The application usually must be accompanied by documents to help prove the claim. Although it is understood that obtaining proof is sometimes difficult, when our clients do have documents to support their claims, like police reports or medical documents, we submit them with the asylum application.  If these documents are in another language, they must be translated into English.  Once we have all of these documents with English translations, we review them and assemble the final package to go to the asylum office.

 

Once the asylum application has been filed with the USCIS, the applicant and the attorney receive a written receipt notice, and the applicant receives a biometrics notice requiring their fingerprinting.  We then have to wait 150 days to apply for work authorization.  This is often the most difficult time, because without work authorization the applicant may have to rely on family and friends for support. At the end of the 150 days we can apply for work authorization, which then takes about 30 to 60 days to receive.

 

All asylum cases require an in-person interview with a USCIS asylum officer. We have represented asylum applicants at their interview at asylum offices around the country.  This is the most important step. The applicant must appear with a translator if they do not speak English, and they must answer the questions of the asylum officer about their asylum claim. The attorney is only present to observe and to make a closing statement – not to assist with answering questions.  The asylum officer will then make a recommendation to either grant asylum or refer the case to Immigration Court.  Once it has been reviewed by a supervisor a decision will be mailed.