These days, the estimated wait time for an affirmative asylum case is somewhere between eternity and forever. It can best be expressed numerically as ∞. Or maybe as ∞ + 1. In other words, affirmative asylum cases take a long damn time. (OK, to be fair, you can get some idea about the actual wait time here).
For some people, this wait is more of a problem than for others. For example, if your spouse and children are outside the United States waiting for you, and especially if they are living in unsafe or unhealthy conditions, the wait can be intolerable. A growing number of people are abandoning their cases simply because they cannot stand the separation. Others are moving to Canada, which apparently has a faster system than we have in the States. The problem is not simply that the wait is long—and the wait is long. The problem is that we cannot know how long the wait will be. Maybe the interview will come in six months; maybe in three years. Maybe the decision will come shortly after the interview; maybe it will take months or years. This unpredictability contributes to the difficulty of waiting for a resolution to the case.
For others people—single people without children or families that are all together here in the U.S.—the wait may be stressful, but it’s far more bearable. For my clients in this position, I advise them to live as if they will win their cases. What else can they do? To live under the constant stress of potential deportation is unhealthy. And the fact is, most of my clients have strong cases, and the likelihood that they will succeed it pretty high. So it is best to live as normally as possible. Find a job, start a business, buy a house or a car, go to school, make friends, get on with life. In the end, if such people need to leave the United States, they will have time to wind down their affairs and sell their belongings. For now, though, if I may quote the late, great Chuck Berry, Live like you wanna live, baby.
But what if you want to try to expedite your case? How can you maximize the chances that the Asylum Office will move your case to the front of the line?
First, before you file to expedite, you need to complete your case. The affidavit must be finished and all the evidence must be organized and properly translated (if necessary). If you expedite a case and the case is not complete, it could result in real problems. For example, I once had a client put himself on a short list without telling me. Then one day, an Asylum Officer called me and said that they wanted to schedule his interview for the following week. The problem was, the evidence was not submitted (or even gathered) and the affidavit was not done. The client insisted on going forward, and so (while I helped with interview preparation), I withdrew from the case. I did not want to remain affiliated with a case that was not properly put together, and I did not want to represent a person who took action on his case without informing me. In general, there is no value in expediting a case only to lose because you are not prepared for the interview, so make sure your case is complete before you try to expedite.
Second, you need a good reason to expedite. Remember, you are asking to jump your case ahead of hundreds–maybe thousands–of people who are also waiting for their asylum interview. Why should the Asylum Office allow you to do that? One common reason is that the applicant has a health problem (physical or mental). If that is your reason, get a letter from the doctor. Also, provide some explanation for how an early resolution of the asylum case might help improve your health situation (for example, maybe you have a health problem that is exacerbated by the stress of a pending case).
Another common reason to expedite (and in my opinion, the most legitimate reason to expedite) is separation from family members, especially if those family members are living under difficult or dangerous circumstances. If an asylum applicant wins her case, she can file petitions to bring her spouse and her minor, unmarried children to the United States. Many people come to the U.S. to seek asylum not for themselves, but because they fear for the safety of their family. Since it is so difficult to get a U.S. visa, it’s common to see asylum seekers who leave their family members behind, in the hope that they can win asylum and bring their family members later. So when the wait for an interview (never mind a decision) is measured in years, that’s a real hardship. For our asylum-seeker clients with pending applications, we have seen cases where their children were attacked in the home country, where family members went into hiding, where children could not attend school or get medical treatment, where families were stuck in third countries, etc., etc., etc. Such problems can form the basis for an expedite request.
To expedite for such a reason, get evidence of the problem. That evidence could be a doctor’s note for a medical problem or an injury, or a police report if a family member was attacked or threatened. It could be a letter from a teacher that the child cannot attend school. It could be letters from the family members themselves explaining the hardship, or letters from other people who know about the problems (for advice on writing a good letter, see this article). Also, sometimes family members receive threat letters or their property is vandalized. Submit copies of such letters or photos of property damage. It is very important to submit letters and evidence in support of the expedite request. Also, remember to include evidence of the family relationship–marriage certificate or birth certificates of children–to show how the person is related to the principal asylum applicant.
There are other reasons to request an expedited interview: Until an asylum case is granted, applicants may not be able to get certain jobs, they cannot qualify for in-state tuition, they face the general stress of not knowing whether they can stay. While these issues can be quite difficult to deal with, I think that they do not compare to the hardships suffered by people separated from family members. Indeed, if I were in charge of the Asylum Division, I would allow expedited interviews only in cases of family separation.
Once your case is complete and you have gathered evidence in support of the expedite request, you need to submit the request and evidence to the Asylum Office. Different offices have different procedures for expediting. You can contact your Asylum Office to ask about the procedure. Contact information for the various Asylum Offices can be found here.
One last point about expediting asylum cases: The system for expediting cases is not well-developed, meaning that sometimes, a strong request will be denied or a weak request will be granted. There definitely seems to be an element of luck involved in the expedite request process. But of course, unless you try to expedite, you can’t get your case expedited. If an initial request is denied, you can gather more evidence and try again (and again). At least in my experience, most–but not all–cases where there was a good reason to expedite were, in fact, expedited.
Besides expediting asylum cases, it is also possible to put your case on the “short list,” which may result in an earlier interview date. You can learn more about that and a few other ideas here.
It is still unclear how changes in the new Administration might affect the speed of asylum cases, but I doubt that the asylum backlog is going away any time soon. In that case, for many people, the only options are to learn to live with the delay or–if there is a good reason–to ask for an expedited interview and then to hope for the best.
Hello sir if ur asylum is not approved do u continue to get the working permit? Thanks
If your asylum case is denied by the asylum office, and you still have some other legal status (like F-1), you cannot get a new work permit. However, if your case is sent to court, you can extend your work permit as long as the court case – and any appeal at the Board of Immigration Appeals – is pending. Take care, Jason
Jason,
Thank you for your continuous support of the asylum seekers.
