U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced updates to asylum processing. Effective May 9, 2024, USCIS will only accept affirmative asylum applications that are filed at the required lockbox location. Asylum applications submitted to service centers will be rejected.

This change, announced on May 31, 2023, with related revisions to Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. The move to lockbox locations for asylum filing is an effort to streamline overall asylum processing and improve efficiency by digitizing paper filings.

Specific categories of asylee applicants must continue to submit their applications via mail to the Asylum Vetting Center. Matters in immigration court proceedings for unaccompanied children must mail their applications to their required lockbox location. For filings not in immigration court proceedings, online filing is available for affirmative asylum applicants. To see more about filing requirements and the lockbox locations, see the USCIS webpage.

If you have questions about an asylum application or any other U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Our team of attorneys bring experience across employment-based and family-based visa filings. We work with our clients to ensure they get the right advice for their specific situations and remain always in compliance.

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