Recently, asylum seekers have increasingly reported that they filed Form I-589 with the court on their own, but received a rejection for the following reason:
“Other: Page 9 part E must be completed by person assisting in completion of application. If no one assisted then a separate declaration must be provided explaining how application completed in English.”
If you were unable to understand the text above, such a rejection is logical. The court’s key question is how you were able to complete the form if you do not know English and no one assisted you.
For the court to accept the form, you must provide a free-form explanation describing how you were able to complete the form without knowing English. For example, by stating that you do not speak English fluently, but your language skills are sufficient to complete the form. And/or that you used, for example, Google Translator.
Print this explanation on a separate sheet titled Declaration and attach it to your form.
This is not mandatory, as not all courts are this picky, but it is important to know that such a question may arise.
P.S. When I complete the form, I always indicate myself as the Preparer and sign it.
Disclaimer: The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Translations are provided for convenience and may contain errors or omissions. For guidance on your specific situation, always consult official sources or a qualified attorney.