My husband and I are planning to move to a different state in hopes this will expedite our interview. We are not attached to a specific workspot, so moving is somewhat ‘easy’, however I have a few questions:
1. If we move to live at our friends’ house – can we use this address for filing with the USCIS?
2. If we are planning to do short-term rental, and therefore, may experience several address change, would it be better and would it be legal to give USCIS our friends’ address where we would occasionally stay for the sake of keeping correspondence?
3. If my husband is the primary applicant, and my son and I are the derivative, do we all have to move as he moves, or can he move without us? (I’m asking as we want to move in summer so that we do not have to change schools in the middle of the year).
1 – If you live there, you can use the address (as long as you can get mail there). 2 – That is up to you, but it generally is better to have fewer address changes, as there are fewer chances for a problem with missing mail. 3 – I am not sure about this, but we generally use the address of the primary applicant, as long as the case is still together (the couple did not divorce or the child marries or otherwise leaves the case). Take care, Jason
Hi every one I have applied asylum in May 2015 in New York, but didn’t receive intraview notes yet. did anyone apply asylum in May 2015 , didn’t get interview notes ?
Thank you
Hello Jason,
Thank you for your support to us, asylum seekers. Today, I had an asylum interview. It took around 1.5 hours and the officer was extremely friendly. Mostly, the officer asked questions and took notes without even looking at me. The questions were really kind of repeating the things I wrote in my affidavit. We didn’t go too deep into any of the issues I wrote. Also, it was like question/short answer but not like describe and explain. This makes me feel that I was not able to explain everything happened to me.
Is that normal? Does it mean the case will be rejected? By the way, in my asylum case I had several official documents and a lot of news articles showing my persecution. Do you think it is the reason we didn’t spend a lot of time in details? I am not sure whether I should be expecting additional interviews/rejection or any kind of negative outcomes. I will appreciate your opinion.
One last question: Do the asylum officers read all the documents before or after the interview?
Hello jason .
I want to know if i can request for expedtion as many times till get approved ? Does this have any impact on case ? Whether or not officer will point out the reason or come up for an explanation why im rushing . And if yes do you think family separation or medical reason is more effective ? – Much respect
I personally think family separation is a better reason, especially if the family has some danger, but I think legitimate, documented health reasons are also good basis to expedite. You can request as many times as you want, but you should have a new reason and new evidence for each request. I doubt this would affect the case, but it could, as your expedite request is part of your case file. Take care, Jason
I don’t think you can read much into that – we have had cases where the officer was very nice, but denied, and where the officer seemed very skeptical, and yet approved. My guess (based on why you wrote) is that the interview went well, but I do not really know. Most officers do read most of the material you submit. If you have news articles and official documents with your name on them, it is probably a strong case, and that would be a reason to keep the interview short, as they have the info they need from the documents. Good luck, Jason
Jason, thank you for the work you’re doing!
My family had to stay in the US during 2014 when the war started in our region, and our city specifically. We filed what at that time looked like a strong case, still waiting for the interview. We’ve been following the news and per “official” news the situation in UkrAine has changed and is looking much better (worse for our case). I’m thinking since the situation has changed, can I assume we’re losing our chance of winning? I did read somewhere that asylum had s a temporary ststus and if the conditions in the country change, the case may not be sufficient any longer. This looks like our case, hace you heard of recent decisions based on the fact that nothing “no longer threatens the applicant”?
Ukrainian cases have always been difficult – since most people can try to relocate to the Western part of the country. We have a few pending. One granted recently and one that was interviewed but we have no decision yet (and he is a Tatar, which makes relocation much more difficult). And I believe one was denied and sent to court (if I remember correctly). If the situation is safe for you, of course, it will make your case much more difficult to win. You can withdraw the case, but if there are still reasons you fear returning, you can try to get evidence about that and convince the Asylum Office that you still face harm there. Take care, Jason
If you were lawfully here as a student until you filed for asylum, you should be fine. However, you should be prepared to explain (with evidence) why it took you so long to file. The one-year bar can be tricky and cause a case to be denied, and so it would be worthwhile to talk to a lawyer about this, just to make sure you are safe. Take care, Jason
Hello jason…i didnt know where to post coz i dont know if you talked about what happen when an asylum case referred to immigration judge..i need to understand what happen after because i just recieved my referal notice to appear with no date!! In addition what if i decided to do voluntary departure and close my asylum case how will i do that because of my family situation i think i cant wait any more…thanks in advance for you kind help
You will receive a letter in the mail with the date, though it may be several months. Also, you can call 1-800-898-7180 and enter your Alien number (it is a computer on the other end, not a person). Follow the instructions, and push 1. Then it will tell you your next court date (if you just got the notice to appear, it may be some weeks before you are entered into the system). If you want to leave, and you are eligible for Voluntary Departure, you can do that at the first court hearing. You may want to learn more about your court and your judge (once the judge is assigned) to get an idea about the wait time. If it is not too long, maybe you want to stay and pursue the case. It might also help to talk to a lawyer who is familiar with your local court, as the lawyer will have an idea about wait times, and the chances to win. Take care, Jason
Thanks for replying me back …but is there a way to expedite the master calendar hearing date?my son have Psychological issues.
What if i leave with out doing voluntary departure what is the consequences?
You can try. I did a post about that on April 2017 – maybe that would help. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason :
hope you are doing well. do you by chance know anything about the interview waiting time in San Diego, CA? thank you.
As far as I know, they are interviewed on the same schedule as LA, but maybe San Diego is a sub-office. You can always email the LA office to ask them. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Elijah
Hi Jason was expecting asylum interview but my latter to inform me of the date and time reached me a few hours after my interview ,so I missed it. Kindly advise
You should contact the asylum office immediately and tell them what happened. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
I am very grateful for all your advice. I have received an letter from Chicago asylum office with my interview date by 25th October-2017. I have prepared 3 set’s of doc. based on USCIS website and other sources. My question when should i submit them before my interview? If so how many days before i should submit? Where to submit and how to submit? (My asylum office is Chicago, interview is at Cleveland Circuit ride). My attorney is not very helpful, my minister in the church advised me to get attorney through Cleveland Catholic Charities. I have represented my current attorney with G8 to the Chicago asylum office when i have submitted my application. In such case how can change my G8 form with new attorney? My another question is can I update my affidavit? Thank you very much! I kindly request anyone in this forum could you please share your experience like how to submit doc’s prepare for an interview etc.
