My first asylum steps checklist

My first asylum steps checklist

My dates

• Date I last arrived in the U.S.: ____________
• One year from that date: ____________
• Am I in immigration court? Yes / No / Not sure. A number: ____________

Papers to bring to my screening

• Passport, ID, birth certificate
• I-94 or any paper from when I came in
• Any Notice to Appear or court notice
• Proof of what happened to me
• Marriage and birth certificates for my family
• Any arrest or court papers, even if dismissed

Questions for the lawyer

• Do I qualify? Which of the five reasons fits my story?
• Am I within the one year deadline? If not, does an exception fit?
• Which path am I on? What happens if USCIS does not grant my case?
• Do any bars apply to me?
• Should my spouse and children be on my application?

After I file

• Date filed: ____________ Day 150 (work permit): ____________
• Yearly fee due: ____________
• Address updated with court and USCIS after any move

Do not write your A number on anything you post or share online.

From Apply for Asylum Start. Facts checked October 21, 2026. Free information, not legal or medical advice.