Educational Guide — US Immigration
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Asylum and refuge

Asylum is humanitarian protection for people in the US who have suffered persecution (or have a well-founded fear of suffering it) due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.

Who can apply for asylum?

Any person physically present in the US, regardless of how they entered, can apply for asylum. The application generally must be filed within the first year of arrival, with some exceptions.

How is it requested?

  1. File Form I-589 (Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal).
  2. Attend the biometrics appointment.
  3. Attend the asylum interview (affirmative case) or hearing before a judge (defensive case).
  4. Receive decision: approval, referral to immigration court, or denial.
  5. After one year of approved asylum, you can apply for permanent residency.
⚠️ Asylum laws and policies change frequently. This page is educational only: for real cases consult an immigration attorney or an accredited organization.