Thanks a lot! Banu
Dear Banu,
Do you mind telling me when have you filled?
I filled my case in September 2015 in Chicago and I know they are around that date, but don’t know anybody who had interview recently, so your answer would really help me.
I would also like to update my case and add more affidavits, so I was wondering the same! Should I just bring it with me to the interview or sumbit before. Let me know whatever you find out. I will do the same!
Hi Evan,
I did in Sep. and then I requested for an expedited interview based my young son’s critical medical situation. So I requested through many ways and first time they rejected and I keep requesting bcz i can’t see my child suffering. He has serious medical condition. So finally they accepted my request. I will pray for your case as well.
Thank You! Good luck!
Banu
I’m so sorry to hear that! I hope with everything I have they approve you case ASAP and I will pray for your child! God bless!
Very kind of you! I will also pray that you will get an interview date very soon!
Thank you
Banu
Dear Sir,
We also got an expedite request approval from the Chicago office but we haven’t got the interview date. Would you tell me how long after the approval letter they gave you an interview date?
Thanks in advance.
It took two months for me. I think it depends on the availability of the officers.
I will pray for your speedy interview.
Take care
Banu
I do not know. In the Virginia office, it is taking maybe 2 or 3 months. Take care,
You can add new evidence and a new affidavit, but if you make changes to your affidavit, you may need to explain why you are making changes. Also, documents should be submitted before the interview if possible. Contact the asylum office to ask about that. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason!
Many many thanks for your kind reply! How many copies do I have to carry with me? Do have office at cleveland and represent them at the immigration court?
Thank you very much!
Banu
Contact the main office to ask where to submit documents. Normally, we submit two copies of the document packet, and we bring whatever originals we have to the interview, in case the officer wants to see them. Take care, Jason
First, if the attorney is not helpful, you should find a new lawyer, but you have very little time. The new lawyer can submit a new G-28 at the interview, that is no problem. As for documents, normally the lawyer would help with this, and I do not know the rule in Chicago. You can contact them to ask. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. I did have an interview for a client at a sub-office of Chicago, and they told us to bring the documents directly to the interview and not to mail them to Chicago, but I do not know whether this is the normal procedure, so you should try to ask them (in our case, it worked out just fine, as the client was granted asylum). Finally, you can make a new affidavit and explain any changes, and submit that with your other evidence, or if there are only small changes, you can make the corrections at the beginning of your interview, but make sure to inform the officer that you have corrections, otherwise, they might not ask you and just do the interview. Take care, Jason
Hello
I field my asylum case by my self today.
I live in Los Angeles CA 90035.
I attached a letter for urgent interview appointment request with translation of letter from my DR in iran.
I explained that i have to expedite my process because i need insurance to have medical facilities for pain reduction and i wrote i want to be able to travel to a third country in case of emergency surgical operation needed.
I know i have to file my request for urgent appointment separately.i checked uscis website but I couldn’t find where i should file my request?
Now i have two questions
1)does it bad point for my case that i am not healthy and i wanna use insurance and services?
2) where should i file my urgent interview request?
Besr
1 – Sometimes, such cases are viewed more sympathetically, so it may help your case. But unless your medical issue has a bearing on your asylum claim, it should have no effect. 2 – Requests to expedite are sent to the local asylum office once you have your receipt. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Thank sobmuch jason.you spend time for people.
I appreciate that.
As I mentioned before I applied for asylum october 6 by my self and I attached acletter for urgent interview appointment request.i know i have to send my request to asylum office when i get my letter with case number.
I arrived to United States in February with tourism business visa.i took visa with a invitation letter of some American company.i have visited some states and when i came to los angele and staying with our business associates my trip get longer than I anticipated cause I decided to improve my knowledge in our business field with american modern equipment.
Then i extend my visa on july with the aim of attending to a conference on September because my visa expires was on august.i even got canadian visa on august with the aim of attending to another conference in canada on November.
After getting canadian visa on august i came to some gathering but i never thought about changing religion because i knew if i do this i can not go back to my country but finally i did it on September and I field my case on October.otherwise i have a physical problem in my back and i need medical intervention for pain reduction and prevent the severity of the condition and in emergency case i need emergency surgical operation.
Due to very expensive medical expenses in america i wrote a letter to have urgent interview appointment to have insurance and to be able to travel to third country where i can afford costs in case of operation needed.the risk of don’t doing operation in emergency case is my leg paralysis.
1)my american visa extension and getting canadian visa is a bad point for my case ?(because i wrote extending destroy asylum case but I changed my religion after extending and after getting canadian visa)
2)those physical problem which I mentioned about them and mention about insurance is a bad point?
Best
1 – I do not think it is a bad point. You can explain all that to the asylum office, as you did here. 2 – No, and it may be a basis to get the case expedited; at least you can try. Your better option might be to get Advance Parole (I wrote about that on September 11, 2017) and use that to travel abroad for medical treatment, if the case is not expedited. Take care, Jason
Thank you jason
Best
Does asking for expedite request stops the 150 day clock or receiving the application if request for expedite was refused?
No – Whether the expedite request is approved or denied, it should not affect the asylum clock. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason
I applied asylum in May 2015 in New York . Uscis received my application on 11 May 2015. I am wondering, l didn’t get any interview notice. Bulletin say they are interviewing people who applied in Aprill 2015- August 0215. Any advice
Thank you
You should get the interview soon. If not, you can email them to ask about your case status. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hello,
I have applied for Asylum in September 2015.
Last update on site says they interviewed people from May 2015 in August, but no info about who are they interviewing right now… and all this people above and many other forums I’m reading are always mentioning June July or August as month they had interview… Never saw someone writing different month… So I’m wondering if the interviews are happening only during summer or what? If they are doing May 2015 in Chicago now, and I have applied in September 2015 does that mean my interview is coming very soon, or will it be next summer? ??? Thank you!!!!
