Beginning May 9, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement a new protocol for handling affirmative asylum applications, rejecting those incorrectly submitted to service centers instead of the designated lockbox jurisdictional to the applicant’s residence.
The decision to modify the filing location was first announced on May 31, 2023, and subsequently formalized with the revision to Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, published in the Federal Register on September 5, 2023. This alteration aims to streamline asylum processing and enhance adjudication efficiency by digitizing paper filings.
While certain categories of affirmative asylum applicants must continue mailing their applications directly to the Asylum Vetting Center, unaccompanied children in immigration court proceedings are instructed to send their applications to the lockbox. Additionally, online filing options are available for affirmative asylum applicants not in immigration court proceedings, excluding those required to submit applications to the Asylum Vetting Center.
For detailed filing instructions and guidance on where to submit applications, applicants are encouraged to visit the USCIS Form I-589 webpage, specifically the “Where to File” and “Special Instructions” sections. USCIS provides a Filing Instructions Tool to assist applicants in determining the appropriate filing location for their Form I-589.
USCIS emphasizes its commitment to providing accurate and timely immigration data to the public and invites individuals seeking further information to visit the Asylum webpage for additional resources.
Source: USCIS
