Congratulations on receiving a final grant of asylum in the United States! You are now known as an "asylee," and are on your way to gaining future benefits for you and your close family members, as described here.
Getting Proof of Your Right to Work in the U.S. and Other Documents
Your first step should be to obtain proof that you are an asylee. The immigration judge should have indicated approval on the court order; and if your spouse and children were included in your asylum application court proceedings, should have officially approved them at the same time.
You will need not only the judge's order, but a Form I-94. In the past, you had to schedule an appointment at a local USCIS office to get or apply for this. ln 2023, however, USCIS began a program to mail asylees their I-94s. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attorney should have given you instructions on the latest method for obtaining your I-94.
Keep the immigration judge's order and the DHS instructions in a safe place. Get someone's help translating them for you, if need be. The sooner you take steps to get your documents, the sooner you can move forward with enjoying the other benefits of being an asylee.
With your proof of asylee status, you can visit your local Social Security office and get an "unrestricted" Social Security card. This is all the proof of right to work you'll need.
Applying for Asylum Status for Close Family
If they are not already here in the United States, or were not named and included in your asylum application, you can file to get asylum for your spouse and children (unmarried and under age 21).
Use USCIS Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. As part of this petition, your family members will need to prove their relationship to you, including by providing a marriage certificate showing that the marriage took place BEFORE you received asylum. A spouse must also provide a birth certificate. And if either of you were previously married, you'll need to include proof of that too, such as divorce or death certificates.
In order to check that your family members don't present security risks, they will also need to undergo background checks. Family in the U.S. will need to attend a biometrics services appointment (for fingerprinting, photos, and the like).
After that, they will need to attend an interview with a U.S. government official. This will be held either at a USCIS office in the United States or at an overseas consulate, depending on where they live.
If the interview is held in the United States, you as the asylee petitioner will also need to attend. And if language barriers are an issue, bring an interpreter, as well. Unfortunately, attending the interview could require traveling to another city or state.
Contacting a Refugee Resettlement Agency
A Refugee Resettlement Agency (RRA) in your area can help you get further settled in the United States, for example by:
- helping you apply for federal or state government benefits and services
- enrolling you in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes
- offering career counseling and training, and
- giving you counseling on emotional health matters.
See the Office of Refugee Resettlement's website for links to local RRAs. Act fast; some services have deadlines for applying.
Applying for a Social Security Card
You should definitely apply for a Social Security card (and number); or a new one, if your current one says "restricted" (meaning you are not supposed to take a job in the United States, which is no longer true now that you are an asylee). Not only will employers ask for your Social Security Number (SSN), but even if you don't plan to work, having one will help you pay taxes and qualify for various government benefits.
You'll need to visit your local Social Security Office. Bring proof of your asylum grant (the original judge's order and/or the I-94) and of your identity (such as your passport or state-issued ID card or a refugee travel document). They'll want you to fill out and submit Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. You can download this from the SSA website and prepare it in advance.
You won't get the actual Social Security card right away, just a receipt showing it's being processed. This is useful to show to other government agencies if you need to apply for public benefits before receiving your card.
Getting a Driver’s License or a State Identification Card
Once you have your SSN, you can apply for an official state identification (ID) card or (after you study for and pass the exam) a driver's license. It's useful to have a state photo ID even if you don't drive.
Applying for Lawful Permanent Residence After One Year
After having lived in the United States for one year after being approved for asylum, the asylee can “adjust” status to “lawful permanent resident” (otherwise known as get a green card). This is done using USCIS Form I-485 and submitting related documents.
The sooner an asylee gets permanent residence, the sooner they can apply for naturalized U.S. citizenship. (See the full list of eligibility requirements.) The application is made on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization.
You must wait five years after becoming a permanent resident to apply for U.S. citizenship. However, one year of your time as an asylee counts toward the five (called “rollback”). Because of this, you'll see when you get your green card that it backdates your permanent residence approval by one year.
U.S. citizens can also petition for other family members, such as parents, to join them in the United States.
Questions for Your Lawyer
You might choose to hire an attorney for a consultation or to help with immigration applications after your asylum grant, such as to apply for lawful permanent residence or naturalized citizenship, or to petition for family to join you in the United States. Here are some appropriate inquires:
- Which of my family members can I petition for, either as derivative asylees or, after I'm a lawful permanent resident, as sponsored relatives?
- Is it safe for me to apply for lawful permanent residence, given changes in my country or in my life since I got asylum?
- Can you confirm when I'm eligible to apply for naturalized citizenship?