Pilot Program Offering Work Permits for Asylum Seekers Begins

In a partnership between city, state, and federal governments, a pilot project offering immigrant asylum-seekers the ability to apply for work permits begins in Chicago. Working with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agents, a local group, The Resurrection Project (TRP) is leading the effort.

Workshops are hosted to complete legal screenings. Working with attorneys, eligibility is reviewed prior to submitting applications. If individuals qualify, volunteers are available to assist with the actual application. An estimated 150 migrants per day are expected. The goal is to accommodate 300 people per day by Thanksgiving. An estimated 11,000 migrants in Chicago are eligible for work permits, per TRP. An estimated 180,000 undocumented immigrants currently live in Chicago, who are not eligible for this program.

There are two groups who may qualify for this program. The first are individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who arrived in the U.S. before July 31, 2023. The second group is those who came to the U.S. using the CBP One App, using a program called Parole. There are an estimated 11,000 individuals who qualify for the program in Chicago. Fee waivers, transportation to workshops, and biometric services are available to support qualifying individuals.

Those with TPS status who arrived after July 31, 2023, do not qualify. Individuals who came to the U.S. border for processing without using the CBP One App do not qualify. All undocumented individuals do not qualify.

The time involved in getting a work permit depends on the status granted to a migrant in the U.S. However, it’s estimated that it will take two months before approved migrants can begin working. The work authorizations will be valid for up to 5 years. A similar program is active in New York, with Boston being developed.

If you have questions about employment authorization or any other immigration-related issue, contact us at ILBSG. We actively monitor ongoing updates to U.S. immigration policy to ensure our clients get the right advice.