This week–on November 11–marked the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended World War I. In terms of refugee law, the Great War is usually eclipsed by WWII, which gave rise to the Refugee Convention (in 1951). The Convention forms the basis for our international and domestic humanitarian law up until today.
But the First World War was also foundational to our current refugee regime, and so it’s too bad that WWI developments in refugee law get short shrift. Upwards of 10 million people were displaced by the War and the subsequent rise of the Soviet Union. Many would never return home and would permanently resettle in other countries. This mass movement of civilians led to political, cultural, and social changes, and predictably, to a backlash against refugees (as a security, economic, and health threat) that sounds all-too familiar today.
Probably the most prominent figure in post-WWI refugee resettlement was a Norwegian wunderkind named Fridtjof Nansen. Mr. Nansen was born in 1861. He was a record-breaking skater and skier. He studied zoology in university, and went on to become a world famous artic explorer. In 1888, he led the first expedition to cross Greenland, and in 1895, he came within 4 degrees of the North Pole, the furthest north anyone had traveled to date. After his career in the Artic, he turned to science, where he made important contributions to the fields of neurology and oceanography. Mr. Nansen served as a diplomat and advocated for separation of Norway and Sweden (which had been united since 1814). Norway became independent in 1905.
Norway was neutral during the First World War, and during those years, Mr. Nansen was involved in organizing his nation’s defense. In 1917, he was dispatched to Washington, where he negotiated a deal to help alleviate a severe food shortage in his country.
After World War I, Mr. Nansen successfully helped advocate for Norway’s involvement in the League of Nations, and he served as a delegate to that body. He became involved in the repatriation of prisoners of war, and between 1920 and 1922, led the effort to resettle over 400,000 POWs in 30 different countries. In 1921, Mr. Nansen became the League’s High Commissioner for Refugees and helped resettle two million Russians displaced by the revolution. At the same time, he was working to relieve a massive famine in Russia, but had trouble securing international aid (due largely to suspicion of the new Marxist government). He also assisted Armenian refugees after the genocide there, and devised a controversial population exchange between Turkey and Greece, which resolved a Greek refugee crisis, but also resulted in the expulsion (with compensation) of Turks from Greece.
Mr. Nansen created the “Nansen” passports in 1922, a document that allowed stateless people to travel legally across borders. By WWII, 52 nations recognized the passport as a legal travel document. Nansen passports were originally created to help refugees from the Russian civil war, but over 20 years, they were used by more than 450,000 individuals from various countries (including a number of well-known figures, such as Marc Chagall, Aristotle Onassis, G.I. Gurdjiieff, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and Igor Stravinsky). The passports served as a foundation for a clearly-defined legal status for refugees, and some scholars consider the creation of the Nansen passports as the beginning of international refugee law.
In 1922, Mr. Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Nobel Committee cited “his work for the repatriation of the prisoners of war, his work for the Russian refugees, his work to bring succour to the millions of Russians afflicted by famine, and finally his present work for the refugees in Asia Minor and Thrace.”
Mr. Nansen continued his involvement in the League of Nations through the 1920s, and he flirted with Norwegian politics, though he seems to have no major ambitions in that direction. In 1926, Mr. Nansen came up with a legal definition for refugees from Russia and Armenia, and his definition was adopted by several dozen nations. This marked the first time that the term “refugee” was defined in international law, and it helped set the stage for later legal developments in the area of refugee protection.
Fridtjof Nansen died on May 3, 1930. After his death, a fellow delegate from the League of Nations eulogized, “Every good cause had his support. He was a fearless peacemaker, a friend of justice, an advocate always for the weak and suffering.”
Even after his death, Mr. Nansen’s work continued. The League of Nations established the Nansen International Office for Refugees, which helped resettle tens of thousands of refugees during the inter-War years. The Nansen Office was also instrumental in establishing the Refugee Convention of 1933 (now, largely forgotten), the first international, multilateral treaty offering legal protection to refugees and granting them certain civic and economic rights. The 1933 Convention also established the principle of “non-refoulement,” the idea that nations cannot return individuals to countries where they face persecution. To this day, non-refoulement is a key concept of international (and U.S.) refugee law. For all this work, the Nansen Office was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1938.
Fridtjof Nansen’s legacy lives on in many ways. There are geographic features named after him in the Artic, Antarctic, and various places around the globe. In space, there is a crater on the moon named in his honor, as well as an asteroid. The oldest ski club in the United States is named for Mr. Nansen, and there is a species of fish that bears his name (Nansenia). A museum in Armenia documents his scientific and humanitarian achievements. And each year, the United Nations bestows the Nansen Refugee Award on an individual or organization that has assisted refugees, displaced or stateless people. For me, though, Mr. Nansen’s most enduring achievement is his pioneering work to help establish international refugee law, a legal regime which protects us all.