If you filed in September 2015 and they are interviewing people who filed in May 2015, I think you should expect the interview relatively soon (probably in the next 6 months). Make sure all your evidence is submitted and that you are ready to go. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
does “Louisiana – New Orleans Field Office” has short list? and how can I apply for the short list?
Thanks for helping
I do not know – but maybe you can email the Houston office (which has jurisdiction over New Orleans) to ask. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hey ali
I have experience in this office ,
Hello Jason, thank you for all you do. Can one expedite a case after the date give at the MCH? Thank you
You can try – I wrote about that on April 20, 2017, and maybe that article would help. Take care, Jason
I am in usa now I came here as a tourist I have a political danger in my country can I apply for a asylum case is there any difficulty in trump rule
If you are in the US and you fear returning to your country, you can apply for asylum. Trump has not changed that. You must apply within one year of arriving here, or you can be denied automatically, so keep that deadline in mind. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I filed my asylum case in Chicago in October 2015 and still waiting for an interview. I am originally from Africa and filed my asylum based on my African country. My mother is very sick and she lives in Europe. She has been given a few months to live and I would like to see her before she passes. Is there a way to apply for a travel document to travel while my asylum case is still pending? Thank you
You can apply for Advance Parole using form I-131, available at http://www.uscis.gov. You need to give a “humanitarian” reason for the travel – maybe a letter from your mother’s doctor. You might also include your birth certificate to prove that she is your mother (USCIS asked one of our clients for this recently). You can ask them to expedite the AP, but it normally takes 4 to 6 months to get it. Also, you will need a visa for the country you plan to visit. AP is not a passport, it is just a paper that allows you to re-enter the US after you travel overseas. Take care, Jason
Hi,
can i ask my office to put me in short list without reason or i must have reason to they do it, and if they put me in short list what is bad things maybe i face in this situation?
Thanks
You do not need a reason, though not all offices have short lists. You will have to ask them. There is no down side to being on the short list. It may make your case faster or it may not have any effect. There are no negative consequences. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Thank you for all your support, it’s been very helpful.i have an immigration court hearing MCH in Boston due in a week.my question is there any chance my case could be heard on the MCH ?, do I give in more evidence at MCH? And If I just have new evidence is there a chance to win my case if I expedite my case?. Thank you
With very few exceptions, your case cannot be heard at the MCH. You can give new evidence at the MCH, but normally, the purpose of that hearing is to admit the allegations and charges in the NTA, tell the judge what relief you want (i.e., asylum, Cancellation of Removal, etc.), and then get a date for a trial. If your case is in court, it is a very good idea to have a lawyer, and if you do not have one, the judge will likely pressure you to get one. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Thank you so much for your help it’s very helpful.its only a week since I arrived to US and am starting an asylum process now am 20 and I lived with my families I have siblings and they are suffering now their life is in danger so
1. can I ask expedite b\c of this?
2.can I file a petition to bring them?
3.is there any possibility that I can bring them here ?
1. You can ask, but it is very unlikely to work – separation from children or spouse is a stronger basis to expedite, since you can bring those people to the US if your case is granted. 2. Not unless you become a US citizen, and then the waiting time is (currently) about 12 years. 3. Not really; they have to find their own way here. Maybe you could talk to a lawyer in the US to get some ideas to help them, but a sibling relationship is not very useful for US immigration purposes. Take care, Jason
Can you expedite your asylum case after 3 months of submisssion due to medical reasons (psychological issues)?
You can try. Get evidence of the problem and submit it to your local asylum office with an expedite request. Make sure your entire case is complete and submitted as well, so in case you are expedited, you will be ready to go. For the expedite procedure, you should contact your local asylum office. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hi jason
Thank you for doing wonderful work for asylum seekers. I want to know about to expedite case in asylum office. You have stated many times about to submit affidavit with all our docs. What dis affidavit is all about ? Because my current lawyer has not mentioned about any affidavit. He said you have to bring asylum story and evedence or supporting letters related to the case.
Pls tell me how to submit affidavit and whats is that about.
Thanks
The affidavit is the same as the story – it is just your statement of what happened and why you need asylum. Take care, Jason
Thank you so much for all your help. Which forms do l need to fill in order for me to expedite my asylum case. How do l go about it?
You would need to get the form from your local asylum office. You can email them to ask, and maybe they can send it to you. But you might have to go in person to get the form. You can find the email address if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
[…] известного иммиграционного адвоката и автора блога asylumist Джейсона Дзубова (Jason […]
Hi Janson,
I want to get some clarification for how to expedite my file which is pending for getting the interview.
I had sent my file i-589 for the asylum application almost six months.
Currently, my family in my home country is faced with fear and certain threats due to my escape. Besides that, I wrote recently that my son suffers from a known disease (which the doctor calls genetic disease), Living conditions for them are not good, worse than I am not there. It is a very painful separation, especially unexpected.
Can I request an acceleration of my file for the interview as long as my file is still pending?
The evidences are there (child health’s evidence and threats’s evidence,…)
Thank you!
You can request it and these seem like good reasons to expedite. Good luck, Jason
Hello Jason,
Many thanks for your time. Following your advice, you save thousands of lives without knowing it. What you do, helps many of the people we are and opens our eyes. I am very optimistic because I have an excellent lawyer is God. But that does not stop me for asking you some questions.
1) I am an asylum seeker, it has been a week since I sent my i-765 after spending 150 days without a decision from immigration. And at the same time, I made a letter requesting to accelerate my file, given my health, tooth decay, without medical support, you know what this can do. I had no evidence from a physician, the only evidence is my physical condition and it is true.
A couple days ago, I asked you a question about speeding up the file, you said, we need evidence, and if there is no such thing as my case, it will not be considered? Although it will depend on them.
