Introduction
Asylum Seekers’ Support staff will walk you through the whole asylum process. Our aim is to assist people suffering from persecution to find safety in the UK. This article will outline the procedures involved and how best to go through each stage of the application process. Many people feel bewildered whilst going through the system and sometimes feel that they are being confused with other important points in order to fail. In this article we aim to provide information on how to increase your chances of being granted asylum and how to prepare for each stage of the process.
Understand the Asylum Application Process
Additional information at the bottom of this page, as well as legal assistance regarding the refugee process, can be found here.
- Arrival in the U.S.: First you must arrive in the U.S. either by entering at a port of entry or crossing the border.
- File Asylum Application: Submit Form I-589 Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal. Typically, this must be filed within one year of your arrival in the U.S. However, there are several exceptions to this rule.
- Biometric Appointment: The notice for your asylum application includes a date and time for your biometric appointment. At this appointment, your fingerprints will be taken for background checks as part of your application for asylum.
- Protection Interview: This is the in-depth interview conducted by a protection officer to assess whether you or others would have well-founded fear of persecution if granted asylum in the U.S.
- Decision: After going through all of the previous steps, a decision will be reached in your application. If your application for asylum is approved, you and your included family members will be granted protection. If the application for asylum is denied, you may appeal the decision and/or apply for alternative forms of relief.
As we note below, although the number of refugees who have come to the U.S. in recent years is at a near historic low, there are still many individuals around the world who hope to come to the U.S. as refugees and many outside of the U.S. who are trying to understand the process of asylum in the U.S. (or “como es el proceso de asilo en estados unidos”). According to the most recent available data from the end of FY 2025, there are over 2.3 million immigration applications pending before U.S. immigration courts.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late! We’re here 24/7/365 to handle any immigration issue that requires immediate attention. Although we charge for consultation time for individuals seeking legal representation, we will provide free legal consultations to individuals needing help during an immigration emergency. For those who are not clients but need immediate assistance, we can provide advice 24/7 as well as recommend other qualified immigration attorneys.
Determine Eligibility for Asylum
We understand that the process for seeking asylum in the United States has recently gone through many changes. To be eligible for protection in the U.S. by applying for asylum, applicants must meet certain criteria for eligibility in order to qualify for protection.
- Fear of Persecution: There are many reasons for people to fear persecution. Often it is based on factors such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or the person’s affiliation with a particular social group.
- In the U.S.: You must be in the U.S. at the time your application for refuge is granted. However, if you are outside of the U.S. when you apply for refuge then that application will be processed at that location.
- One-Year Filing Requirement: To qualify for refugee status in the U.S., applicants must have entered the country within one year of fleeing persecution in their home country. Refugees who have fled their home country and have arrived in the U.S. within one year and suffered changed circumstances or extreme and extraordinary circumstances which prevented timely application for refuge in the U.S. may also apply for refugee status.
- No Serious Criminal Record: The individual must not have been convicted of a serious crime or of actions that would subject other individuals to persecution in the individual’s home country.
El afiliado y la preparación de su caso para la búsqueda de refugio en los Estados Unidos requieren una comprensión completa de la asistencia de asylum en el país. Los aprobamientos de refugiados han bajado drásticamente a niveles históricos durante los últimos dos decenios. Nuestro conocimiento detallado de los requisitos de elegibilidad para buscar protección puede proporcionar a nuestros clientes una ventaja en su caso de búsqueda de asilo.
Prepare for the Asylum Interview
Many applicants shudder at the thought of the asylum interview, fearing that they will not be able to properly convey their circumstances to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). The following steps will assist applicants in preparing for their interviews to effectively share their stories and successfully advocate for their futures.
- Review Your Application: Just as you would review your notes before an exam, it is also very important to review your asylum application, including your Form I-589 as well as all of the supporting documents that you included with your application. At the asylum interview, the officer conducting your interview will go through each of the documents that you included with great detail, asking for explanation of each of your experiences in your home country and why you fear persecution and/or torture if you are to return to your home country.
- Gather Supporting Evidence: Gather as many personal statements, witness statements, and country reports as possible. These types of pieces of evidence can be very powerful when trying to prove a claim for asylum in the US.
- Rehearse typical questions: Often the asylum interview goes on for hours. Therefore, many applicants get surprised by typical questions. Try to rehearse common questions. For example:
- Why did you leave your home country?
- What specific threats or harms did you suffer in your home country?
- Why do you fear persecution if you are sent back to your home country?
- Why did you leave your home country?
- What specific threats or harm did you face?
- Why do you believe you would be persecuted if you returned?
- Gather Additional Documentation: Gather additional documentation to bring with you to the interview such as identification, copy of receipt for submission of asylum application, and additional relevant evidence.
- Stay Calm and Honest: During your interview stay calm and speak the truth! Remember that you have the right to ask for more information or clarification if needed. The interviewer’s perception of your credibility can change if you remain composed during the interview.
If you follow these simple steps, you will be ready to tell your story and fight for your future. You should seek the help of a good attorney to assist and represent you. The probability of getting refuge in the United States is very low; about 14% of applicants are granted refuge each year.
Understand Possible Outcomes of Your Asylum Application
Asylum Interviews: What Happens After Asylum?
- You are Approved: The applicant is granted asylum and allowed to remain in the U.S. permanently. Typically he or she will qualify for a green card in one year.
- Referral to Immigration Court: Denial of your application for asylum does not mean that you cannot seek relief from removal from another basis of relief such as applies to you for withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture. The case may be referred to an Immigration Judge where you will have the opportunity to present your case and seek relief from removal.
- Denial: If the asylum application is denied, the reasons for such denial will be contained in a written decision. There may be an opportunity to appeal such decision. Additionally, there are alternative forms of relief available including withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) claims.
- Next Steps: If you were denied asylum, it is in your best interest to seek the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney to explain all of your possible alternatives to deportation.
Understanding what the government can do after your interview will help you understand the rest of your immigration process. Approval rates for Asylum applications in the U.S. have been all over the map for 2026 applications. However, a large body of evidence has proven that individuals with counsel fare better in their cases. For a list of recently approved cases, applicants credited their approval to being fully prepared for their hearing, and responded in a timely manner to any subsequent requests for additional evidence to support their application for Asylum. Proactivity and knowledge about your application will likely yield similar results.
Conclusion
The asylum process can be very long and include much paperwork and process. However, the end of the process can provide great safety and a fresh start for individuals seeking asylum. The Vasquez Law Firm serves clients in the asylum process. Because we are a bilingual law firm (we speak Spanish and English), language is not a problem for our clients. We work with our clients on a payment plan basis and provide free initial consultations. We can help guide you through the process to reach your safety goal.
While the process to get asylum can be long and full of paperwork, it can also be a great opportunity to find safety in a country and to start over. The Vasquez Law Firm represents clients who are seeking asylum. We are a bilingual law firm in English and Spanish. We offer payment plans and free initial consultations. We would like to assist you in finding safety in the U.S.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the first step in the asylum application process?
The first step is to arrive in the U.S., either by entering at a port of entry or crossing the border.
What form do I need to submit for an asylum application?
You need to submit Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal.
Is there a deadline for filing the asylum application?
Yes, typically the application must be filed within one year of your arrival in the U.S., although there are several exceptions to this rule.
What happens after I submit my asylum application?
After submitting your application, you will receive a notice that includes a date and time for your biometric appointment, where your fingerprints will be taken for background checks.
What is a protection interview?
A protection interview is an in-depth interview conducted by a protection officer to assess whether you or others would have a well-founded fear of persecution if granted asylum in the U.S.
What happens after the protection interview?
After the interview and all previous steps, a decision will be made on your application. If approved, you and your included family members will be granted protection. If denied, you may appeal the decision or apply for alternative forms of relief.
What is the current situation regarding refugees and asylum seekers in the U.S.?
The number of refugees coming to the U.S. is at a near historic low, but many individuals worldwide still hope to come to the U.S. as refugees or are trying to understand the asylum process.
How many immigration applications are currently pending in U.S. immigration courts?
As of the end of FY 2025, there are over 2.3 million immigration applications pending before U.S. immigration courts.
What should I do if I need immediate assistance with an immigration issue?
You can contact Vasquez Law Firm, which is available 24/7/365 to handle urgent immigration issues. They offer free legal consultations for individuals needing help during an immigration emergency.
Can I receive legal advice if I am not a client of Vasquez Law Firm?
Yes, Vasquez Law Firm can provide advice 24/7 and recommend other qualified immigration attorneys if needed.
List of Sources
- Understand the Asylum Application Process
- Breaking Down the News: DHS Changes Long-Standing Asylum Process - Tahirih Justice Center (https://tahirih.org/news/breaking-down-the-news-dhs-changes-long-standing-asylum-process)
- How are laws changing for asylum seekers? (https://asaptogether.org/en/law-changes)
- How the U.S. Asylum Process Works | Council on Foreign Relations (https://cfr.org/backgrounders/how-us-asylum-process-works)
- Asylum in the United States - American Immigration Council (https://americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/asylum-united-states)
- DHS Proposes Rule to Prioritize Americans' Safety by Strengthening Screening of Asylum Seekers | Homeland Security (https://dhs.gov/news/2026/02/20/dhs-proposes-rule-prioritize-americans-safety-strengthening-screening-asylum)
- Determine Eligibility for Asylum
- New Proposed DHS Rule Effectively Ends Work Authorization for Asylum Applicants (https://tracreports.org/reports/772)
- DHS Proposes Rule to Prioritize Americans' Safety by Strengthening Screening of Asylum Seekers | Homeland Security (https://dhs.gov/news/2026/02/20/dhs-proposes-rule-prioritize-americans-safety-strengthening-screening-asylum)
- The Trump administration has undercut the U.S. asylum program. These 3 charts show how (https://npr.org/2026/07/30/nx-s1-5891889/trump-asylum-program-changes-charts)
- How to seek asylum in the U.S. | USAGov (https://usa.gov/asylum)
- How are laws changing for asylum seekers? (https://asaptogether.org/en/law-changes)
- Prepare for the Asylum Interview
- New USCIS Asylum Interview Rule Could Speed Up Deportations of Asylum Seekers - American Immigration Council (https://americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/new-uscis-asylum-interview-rule)
- Asylum Cases Statistics in the US | Jeelani Law Firm, PLC (https://jeelani-law.com/articles/asylum-cases-statistics)
- New rule limits interviews for many asylum seekers, fast-tracking deportations (https://mprnews.org/story/2026/08/10/new-rule-limits-interviews-for-many-asylum-seekers-fasttracking-deportations)
- Asylum Statistics USA: Approval Rates by States & Top Countries (https://docketwise.com/blog/asylum-statistics)
- Understand Possible Outcomes of Your Asylum Application
- Asylum Freeze Update April 2026: What Changed and What It Means for Your Case (https://lawofficeimmigration.com/blog/asylum-freeze-update-april-2026.html)
- How are laws changing for asylum seekers? (https://asaptogether.org/en/law-changes)
- Asylum | USCIS (https://uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum)
