigration court, read more at this link.

1. If you are applying for asylum with USCIS, you may be able to complete and submit your asylum application online! However, there are exceptions:

  • You cannot apply online if you had an immigration court case in the past and the judge dismissed (or closed) your case. If you decide to apply for asylum again with USCIS, you need to mail your asylum application to a special address. Learn more here.
  • You cannot apply online if you are in one of the other situations described under the “Special Instructions” tab on this USCIS webpage.

2. If you have a case in immigration court, you generally CANNOT file your asylum application online. You need to submit a paper asylum application to the immigration court instead. However, there are exceptions:

  • If you have an attorney, your attorney may be able to file online for you.
  • If immigration officials told you that you will have a case in immigration court but you do not yet appear in the immigration court system, you can file online with USCIS.

What are the steps to file for asylum online, if I am eligible?

  1. Go to this USCIS webpage.
  2. Click the blue button that says “File Online”. This will take you to a new webpage for your USCIS online account. You should log in or create a new USCIS account. You can watch this USCIS video about how to create an online account.
  3. Use the online system to complete your application. See more guidance below! Read all the instructions carefully and review your information before you submit.
  4. 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.

What special information should I know to complete the asylum application online?

Most of the questions in the online asylum application are identical to the paper application. You can watch this video for detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to fill out the paper asylum application.

However, there are a few differences on the online asylum application:

  • Photos: On the online asylum application, you do not need to submit photos of your face like you do for a paper 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.

  • When was your most recent entry into the United States?: Under this question, you will be asked for your “Status when last admitted.” You will have to choose from a long drop-down menu.
    • If you did not use a visa to enter the United States, you can most likely choose “AO – Asylum Applicant without Work Auth.”
    • If you entered the United States on 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 not sure what to choose, you can choose “ZN – unknown”.
  • 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”.
  • 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. You can also submit more evidence after you submit your asylum application. And when you go to your asylum interview in person in the future, you should bring original copies of any evidence.

What should I do if I already submitted an asylum application to USCIS by mail and I have been waiting a long time for a receipt?

USCIS is currently taking a long time to send receipt notices for asylum applications submitted by mail. You can read about possible next steps here.

Generally, you can apply for a work permit 150 days after your asylum application was received. If you have already waited 150 days and you still have not received your receipt notice, you can try submitting your work permit application without including a receipt notice. You can find more instructions here.

If I already mailed USCIS an asylum application, can I file another application online?

Maybe. If you already mailed USCIS a paper asylum application and you are still waiting for a receipt notice, you can try to file again online. If you do this, you should quickly receive an online receipt notice with the date that you filed your online application (not your paper application). You could use that online notice as proof of filing your asylum application on the new, more recent online filing date.

However, we do not have very many details about how this process will work and USCIS currently does not recommend re-filing online.

If you decide to re-file online, you should make sure that the answers in your online application are the same as the answers in your paper application.

What is a certificate of service?

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.

How do I get a receipt for my asylum application?

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.

  1. If you are applying for asylum with USCIS, the way you get your receipt notice depends on whether you filed your asylum application online or you mailed a paper asylum application.

If you filed online: You should check your myUSCIS account frequently to see if USCIS has posted your receipt notice. Then you can download and print your receipt notice.

If you mailed a paper asylum application: USCIS should automatically mail you a receipt notice after they receive your asylum application. The receipt notice includes your name, A-number, and the date USCIS received your asylum application.

If you have not received a receipt notice after 2 months, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. When you are asked to explain what you are calling about, you can say “InfoPass” in order to speak with a representative. Then, you can explain that you submitted your asylum application 2 months ago but you have not received a receipt notice. Be sure to have your A Number ready (if you have one), as well as any mailing information you may have, such as the date you mailed your documents and the mailing tracking number.

  1. 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.

What family members can be included in my asylum application?

Your spouse and your unmarried children under 21 who are already in the United States can be included as part of your asylum case. Family members who are included are sometimes called “derivatives.” If you win asylum, they will also receive asylum at the same time.

In order to be included in your case, your unmarried children need to be under 21 years of age at the time you file your asylum application (Form I-589). It is okay if they turn 21 after you have filed your application. However, your children must remain unmarried until your asylum case is decided. If your children are over 21 years old, or if they are married, they have to file separate asylum applications.

If your spouse and children are not in the United States, they cannot be included in your asylum case. However, if you win asylum, you can petition to bring them to the United States by submitting Form I-730. You must petition for them within two years of winning asylum.

Please note that even if you are not including your spouse or your children in your asylum case, you still need to provide their information in Part A.II of the asylum application (Form I-589). After you answer questions about each family member, you can check “yes” or “no” to the question about whether you wish to include them in your application.

What evidence can I submit to support my asylum case?

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: 

  1. 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?
  2. Who harmed you, or who would want to harm you? If you do not know know for sure, who do you think it was?
  3. Why were you, or why will you be, a target for harm in your country of origin?
  4. Why are you not able to seek help or protection from the police or the government of your country of origin?
  5. 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.
  • 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.
  • Reports from national or international human rights organizations about the situation that you have fled from.

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.

When do I need to submit supporting 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 are 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 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. Read more about applying for asylum with USCIS here, or watch these videos.

Can I submit evidence in my own language?

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

My asylum application was rejected and returned to me by USCIS. What can I do?

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. 

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