2) I left my country for political reasons, and right after my family had recently received threats from unknown people about me, according to my escape. I have a child, the latest who suffers of Sickle Cell (Anemia) and it is very hard life, health and imagine especially that I am not with them on the spot, now, it’s becoming a security problem for them, can I make another letter to request the acceleration of my file? Concerning this permanent danger, I have all evidence for that, Is that a good idea to make a letter for requesting my file to be speed.
As for my asylum file sent, everything was very well prepared and I am ready to go to the interview if ever I was called.
3) I sent my i-765 form in Phoenix, AZ after talking with a USCIS representative on the phone for where to file, but other people told me I should to send at Lincoln such as I’m living in NE. Is it a mistake or misunderstanding? because, in their website, it’s clear and what I saw in the USCIS website, evrything is clear (https://www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses), is what the USCIS agent told me. Please, as you know many things in this domain, please let me know. I’m not doubting but it’s just for verification. As you know, in this world, some people pretends to know everything.
I prefer to get information from the source and I ask if I don’t know, I’ do not base myself on the principe of “mouth-to-the-ear”.
Thank you for answering me.
1- They may consider your situation without evidence, but of course, if they have evidence, that makes them more likely to listen. 2 – A sick child is a very good reason to expedite your case. Get some evidence of his health condition and his birth certificate (so they know he is your son) and ask to expedite. 3 – You have to check the instructions about where to file, as I cannot advise about that. I will say that sometimes the people on the phone make mistakes, and I would rather rely on the website instructions. If you did send it to the wrong place, they should return it to you and you can refile. But if you do not have a receipt in maybe 3 or 4 weeks, call USCIS to see whether it was received. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
Thank you for your help.
I will file or make a appointment as said in their website concerning how to expedite case, I see humanitarian reason is really took in consideration.
For the address where I filed my i-765, it was correct, I got today a notification that my form was received by USCIS.
Thanks again.
[…] expedite and/or short-list your case. File a motion to advance. I have written about these options here (for the Asylum Office) and here (for the Immigration Court). Whether such efforts will ultimately […]
Hie Jason,
I once wrote a letter to the Lindhurst Offices in Newjersey inquiring about my asylum case which i filed last year in August and their response was this:-
Please let us know in wrtting if you would like to 1)withdraw your case, 2) expedite your case (submit evidence), 3) you are willing to travel to NJ for the interview.
Then at the bottom they wrote that they have received my asylum case and is queued for scheduling for interview, once resources permit i will be called for the interview.
My question is, can i respond to them telling them that i can come for the interview in NJ as per their indication if i am willing? or is it possible for me to both request to expedite and tell them that i can also come/willing to come to NJ for the interview? i am in Buffalo NY.
Thank you in advance.
I see no reason why you cannot tell them that you would do the interview in NJ or Buffalo, if that is what you want to do. Make sure that all documents are submitted, in case they call you for an interview. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
if I decide to withdraw my case, will I ever get a chance of new visa, or does it mean the life-long block?
What is the procedure of withdrawal? How long does it usually take?
Thanks.
If you want to withdraw, contact the asylum office and let them know. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. If you withdraw and leave the US (or stay in lawful status), you should be able to get a new visa in the future. The fact that you sought asylum may make it more difficult to get a new visa, at least for certain types of visas (such as B, F, and J), but will likely have less affect on an applications for other types (like H or L). Take care, Jason
Hi I am seeking asylum… and I am living in Chicago. Lots of people says that I need to move California so that my asylum case % work win asylum is better at California and New York. What is your views. Please help.
I do not think it matters too much. I wrote a blog post about this on February 25, 2016, and maybe that would help. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason I applied asylum case in dec 214 and in 2026 I applied u visa still waiting for deceision my question is this it almost 3 yrs my asylum hearing not yet and I hve seen the chart on usics website it mention the are interviewing those application who applied in 2015 last week my friend got interview he applied after then me wt can I do plz help plz
If they have passed your date on the Asylum Office Scheduling Bulletin, you should contact your local asylum office and ask about it. Hopefully, they will then schedule you for an interview. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Many thanks for your continuous support! Today i have received a letter from Chicago asylum office Status Inquiry Response stating that Your case cannot be expedited at this time. Updating information regarding asylum case scheduling priorities is available—— website. Your case will be added to the interview schedule as caseload and scheduling constrains allow. So it means they rejected my expedited request? What can I do now? How to bring my child here. I got shocked once I saw this letter.
It sounds like they rejected the expedite request. If you gather new evidence, or if the situation gets worse, you can ask again to expedite. There might also be a “short list” in Chicago, but I do not know. You would have to contact them about it. As for bringing family to the US, the main ways are visitor visas, student visas, and work visas. The fact that you have a pending asylum case will likely make it harder for them to get a visa (though in most cases, it is pretty difficult to get a visa anyway). Probably the best bet is to put together a better expedite request and try again. Good luck, Jason
Hi Jason, please could you let us know how to request USCIS to put our case on “short list” – thank you so much and stay blessed.
mak
Not all asylum offices have a short list. You can contact your office and ask them. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. For offices with a short list, usually you can just email them and they will put you on the list. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason
We very gratefull for the support and help provided.
I need to expedite my pending asylum case which i filled last year in SanFfrancisco however i don’t know how or what the procedure is,i tried to call the local office on the numbers provided on their website it landed on the voice mail and when i was finally able to get in touch with the customer care from National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283 ,they still couldn’t help me and redirected me to this number 41557513 00 which still even when you call on Monday and Fridays you don’t get through to anybody and so i’m stuck i don’t know how to do this.
I sent an email in 30 days there is no replay yet.
Their is no enough information you get on their website as of how to do this..(Vhttps://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/Print/PolicyManual-Volume1-PartA-Chapter12.html)
Do i write a letter and combine all my evidence ,where do i send these to whom do i direct the letter.
Kindly advise ,i will be grateful to know the way forward.
