If you are persecuted in your country on the basis of your race, religion, political opinion, membership in a particular social group or sexual orientation, and fear persecution from your home government in the future, you may seek asylum. It is a form of protection available to people already in the United States or those who arrive at our borders. Asylum is based on international law, including the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as interpreted by our federal immigration laws.
The IRC supports people seeking asylum in the United States through legal services, case management and reception services in 24 offices across the country. We also work abroad to bring safety, shelter and hope to displaced families.
You can apply for asylum by filing a full personal statement with USCIS on Form I-589. Your interview with a USCIS asylum officer will include questions about your past and present, and how you escaped persecution in your home country. It can take several hours to complete. It is important to bring an interpreter, especially if your native language is not English. We recommend using a professional interpreter certified to do immigration agency translations.
Generally, you must file your asylum application within one year of your arrival in the United States. A class action lawsuit found that DHS and EOIR are obligated to notify people of this deadline and to establish a uniform procedure for filing timely applications. If you are denied asylum, you may be eligible for more limited forms of protection such as withholding of removal or deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture, which allow you to remain in the United States and work legally.