How to seek asylum in the U.S.

Learn if you are eligible and how to apply for asylum

To be eligible for asylum, you must be:

• Inside the United States
• Able to demonstrate that you were persecuted or have a fear of persecution in your home country due to your:
  • Race
  • Religion
  • Nationality
  • Social group
  • Political opinion

In most cases, a decision will be made on your asylum application within 180 days after you file. Learn more about the process of seeking asylum in the U.S., including:

• Filing asylum application Form I-589 within 1 year of arriving in the U.S.
• Working in the U.S.
• Helping family members seek asylum
• Filing for permanent residence (Green Card)

How to sponsor an asylum seeker

If you came to the U.S. in the last 2 years as an asylee, you may be able to sponsor your spouse and qualifying children to join you.

Find out how to sponsor your family member for asylum. Learn:

• How to qualify as a sponsor
• Who is eligible to be sponsored to come to the U.S.
• How to download and fill out Form I-730 to request asylum for your family member