If they will not respond to an email, you may want to go in person to the SF office to ask. You can find their website with their business hours if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Otherwise, I do not specially know the procedure at the SF office. My local office (Virginia) has a form to complete and submit, and maybe SF does too. Or maybe you just send them a letter request. Remember that you must complete your entire case and give it to the asylum office at the time you ask to expedite. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason
Can you please share an expedite response form ( accepted one ) thanks
I am not sure what you mean. When they agree to expedite, they let you know and then schedule you for an interview. The process can take a few weeks or several months. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I applied for expedite interview (Chicago office)three months ago. To date, I haven’t received any response, when I tried to check on the website, it says that my receipt number is invalid. Can you advise what I should do? Are they not at least obliged to notify me that it has been rejected? So frustrated !!!
You cannot check an asylum case on-line. However, they should have replied to your request to expedite. You can contact the local asylum office and ask them about the request. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hi, everyone. Can you give me an advice regarding what I should do? I am currently in my home country(Ethiopia), I am a first year university student. Nothing has happened to me so far but I fear future persecution if I speak out my political opinion. There is an ongoing state of emergency persecuting any person critizing the government. My question is, should I go to the US and apply for an asylum or fearfully and silently leave under a dictator government.
I cannot advise you about that, but given that you have not been politically active and it sounds like you have not be harmed or threatened, you would not have a very strong asylum case. Of course, I do not know all the details, and so I cannot say for sure (for example, if your family members were persecuted, you might have a good case). Take care, Jason
My husband is a graduate student (on F-1) (from third world country) at the state univ PhD program. 1 year ago asylum application was submitted. According to scheduling bulletin it is gonna take about 2 more years to get an interview. We need to leave for one year prog to Turkey. It seems advance parole is risky business. So if we leave without advance parole and reapply for student visa (to complete the last 2 years of PhD program), shall we be granted F-1,2? Won’t the asylum application auto dismissal be problem to get student visa?
It is a bad bad idea! without AP, your husband cannot return to US. with asylum history, his chance for future student visa is slim to none.
What is the best way to ensure reentrance to US?
advance parole is the only way I can think of.
If you have a pending asylum case and no other status, you need Advance Parole, form I-131, available at http://www.uscis.gov. Take care, Jason
I do not know whether the asylum application will automatically disqualify you for F visas, but I think it is very likely that you will be able to get F visas and return to the US. Probably you are better off canceling your asylum case if you leave this way. You can email the asylum office to close the case. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. But I would recommend you talk to a lawyer. Maybe you can get Advance Parole and try to keep your case “alive” by returning periodically to the US. Take care, Jason
I’ve heard people who have asylum cases pending while on F1 and J1 visas were denied for extension of their programs in the US. I know one Iranian girl applied for DS2019 document (exchange program) extension and was denied due to Asylum. So, applying these types of visa outside the US may even risky and have 99% of chance for refusal .
I remember someone suggested in a lawyer forum that: if you are on a non-immigrant visa program in the states and have asylum case pending, you can still continue your program during the maximum amount of time it permits and USCIS has no reason to check your immigration status. But if you make changes to your program or even extend you program, USCIS will have to check your immigration status in their system and they will very likely to deny your extension due to the fact that you are applying for a non-immigrant visa extension program while you already proved that you want stay in the US by applying asylum.
For people leaving the US, this is definitely a problem if they are trying to return on an G or J visa. But to change status within the US seems to be less of a problem. We do not see it all that often, but we have seen people change from an F to a B, or change schools on an F visa, or start OPT, all without problems. This was all pre-Trump, but I think as long as the person does not leave the US, there is a decent chance he can change status within the US while asylum is pending. Take care, Jason
Dear jason
. me and my small son apply asylam in usa and my wife have visa b1b2 when she want to come to us they denied his entry and thay send him back south africa the child need his mother and her mom miss him to much tell who i bring his mom back we apply ayslam may 2016 please tell.me.if there is way to bring him back the child is 7year old please help us
If you have applied for asylum, it will be more difficult for your immediate family members to come to the US, especially if they have already been denied entry. The problem is that if you come with a B visa, you are supposed to stay for 6 months or less, and then leave. But if you have asked for asylum, the US government will think your family plans to stay. Some types of visas – like the H1b and L – allow you to come to the US even if you have an intention to stay. Maybe they could try for that type of visa. Or they could talk to a lawyer who specializes in non-immigrant visas to see if they can make their application stronger. Also, you could try to expedite your case (as discussed above) and if you win, you can bring your family members to the US. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Based on the replay above i understood that with my asylum pending status my close relative (spouse ) can apply for H1B and being granted with no problem regarding my status in USA.
My question is since H1B is also considered a non immigrant visa as why don’t the US gov worry about my spouse intent to stay.
I do not know about that – but normally an application for H1b visa would not be affected by a spouse’s asylum application. However, I do not know the facts of your case, and so maybe there is something else going on that could affect (for example, if the government thinks you are lying on your application about something). H1b visas are “dual intent,” meaning you can have an intent to come temporarily to work and an intent to remain permanently. Take care, Jason
dear Jason: would you be able to solve this buzzle ? or anyone out there have an explanation !!!! I have applied for an asylum. my receipt Starts with ZBO########## . when ever I go online to check my case status it tells me ( invalid reciept number ) !! I recently moved to a new place, i went online to change my address through USCIS online tool, it says the same thing ( invalid receipt ) !! I called USCIS customer service to change my address over the phone , the guy asked my receipt number and said this is invalid and can’t help you , i asked told him then i will just mail AR-11 form he said that won’t work and they will not change your address because your receipt is invalid !! i went ahead and sent AR-11 to Virginia because AR-11 form ask for A-number not receipt number !! but the problem is if you have a pending case you still need to change your address over the phone or online !! I did a deep search trying to figure out what ZBO stands for and wether it exists in USCIS system or not but there was no information at all !! even-though i’m expecting its related to Boston Sub-office of newark asylum office. .. this scared the hell out of me because by the law I need to change my address within 10 days !! any thoughts Mr.Jason would be highly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
My 2 cents as I understand it. You can not get an update on a pending asylum case online. The receipt number will always return invalid. You cannot also change it over the phone. You need to fill the AR-11 form and mail a copy to the local asylum office that has jurisdiction over your case. I will also send a copy to USCIS. I hope this helps and there is nothing to worry about. Be strong and GOD bless you.
