Asylum

Your interview will generally last at least an hour, although the time may vary depending on your case.  You will be asked to take an oath promising to tell the truth during the interview.  Your interpreter will also take an oath promising to interpret accurately and truthfully.  The asylum officer will verify your identity, ask you basic biographical questions and the reasons you are applying for asylum, and questions to determine if any immigration or criminal history will prevent you from applying for or being granted asylum. 
 
The asylum officer will know that it may be difficult for you to talk about traumatic and painful experiences that caused you to leave your country.  However, it is very important that you talk about your experiences so that the asylum officer can determine whether you qualify for a grant of asylum.
 
The information you share with the asylum officer is confidential.  In general, information related to your asylum claim cannot be shared with third parties without your written consent or specific authorization by the Secretary of Homeland Security.  

If you have hired an immigration attorney for your asylum application/interview, you and your attorney will have time at the end of the interview to make a statement or add any additional information.  A decision on your case will not be made at the asylum interview.

You should bring an interpreter if you do not speak English well enough to be interviewed in English during your Asylum interview. You will then be interviewed through an interpreter.  Generally, the Asylum Office does not provide any interpreters during the asylum interview, except for special circumstances where USCIS makes an exception such as during a pandemic (COVID) or if you are hearing-impaired, where a contracted interpreter will be provided to you free of charge if you speak one of the languages spoken by their interpreters.

Assuming there is not special circumstances render you the right to interpreter provided by USCIS, you must bring an interpreter if you do not speak English well enough to be interviewed in English. Your interpreter must be fluent in English and a language you speak fluently and must be at least 18 years old. However, the following individuals cannot serve as your interpreter.
 
·       Your attorney or representative;
·       A witness testifying on your behalf at the interview; or
·       A representative or employee of the government of your country.

If you do not bring a competent interpreter to your interview and you cannot speak English, your interview will be canceled and rescheduled. This is considered a delay caused by you and your 180-day Asylum Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Clock will stop until you appear at your rescheduled interview with a competent interpreter.
 
Although USCIS does not generally provide interpreters for the interview, they use contract interpreters to monitor asylum interviews at local asylum offices and other locations by telephone. In general, the role of the contract interpreter is limited to monitoring your interpreter’s interpretation. Contract interpreters may be expected to occasionally interject if your interpreter fails to provide adequate, accurate, and neutral interpretation. 

An Asylum interview can be intimidating and nerve wracking but a positive result is worth all the stress and legal preparation.  In preparing for an asylum interview or application, one must not provide fraudulent or false information as the consequences can be extremely serious.  Foreign nationals who seek immigration protection via Asylum in the United States must comply with not only the immigration laws but be truthful throughout the asylum application process. Generally, an asylum application will be denied if you:

– knowingly made a frivolous application for your asylum; or
– knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact; or
– submit false documents.

Asylum applicants must understand that if he/she is found to have knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum, the applicant will be permanently ineligible for any benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).  Moreover, if Applicant knowingly and willfully falsify or conceal a material fact or submit false documents, the asylum application will be denied, and Applicant may be subject to criminal prosecution and removal proceedings.  The US immigration and law enforcement agencies including the USCIS, ICE and the FBI all thoroughly investigate Asylum applicants’ backgrounds for validity.  It is therefore, very important to make sure you remember your facts correctly and always be truthful during your asylum interview and application.