CONTACT YOUR LOCAL USCIS OFFICE

TIP: Keep a record of your calls and other communications with USCIS!

REQUEST TO BE ON THE SHORT-NOTICE LIST (KNOWN AS SHORTLIST AT THE NEWARK ASYLUM OFFICE

Download a PDF of this information here.

What is the short notice list?

The normal notice period for an asylum interview is 21 days. However, sometimes, because of unexpected changes in scheduling, interviews become available with less than the normal notice period. The Newark asylum office offers these appointments to applicants whose names are on the “short notice list.” Please note that the Bethpage asylum office does not offer a short notice list.

______________________________________________________________________________

How does the short notice list work?

If your name is on the short notice list and an appointment becomes available, you will be contacted by phone. Your asylum interview will usually be in less than a week from the time of the phone call. You will be removed from the short notice list if you cannot appear at the specified time.

______________________________________________________________________________

Who can be on the short-notice list?

There are no specific eligibility requirements for being on the short-notice list. You just have to agree to waive the normal notice period of 21 days and to appear in person for the interview.

______________________________________________________________________________

How can you be added to the short-notice list?

To add your name to the short notice list, you must send a request in writing to the Newark asylum office (see contact information below). Your request can be sent by email, post, or fax. Your request must include your A-number or receipt number, your name, date of both, current contact information (phone, postal address, and email address), and a sentence requesting to be placed on the short notice list. You will receive a confirmation once your name is added to the list.

______________________________________________________________________________

Our Advice

Please be aware that if you add your name to the short notice list, there is no guarantee that you will be called for an interview faster than if you are not. You may still wait for several weeks or months. Because you must appear on very short notice, you should be 100% ready before adding yourself to the short notice list. This means you should have already submitted all documents related to your case (Form I-589, personal statement, and all supporting evidence). You may not be given sufficient time to submit evidence in advance of your short-notice interview, and there is a possibility that the officer will refuse to consider new evidence that you bring with you to your interview, or reschedule your interview if you bring new evidence on that date (that being said, if you believe there is important evidence that has not yet been submitted, it is very important that you bring that evidence with you on the day of your interview). Finally, RIF recommends that you consult with a lawyer or RIF before putting yourself on the short-notice list to ensure it’s the right step for your case.

______________________________________________________________________________

Sample Letter to Send to the Newark Asylum Office 

Send the following letter by email, postal mail or fax to the following address:

Newark Asylum Office

970 Broad Street - 10th floor

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone: 973-848-3100

Fax: 973-848-3101

E-mail: newarkasylumofficemailbox@uscis.dhs.gov

DATE

Hello,

I am writing to request that my name be added to your short-notice list. Please find my information below. Thank you.

FIRST NAME, LAST NAME

A-NUMBER or RECEIPT NUMBER

DATE OF BIRTH

POSTAL ADDRESS

EMAIL ADDRESS

TELEPHONE NUMBER (where you can be reached to schedule the interview)

Sincerely,

SIGNATURE

REQUEST AN EXPEDITED INTERVIEW

Download a PDF Version of this information here

What is an expedited interview request?

●  You can request an expedited interview if an emergency situation would be improved or solved if your asylum decision were made quickly. Emergency situations include a family member back home who is being threatened or otherwise in harm’s way or a family member who has a serious health concern.

●  You can request an expedited interview by yourself or through an attorney.

●  Expedited interview requests are made directly to your local asylum office.

●  You must submit evidence to support your expedited interview request. For example, if a
a family member is being threatened, and you must submit proof of those threats.

How do I make an expedited interview request?

Contact the asylum office where you are supposed to have your interview. You can double-check which office you’re interview is supposed to be at by entering your zip code here. See contact information for the New York area offices below. Ask the office about their current procedure for submitting an expedited interview request. Procedures can vary by asylum office.

NEWARK ASYLUM OFFICE Serves the Bronx and Manhattan: Located at:

70 Broad Street, 4th Floor, 

Newark, NJ 07102

Phone number: (973) 848-3100

Email: NewarkAsylumOfficeMailbox@uscis.dhs.gov 

NEW YORK OFFICE (Bethpage) Serves Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island:
Located at:

1065 Stewart Avenue, Suite 200, 

Bethpage, NY 11714

Phone number: (516) 261-0000

Email: NewYork.Asylum@uscis.dhs.gov

What is the difference between an expedited interview and a short-notice (or shortlist) interview request?

Some asylum offices offer a shortlist. Newark is the only asylum office in the New York area that offers a shortlist. Bethpage does not offer a shortlist. The shortlist is a list of applicants who have agreed to be interviewed on short notice (less than two weeks) if any interview slot becomes available at the last minute. There are no eligibility criteria to be added to the shortlist. By contrast, expedited interviews are for applicants whose family member/s are in immediate danger or very sick. It will be denied if you cannot provide evidence to support your expedited interview request.

RIF’s advice: We recommend consulting an attorney before considering an expedited interview request or the shortlist. Before you join the shortlist, you need to be fully prepared for your interview in case you’re called with very little notice, sometimes just a few days. If you have an attorney accompanying you to the interview, you need to ensure they’ll also be available on short notice. However, once you’re on the shortlist, it may still be months of waiting, depending on how many people are ahead of you and how many cancellations there are at your asylum office. For an expedited interview request, it is important to have a strong request with the appropriate supporting evidence to be approved. It is also important to be ready for your interview because once your expedited interview request is approved, it could be scheduled very quickly.

1. Contact your local congressperson

To do that go to this link and put your zip code to find out who is your congressman or woman:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

Please note that it is more important that you contact your congressperson than councilman because congress person are the ones who influence asylum policies in Washington DC.
Once you identify your congressperson , you can contact them according to the directions they give  usually it is by clicking 'contact' on their website. 
Here is a sample letter/ message  that you can submit to your congressperson (Please make sure to keep a copy of your message with the date that you submitted)

” Dear Congressman/woman _____,
As a constituent of your district and an asylum-seeker, I am reaching out for assistance with immigration issues I’ve been experiencing. I have been in the asylum backlog for ____ years, since I applied for asylum with USCIS on ______. My receipt number is ____ . The asylum backlog has significantly impacted my life and mental health in the following ways:  (you can explain for example if you have been separated from your spouse or children; if you have experienced depression and anxiety
I would greatly appreciate your help and advocacy on this matter. 
Thank you,
<Your Name> “

FILE A MANDAMUS LAWSUIT AGAINST USCIS (IF YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS)