Fill Out USCIS Form I-589 Online

What is Form I-589 used for

The form applies for three related protections: asylum, which can lead to permanent residence; withholding of removal, a narrower protection against being returned to a specific country; and protection under the Convention Against Torture. One application covers all three.

There are two tracks. Affirmative applicants who are not in removal proceedings file with USCIS and attend an interview with an asylum officer. Defensive applicants raise the claim before an immigration judge as a defense in removal proceedings.

Who files Form I-589

Anyone physically present in the United States, regardless of how they entered, may generally apply for asylum, subject to filing bars. The most important rule is the one-year deadline: the application generally must be filed within one year of your last arrival, unless you qualify for a changed circumstances or extraordinary circumstances exception.

A spouse and unmarried children under 21 who are in the United States can be included on the application as derivatives. Each family member you include must be listed with complete biographic information.

How to fill out Form I-589

The heart of the application is your written account of what happened to you and what you fear. Answer every question, use "None" or "N/A" where appropriate, and attach continuation sheets when the space provided is not enough.

• Part A collects your identity, family members, addresses, education, and employment history, plus your entry and immigration history.
• Part B asks why you are applying, with detailed questions about past harm, threats, and why you fear return; be specific about who, what, when, and where.
• Part C covers bars and prior applications, including time spent in other countries and any prior asylum claims.
• Part D is your signature, made under penalty of perjury; false statements have severe consequences, including permanent ineligibility for immigration benefits.
• Supplement your answers with country conditions evidence, witness statements, medical or police records, and a personal declaration if you have one.

Filing tips

Where you file depends on your track. Affirmative applicants file with USCIS, and some can file online through a USCIS account, while people in removal proceedings file with the immigration court. Use the current edition of the form listed on the USCIS I-589 page and confirm any fee requirements through official USCIS sources, since fee policy for this form has been the subject of rule changes.

Applicants become eligible to request employment authorization on Form I-765 only after the asylum application has been pending for the waiting period set by regulation. Above all, seek help from an immigration attorney or a Department of Justice accredited representative; asylum cases turn on legal standards and evidence, and nonprofit legal service providers are listed on the DOJ and USCIS websites.