I agree. You can also send the AR-11 form to the local asylum office via email. You can find their email address if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
You cannot check an asylum receipt number online, and to change your address, you need to submit an AR-11 form (available at http://www.uscis.gov) directly to your local asylum office. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. I would mail it or email it to the asylum office (probably in NJ for you), and I do not think it is anything to worry about. As for ZBO, I think it just means asylum office Boston (for example, the Arlington, VA office is ZAR – asylum office Arlington). I do not know why they use Z. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
Many Thanks for all your kind helps! Today I called the USCIS to inquire about my EAD. They told me that, it was approved on 21st April. I can check the status while waiting for an approval notice (Please find the below information for the same). What is the approval notice? Am I allowed to work with that? or I have to wait until I receive my EAD? if so how long do they take to print and send my EAD?
Many thanks in advance
Banu
On April 21, 2017, we approved your Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , Receipt Number xxxxxxxxxxxx. We will mail your approval notice. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you move, go to http://www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
hey, you can start to work now, but you have to apply for SSN before you can receive salary. It takes more or less 10 days. On which day, to which office did you apply?
Dear Allen,
I have submitted my EAD application by Mar.1st 2017. I asylum office is Chicago and live in Cleveland. I have received a notice of approval by 24th Apr. 17 and EAD card by 28th Apr.17. It is a good news!
But I left my 3.5 yr old son back home and he turned into 6. H
You may want to try to expedite your case based on family separation. I did a posting about that on March 30, 2017 – maybe that would help. Take care, Jason
Dear Allen,
I have submitted my EAD application by Mar.1st 2017. I asylum office is Chicago and live in Cleveland. I have received a notice of approval by 24th Apr. 17 and EAD card by 28th Apr.17. It is a good news!
But I left my 3.5 yr old son back home and he turned into 6. He is under critical medical condition and I haven’t heard anything from asylum office. Now he is not able to attend the school. He miss my support terribly. My separation caused him a stress and trauma, he couldn’t sleeping, eating food properly! I am also in the same situation as my son. Hope god will answer my prayers!
Good luck with your application process!
Best wishes
Banu
I am very sorry to hear about your son. I suggest you let your relatives in your home country collect some medical record for your son and try to write a good letter + some supporting document for an expedite interview. I just filed my expedite request yesterday and let’s see what happens. Expedite is some times just luck but if you can provide some nice documents such as your health problem ( medical transcript or psycological diagnosis by a certified therapist), it would help a lot. Once you win your case, you can file for your family to join you. Hope things turn better for you as soon as possible!
Also, maybe you can try to meet your child in a third country – you can travel and return to the US with Advance Parole (form I-131, available at http://www.uscis.gov). Take care, Jason
You may want to try to expedite your case based on family separation and these various hardships. I did a posting about that on March 30, 2017 – maybe that would help. Take care, Jason
If this is your first EAD, you cannot work with only the approval notice. You need the card. It should arrive in a few weeks (or sooner). Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
My asylum status now, is pending.My question is if I have to move to another place, which not locate by current asylum office, what will happen to my turn in waiting list for the schedule interview?
Does my pending time reset to zero like a new application and my application will be transferred to last row in the new office’s time schedule?
Or the system will keep our position in the queue regardless of which asylum office should handle the application and the application will be scheduled by new office base on the filed application date?
Best,
If you move and your case is moved to a new asylum office, you should keep your place in the queue. You can contact the old asylum office to make sure the case was moved, and the new office to make sure that your case was received and is in the queue. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
[…] very long delays caused by too many applicants and too few adjudicators. I recently wrote about the backlog at the Asylum Office and what can be done to expedite a case. One commenter […]
Dear Jason,
I am very grateful for all your supports through this forum! You will be blessed forever you your service! I followed your instruction and requested for an expedited asylum interview based on my son medical condition and family separation by including a letter from his Dr, School teacher, testimonial from his father along with his medical reports. Meanwhile I got opportunity to meet Deputy State Director, and I requested the same through senator’s office. I have received the below email. I got confused! Please help me to understand! I mean, it is not clear whether they are willing to expedite my case? or going to proceed as usual?
Aslo they have mentioned that, they are waiting for the Cleveland Circuit ride? What does it mean? Will it be possible for them to schedule an interview at Cleveland Office instead of Chicago?
Thankfully
Banu
Thank you for your inquiry on behalf of your constituent, Ms.xxxx, regarding her pending I-589, Application for Asylum.
USCIS records indicate that your constituent’s asylum case is waiting interview scheduling on a future Cleveland circuit ride. At time finite resources and personnel have reduced circuit rides to a minimum. There are many applicants with pressing needs to be interviewed, and this office regards all such requests with sympathy. Ms. xxx’s case will be scheduled as soon as resources permit.
I believe this is an approval your expedite request but they cannot schedule your interview immediately because they have many expedite requests with good reasons at the moment. So, basically your application is now on a “expedite list” which will be interviewed based on the order of this list. Hopefully it will not take long.
This looks like a letter that the asylum office sent to your senator. If so, it is of no value. They should respond to you directly about scheduling an expedited interview, and that is what is important. Take care, Jason
Dear Janson
Thank you for your kind reply! O God, I am afraid! Do i need to contact asylum office ie. send them a letter bcz they are not giving case specific information over phone.
Thankfully
Banu
You can contact the asylum office to ask whether they made a decision in your expedite request. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
Thank you so much! Two days ago i talk my child through skype. He told me that, I want to see you in person, please me mamma, come and take me with you. I will be waiting for you tomorrow morning. I convinced him to sleep, yesterday I got a call from spouse, that he didn’t sleep asking for me and throw up everything and says that he has pain on his chest. Unfortunately my son’s personal Dr. is out of country. He took him to another Dr. and he has advised that, my child is very depressed and he need good, peaceful sleep. I have already explained my son’s critical situation and requested an expedited asylum process along with Dr. report. Also send an inquiry about the status of my expedited request through Senator Sherrod Brown. As i have discussed before, the asylum office replied them that, they will able to schedule an interview as soon as the resources permits. i didn’t get any reply from my asylum office.
