This handout is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. The information is intended solely for public outreach. (5/23)

Tips to Help You Through 

the Asylum Process

General Information

Information about who is eligible to file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for 

Withholding of Removal, with USCIS is on our website at uscis.gov/i-589. The website 

includes a filing instruction tool that provides information about where to file the Form 

I-589 based on information you provide. The form and instructions to the form are also 

available on the website. Additional information for Afghan nationals is available at uscis.

gov/allieswelcome. The webpage is translated in Dari and Pashto and includes information 

about multiple immigration benefits, including asylum.

Change of Address

If you filed the asylum application online, update your address in your existing USCIS 

online account at my.uscis.gov.

If you filed the asylum application on paper, update your address online using Form AR-11, 

Alien’s Change of Address Card, found at https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAForm.do.

Make the Process Faster

1. Ensure your paper application is complete, so we do not reject it. Confirm you signed 

your paper application and included all form pages. 

2. Submit evidence to support your application if you have it. 

3. If you need to provide additional documents after submitting your application, you 

must submit them at least five business days before your interview. If you filed a 

paper application, submit them to your local asylum office. If you filed online, upload 

them to your existing USCIS online account. Check with your local asylum office about 

their policy for submitting documents. To locate your local office, visit https://egov.

uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asy.

4. Use the most recent version of Form I-589, available at uscis.gov/i-589, if you are filing a 

paper application.

5. All biographic information on the asylum application should be accurate with a correct 

address and phone number. Common mistakes include errors in the spelling of names, 

dates of birth, and current addresses.

6. If you were previously issued an A-Number, please include that A-Number on your 

Form I-589. If you do not, we may not be able to find you in our system and may 

issue you a new A-Number. This could delay processing your application. 
This handout is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. The information is intended solely for public outreach. (5/23)

Complete Form I-589

1. List your spouse and all your children, regardless of age or marital status and 

whether you want us to consider them as dependents in your asylum claim. This 

includes stepchildren, deceased or missing children, adopted children, and married or 

unmarried sons and daughters over 21 years of age. 

ť List your spouse, whether they are in the United States or outside the United States, 

and even if they are filing a separate asylum application of their own. 

ť List all your children, whether they are in the United States or outside the United 

States, and even if they are filing a separate asylum application of their own.

2. You and your eligible spouse and children will need to provide fingerprints and 

photographs to complete your Form I-589. After you file your asylum application, we 

will send you a biometric collection appointment notice with written information 

about where and when to provide fingerprints and photographs. If you do not attend 

the appointment to provide fingerprints and photographs, then we will reject your 

Form I-589. Each family member will receive an appointment notice that includes 

their receipt number and biometric information. They must attend the appointment 

and take the biometric collection appointment notice to the biometric collection 

appointment.

3. In Part A.I., Question 8, of Form I-589 (“Residence in the U.S. (where you physically 

reside)”), provide the address where you physically live in the United States. If your 

physical address is different than the address where you receive mail, you must also 

provide your mailing address in Question 9 (“Mailing Address in the U.S. (if different 

than the address in Item Number 8)”). 

4. If another person receives your mail for you at your mailing address, you may enter 

that person’s name in the “In Care Of (if applicable)” field in your response to 

Question 9. 

5. If your mailing address is a post office box, include that address in Question 9 and 

include the address where you physically live in Question 8.

6. If your spouse, your child(ren), your parents, or your siblings have similar asylum 

claims as yours, then please note that in your asylum application in Part C.1, and 

include your family members’ names and A-Numbers.
This handout is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. The information is intended solely for public outreach. (5/23)

Prepare for the Asylum Interview

1. You may be notified of your asylum interview date up to three weeks before the 

scheduled interview. 

2. Bring a copy of your submitted Form I-589 and all supporting documents to 

the interview. 

3. Bring original documents to your interview: identity documents like birth or 

marriage certificates, national identification documents (Tazkira), passports, 

and other evidence. 

4. You may submit additional evidence at least five business days before the interview. 

If you have evidence for your asylum claim stored in your phone, you may submit 

such evidence by printing a screenshot and submitting it at least five business days 

before your scheduled interview. You can submit evidence at any time before you have 

a scheduled interview as well. If you submit evidence fewer than five business days 

before your scheduled interview, it may take us longer to process your case. If you 

filed a paper application, submit them to your local asylum office. If you filed online, 

upload them to your existing USCIS online account. Check with your local asylum 

office about their policy for submitting documents. To locate your local office, visit 

https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asy.

5. Inform your local asylum office if you have family members with related asylum 

claims who filed separate asylum applications. If you wish to be interviewed on the 

same day as family members who may have a similar asylum claim, please make that 

request to your asylum office. The asylum office may schedule the interviews on the 

same day or with the same asylum officer, if possible. You may contact your assigned 

asylum office at the contact information below.

6. Children included in your Form I-589 as dependents on your asylum claim must 

be present at the interview. If possible, though not required, please arrange for a 

caretaker for young children as they may not be required to remain with you for the 

entire interview. If you have young children, please bring a quiet, non-electronic 

activity for your child, like a coloring book. 

7. Even if the weather is warm, bring a sweater to your interview, because asylum offices 

can be cold.

Questions

Please e-mail your local Asylum Office by finding their contact information here: 

https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asy.