If you received Asylum status by an immigration court decision, pay attention to the end of the decision to see whether an appeal period is indicated. If it states Appeal Waived, there is nothing you need to wait for. If it states Appeal Due and includes a date when the decision becomes final, you may begin the next steps only after that date.
1. Obtaining Form I-94 Asylum granted
This form is required as proof of your lawful status. It may be requested by the DMV, insurance companies, SSA offices, and other organizations. A court decision also confirms Asylum status; however, Form I-94 confirms that your status is recorded in the :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} system. For this reason, I-GUIDE recommends obtaining this form.
If you won an interview with USCIS, the form will be mailed to you automatically.
If you won your case in court, the form may be mailed to you, or you may need to schedule an appointment at the nearest USCIS office. This can be done in three ways:
1) Call USCIS customer support at +1-800-375-5283
2) Contact support via USCIS Emma chat
- To reach a live agent, use the keywords InfoPass (by phone) and Live chat (in chat)
- Support hours are from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM New York time (EST)
3) Request an appointment in your USCIS online account
Detailed instructions are available in the guide Step 1 - Obtaining I-94 Asylum granted (White card)
A USCIS officer will accept your request and inform you to wait for a callback within approximately 2 weeks.
During the call, you will be given the office address, date, and time of the visit.
Bring the original court decision, a photo ID, and two passport-style photos to your appointment.
At the local office, your request for Form I-94 will be accepted. In some offices, the form is issued on the same day; in others, you may be told to wait for another appointment to receive the completed I-94.
If Form I-94 was not issued during the first visit and more than 2 months have passed, you may schedule another appointment at the same office. At the follow-up visit, state that you have been waiting for over 2 months and need the form urgently to apply for other documents. This may help expedite the process.
2. Passport return
After winning your court case, your passports must be returned to you. In practice, it can be difficult to determine where they are located. Possible steps include:
1) Contact <:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} officers, either in person at their office or by email (guide How to contact an ICE officer?). If the passports are in their possession, they may be returned immediately. If not, they may be able to tell you where they are or where they were last located.
2) If officers refuse to provide information or state that the passports are with USCIS, you must complete and mail Form G-884. This form must be signed only in the presence of a notary and mailed to the office where the passports are located, most often the nearest field office.
3) In some cases, passports may be held by the court. You may contact the court clerk to verify whether they have your passports.
3. Obtaining or replacing SSN
Even if you previously received an SSN with a restrictive annotation (Valid for work only with DHS authorization), you must replace it with an unrestricted SSN. The SSN number itself will not change.
Search for the nearest <:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} office, call the office, and schedule an appointment.
Bring the following to your appointment:
- completed Form SS-5
- a copy of the court decision or interview notice
- passport or driver’s license (ID)
- Form I-94
If you do not yet have Form I-94 and the SSA employee refuses to accept your documents, request to speak with a supervisor and state that you already have Asylum status by court decision, therefore they are required to accept your application. More experienced managers are familiar with this procedure or can verify the information.
Official references:
https://www.ssa.gov/people/immigrants/?tl=2
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211205
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/benefits-and-responsibilities-of-asylees
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/D2en.pdf
4. Employment Authorization
By virtue of Asylum status, you are already authorized to work. However, many employers and government employees are unaware of this. Obtaining an EAD significantly simplifies many processes. To do this, file Form I-765 under category (a)(5).
- application type - Initial, even if you previously had an EAD
- filing fee is not required
- filing is currently by mail only
- card validity - 18 months
- the EAD card may be used as a Real ID for domestic flights
5. Filing for a green card
You may file Form I-485 almost immediately after receiving Asylum status, but in some cases it may be better to wait. See the guide When can you apply for a green card?
Although you may file immediately, to receive a green card at the time of adjudication you must have been physically present in the United States for at least one year after being granted Asylum status. Time before receiving status does not count. Time spent outside the United States also does not count.
6. Travel Document
If you plan to travel outside the United States, you must file Form I-131 for a Refugee Travel Document.
It is recommended to apply in advance, as current processing times may be around one year.
The Travel Document is valid for 1 year. After expiration, you may apply again until you receive U.S. citizenship.
Some countries accept this document without a visa. Always check the embassy website of the destination country to confirm whether a visa is required.
7. Family reunification
After being granted Asylum, you may immediately file Form I-730 to reunite with your spouse and children who were under 21 years old at the time Form I-589 was filed.
For religious cases from CIS countries, the Lautenberg Program may also be available.
8. Applying for U.S. citizenship
You may file Form N-400 for U.S. citizenship after 4 years from the approval date of Form I-485. This date will be listed in the approval notice.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules may change. For guidance on your specific situation, always consult official sources or a qualified immigration attorney.