I was heart broken and I cried like anything in a meeting when somebody asked about my child. Then one of my friend contacted the Senator’s office, it seems, he has contacted Senator Rob Portman, they provided with him a consent form. My question is can I submit another enquiry about my application explaining my situation through this Senator? I am sorry for the long description. Many many thanks in advance for your time and kind help!
Thankfully
Banu
Unfortunately, even an expedited case is not that fast (especially from the point of view of a child waiting for a parent). The asylum office has agreed to expedite, and so I think another Congressional inquiry is not helpful. Instead, maybe send the Asylum Office a short email stating that your son’s situation is critical and politely asking them if they can give you any time frame for the expected interview. You might also consider applying for Advance Parole, which would allow you to travel and meet your family in a third country, and then return to the US (use form I-131, available at http://www.uscis.gov). Good luck, Jason
Hi Jason I am in the US and filed for asylum at the airport. Was detained and released on parole based on my positive credible fear interview. How do I apply for work? and my children are still in my home country and are facing abuse over the fact that me and my husband both fled the country, can we apply for expedition so that they are allowed in the country?
You can apply for a work permit 150 days after your asylum application (form I-589) was submitted. Use form I-765, available at http://www.uscis.gov. Family separation is a good reason to expedite, as I discuss above. If the cases is expedited and asylum is granted, then you can petition to bring your minor, unmarried children to the US. Take care, Jason
Hi,
I applied for asylum in December 2014 (live in Chicago). And I am still not called for an interview. Many of my friends residing in San Francisco who came way after me are granted asylum. Though the affirmative asylum schedule indicates that they are currently interviewing February 2014 applicant, I am starting to think to apply for a job in San Francisco and reside there not only for my asylum purpose but to reside in that state permanently. What do you think about this? I really find it unfair to wait for 2 1/2 and + years while my friends who came to the US are already granted asylum in less than a year.
You can move if you want, and maybe it will make things faster. Possibly your friends expedited their cases, or maybe their offices were just faster. There is a certain unpredictability to how each office will move through its pending cases, and so an office that is fast now, may become slow and vice versa. Personally, I think if prefer to live in Chicago, it is not worth moving to SF in the hope that it makes your interview faster, since there are no guarantees, but that is a decision you need to make for yourself. Take care, Jason
Jason,
I just wanted to thank you sincerely for your blog and the time/effort you put into it. I considered all the points mentioned as I wrote my request to expedite my interview – evidence, reasons why I need it, and how granting my request will benefit me and change my situation. I gave as many details as possible.
I just received a letter from USCIS saying my request is granted and that it’s pending with the scheduling officer. I don’t know how long this will take but it is definitely a good sign. Again, thank you very much.
congrats man!!!I am also preparing to apply for expedite. Which office did you apply?
Thank you! My case is with the Boston Sub-office now. Best of luck with yours as well, Allen.
And thank you Jason, I did submit all my papers.
Hi, Rae
Did you get your interview call?
I am glad it helped – make sure that all the evidence and your statement is submitted, if you have not already done that, and good luck with the interview. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
According to the information given on that link:
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum/asylum/affirmative-asylum-scheduling-bulletin
for people who filed in January 2014 are scheduled to have their interviews in January 2017.
Considering the increased number of asylum seekers would this mean that for those who filed in January 2017 will be scheduled to have interviews in January 2020?
Thanks
The short answer is “no”. For the long answer, please check the posting I did on June 7, 2016. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I’ve read the article posted on June 7. As far as I understand Asylum Scheduling Bulletin is a very rough prediction. Considering all other factors it will most probably be longer than the estimated time. Is it correct?
Thanks
I think there is reason to believe it will be shorter since fewer people are now coming to the US (they do not want to come with Trump as president) and because many refugee officers have (supposedly) returned to the US and are now processing asylum cases. My ability to predict these things is notoriously bad, though, so we will just have to see what happens. Take care, Jason
Thank you so much. I appreciate your help and concern.
Jason , where can I contact you for consultation ?
You can email me at Jdzubow@Dzubowlaw.com. Take care, Jason
How can I leave the country for green card when I have a Pending asylum case ? Do I need to get advance parole for that?
Normally, in that situation Advance Parole is the back up plan. If you leave the country to get the GC, you can return here with the GC. If you have AP, then if something goes wrong with the GC application at the consulate, you can still return to the US. But if your plan is to leave the US and get the GC under these circumstances, you should talk to a lawyer first, as not everyone is eligible to do that. Take care, Jason
Hi everyone,
Has anyone applied to the Boston office and got an interview date? If so what was the wait time to get the interview?
Thanks!
Hi Angela
I thought this is what you are looking for.
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum/asylum/affirmative-asylum-scheduling-bulletin
Hi Angela,
I’m currently pending at the Boston Sub-office – they’re interviewing cases from August 2013 now. You can go to the JFK Building to talk to them, they have walk-in hours on Fridays and can answer your questions. They’re very friendly about it too.
Peace
Hi Rae,
When did you apply? Also did you go recently to the office and they told you they are interviewing cases from August 2013?
Thanks,
Akriti
Hey Akriti,
Yes, I went there in person and they told me so. I applied in July 2014 but I was in Chicago, so I went there to make sure they had my papers transferred.
Peace
Hi Rae,
Did you get an interview date yet?
Thanks,
Akrito
Hi Jason,
I am an asylum seeker. I was in relation with a boy who was also an asylum seeker in USA. He got his asylum granted few days ago. What are our options now for me? Can I get married to him and get sponsor through his asylum status?
You can marry him, but you cannot get status from him unless you were married at the time asylum was granted. Once he has a green card, he can file for you, but this probably will require you to leave the US to collect your own green card. If you take that path, talk to a lawyer to know exactly how you should proceed. Take care, Jason