Asylum Application Tips (Form I-589)

For an overview of the full asylum application, view our YouTube series linked here: Part 1 & Part 2

NOTE (above Part A.I.): As an additional backup in your claim, you can check the box: “Check this box if you also want to apply for withholding of removal under the “Convention of Torture.”

Part A.I. Information About You

9. Mailing Address in the U.S.

If you are currently residing in a shelter or other temporary living situation, be sure to find a long-term address you can rely on to receive mail from USCIS. P.O. boxes are not accepted. Some asylum seekers have found success receiving their mail at local libraries, community centers, or non-profit organizations.

19b. What is your current I-94 Number, if any?

To find your most recent I-94 number, you can search here. If you do not have an I-94 number, then you can put “NA” (not applicable).

Part A.II. Information About Your Spouse and Children

Part A.III. Information About Your Background

2. Provide the following information about your residences during the past 5 years. List your present address first.

List the addresses where you lived for more than a month. If you were in transit, do not write that here (you have an opportunity to write it later).

4. Provide the following information about your employment during the past 5 years. List your present employment first.

It is highly recommended that you report any information related to employment. Having a survival job will not be held against you. BUT, if you lie and USCIS finds out you didn’t list a job, then that could be grounds to deny your application.

Part B. Information About Your Application

1. Why are you applying for asylum or withholding of removal under section 241(b)(3) of the INA, or for withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture? Check the appropriate box(es) below and then provide detailed answers to questions A and B below.

Please note: You can check more than one box!

2. Have you or your family members ever been accused, charged, arrested, detained, interrogated, convicted and sentenced, or imprisoned in any other country than the United States (including for an immigration law violation)?

NOTE: If you were arrested for activism, you can explain that the arrest is related to your claim for asylum.

Example: “I was arrested and detained because of persecution due to my sexual orientation and political activism.”

3. A. Have you or your family members ever belonged to or been associated with any organizations or groups in your home country, such as, but not limited to, a political party, student group, labor union, religious organization, military or paramilitary group, civil patrol, guerrilla organization, ethnic group, human rights group, or the press or media?

Example: “My uncle who is a prominent member of X political party is running for local elections in my home country.” OR

Example: “I participated in a student group that’s calling for human rights improvements in my home country. I have been supporting their social media from the United States after experiencing persecution.”

NOTE: If you were a member of a paramilitary or guerrilla group, you should consult with an attorney. This does not mean your application will be denied, but attorneys are helpful in explaining these issues.

Part C. Additional Information About Your Application

2. If “Yes” to either or both questions (2A and/or 2B), provide for each person the following: the name of each country and the length of stay, the person’s status while there, the reasons for leaving, whether or not the person is entitled to return for lawful residence purposes, and whether the person applied for refugee status or for asylum while there, and if not, who he or she did not do so.

If you lived in a different country, be sure to explain why you did not stay there and whether you were not able to obtain legal status there. You should also consult an attorney to make sure the previous legal status you held is not a reason for your asylum application to be denied.

Example: “Yes, I held a student visa in Germany from 2012-2016. After graduating from my program, I was not offered any legal status in Germany.”

3. Have you, your spouse or your child(ren) ever ordered, incited, assisted or otherwise participated in causing harm or suffering to any person because of his or her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or belief in a particular political opinion?

NOTE: If your answer here is anything other than “No,” then you should consult an attorney.

4. After you left the country where you were harmed or fear harm, did you return to that country?

NOTE: If you answer yes, you must explain this thoroughly.

Example: “After leaving my home country in 2010, I returned in 2013 when conditions improved. However, after returning to my hometown, I experienced further persecution when [explain]. I then moved to another part of the country [area name] where I experienced the same persecution that harmed me previously. After this, I was certain my country was no longer safe for me and fled to the United State seeking asylum.”

5. Are you filing this application more than 1 year after your last arrival in the United States?

If yes, you should consult an attorney and submit your asylum application as soon as possible.

6. Have you or any member of your family included in the application ever committed any crime and/or been arrested, charged, convicted, or sentenced for any crimes in the United States (including for an immigration law violation)?

If you crossed the border, or were arrested in the U.S. for any reason, you must report it. Failure to do so may disqualify you for asylum.

Example: for those who crossed the border: “I committed an immigration law violation when I entered the U.S. fleeing persecution. I crossed the border near [location] on [date] with [other people you crossed with]. I was then apprehended by authorities who detained [or paroled] me [and my derivatives].

After being held for [X days], I was released by authorities. Please see the attached evidence for further documentation of my crossing.”

Part D. Your Signature

Supplement A: List All of Your Children, Regardless of Age or Marital Status

Supplement B: Additional Information About Your Asylum Claim

If you run out of space at any point in your application, use this space. Be sure to CLEARLY label which question you are adding additional information to.