Asylum (from the Greek asulon, meaning “sanctuary”) is a legal concept that allows people who fear persecution in their home country to be protected by another country. The right to asylum has been a cornerstone of international law since the end of World War II. Under the terms of a modern version of this idea, those who are persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution can seek protection in any country that is willing to grant it to them.
In recent years, children, women and men from across the world have undertaken dangerous journeys to the United States seeking asylum. These families are fleeing violence and serious humanitarian crises in Latin America, the Caribbean, Afghanistan, and parts of Africa. Asylum seekers are often escaping gangs, persecution for their religious or political beliefs, extreme poverty, conflict, climate change, or natural disasters.
Once an application for asylum is filed, USCIS will send the applicant a notice of receipt. Typically, within 60 days of receiving the notice, the applicant will have a biometrics appointment with an asylum office to submit fingerprints and photos.
After the biometrics appointment, USCIS will schedule an interview with the asylum officer at the local field office. The asylum officer will conduct a non-adversarial interview and will make a credible fear determination. If the officer does not grant asylum, the case will be transferred to immigration court for an individual hearing. The timing for master calendar and individual hearings varies between immigration courts, as well as between judges.
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