How to apply for affirmative asylum in the United States – USCIS

Use this form to apply for asylum in the United States and for a stay of removal (formerly called "suspension of deportation"). You may apply for asylum if you are physically present in the United States and are a foreign national.

You can obtain asylum in the United States through:

• The application for affirmative asylum if you are not in removal proceedings with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR); or

• The application for asylum defense if you are in removal proceedings before an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) of EOIR. Please refer to the section Where to File Your Application below for information on how to find out if you are in removal proceedings with EOIR.

  
  

If you do not file Form I-589 within one year of your arrival in the United States, you will not be eligible to apply for asylum under section 208(a)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, and its instructions are available in 12 languages, including Arabic, simplified Chinese, Dari, French, Haitian Creole, Pashto, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish, and Vietnamese. However, please note that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only accepts completed forms in English. The translations provided are for informational purposes only and are not used for the official application. USCIS will only accept the official English version for all forms.

Can I file Form I-589 with USCIS?

Filing Instructions Tool

The Filing Instructions Tool provides information on where to file Form I-589 based on the information you provide. The tool does not determine if you are eligible for asylum.

For more information on whether you can file Form I-589 with USCIS, please refer to the section Where to File Your Application below.

If you are eligible to file Form I-589 with USCIS, review the sections Where to File Your Application and Special Instructions below to find out if you can file your Form I-589 online, or if you need to file it by mail.

For more information, visit: https://www.uscis.gov/i-589

Notice: Noah's Ark is not affiliated with USCIS. This resource is shared for informational and educational purposes only. The information provided does not constitute legal advice and does not replace the guidance of a qualified immigration attorney.