Hi Jason, I after being “stuck” in-between asylum clocks for 5 years I have another frustrating topic I want to discuss. Travel passports…
As a person granted asylum can I renew my passport issued by the country of origin (mine is expiring soon)? If not, is there a more convenient way to have some type of travel document on hand? As far as I understand, travel passport is only good for one year, takes 5 months to get, and has to be surrendered at the time of application for a new one (if the old one hasn’t expired yet). That gives me 12 or less months out of 17 months that I will have the travel passport. Also let’s not forget that a lot of foreign countries may deny me entry if my travel document is expiring in less than 6 months, i.e. I can only use the travel passport for 6 months out of 17 month period. I am asking this question because USCIS made a typo in my travel passport and I could not use it. There was no point to return it to them to fix the error, because they denied to expedite it, and the whole process would take another 5 months. By the time they could have been done, I would be applying for a GC with a new free travel passport. Does anyone have a better solution for this? I am just avoiding planning international leisure and business trips all together 🙁
The RTD is pretty limiting. Once you have the GC, you can use the same form (I-131) and apply for a re-entry permit. I do not know how many countries will accept that in lieu of a passport, but under some circumstances, it is granted for 2 years. An asylee can use the home country passport, but it could result in questions/problems from USCIS – especially if you fear persecution from your home government. The only real solution is to become a US citizen, but of course, that also takes time. Take care, Jason
Thank you, Jason, for your answer! Can an asylee after becoming an LPR obtain a passport from a third country and use it for travel instead of country of pursecution? For example, by marrying a citizen of a third country (after becoming an LPR). Will asylum and LPR status be terminated in this case? Also do you know if it is possible to expedite issuance of a Refugee Travel Document due to a business trip need (US Corporation)? Does it qualify as national interest since the work benefits an American company?
Once you have the GC, I think your immigration status should be safe even if you get citizenship in a third country. I have not done such a case, so you would probably be wise to check that with a lawyer to be sure. As for the RTD, you can request that they expedite and include some evidence (a letter from your employer). It is difficult to tell, but I think sometimes, they actually do expedite RTDs. Take care, Jason
[…] Fridtjof Nansen, WWI, and the Beginning of the Modern Refugee Regime (The Asylumist Blog, Nov. 2018) [text] […]
Hi jason, i came in US on student visa in 2016 and after 6 months i applied for asylum and didn’t continue my student visa. I recently applied for my parents visitor visa in my home country as i was going to marry here. VO asked for my visa copy and my parents showed them license of marriage. VO checked so many things in computer and refused their visa but kept my visa copy and license copy with him. Does it can cause any harm to my asylum application? Can VO check if i have applied for asylum and didn’t continue my status ?
Thanks jason
They can check that. Normally, an asylum application makes it more difficult for a spouse or child to come to the US and has less effect on a parent’s application, but in this case, it seems to have been a factor. I wrote about this issue on August 18, 2014. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason! I’ve been in America for almost 10 years now, the first time I applied for my asylum was in 2009 and they sent me to the court, the time I was supposed to go they rescheduled me, until today I did not go yet they kept rescheduling me, I think they did 3 or 4 times, the problem I have they never talk to me, they only talk to my lawyer and I think he is the one ho keeps asking them to reschedule may be because he is busy doing the other cases because me I finished paying him all money he have asked me, he doesn’t wanna comunicate with me when I ask him if there is nothing he can do about it he intimidates me saying there is nothing he can do , we have to wait for the court and when I ask him if he can at least give me a little bit time to meet and talk what we can do, he always says he doesn’t have a time we will meet to the court, trust me in 10 years we didn’t sit together for at least 1 hour together, now I am out of patience, it’s really frustrating and I don’t know what to do? What’s your suggestion?
Find a new lawyer. Lawyers are required to communicate. We are busy, and I do not like when clients bother me with unimportant or irrelevant matters. However, I am – and all lawyers are – obligated to communicate with our clients. I doubt the lawyer rescheduled the cases, as courts probably would not allow that, and if the lawyer did that without telling you, it would violate the rules of ethics. In any event, it sounds like you have no confidence in this lawyer. Either he needs to get his act together, or you need to find someone you can trust. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason. When Family of a Asylee comes usa on i730 form granted. 1.Can it go to their native country on visit? 2. Can they use their country passport or RTD?
1 – They can, but it depends on the case. If the asylum case indicated that the whole family was in danger, a return trip could raise suspicions. 2 – It is better to use the RTD, but if the family members have no fear of harm from the government, then using the passport is less of a problem. But the RTD is always safer. Take care, Jason
Hi JASON,
I would like to inform you that I received a letter from USCIS for my upcoming interview in December 13 2018 ,
I have couple of question :
1) In that letter they mentioned if your not fluency in English will send your case to immigration Judge- — for this scenario my wife she’s not comfortable to speak in English but she can speak little bit,this
will affect my case.
2) And they are asking some Written letter form -Can you tell me which form do i need to take
3) Am going to interview along with my wife and child ,he’s 3- years old and he’s very naughty.
my question is when myself and my wife were in interview if my son disturbing us that will affect my
case.
4) Actually i converted to Christianity and i have only the membership letter ,my case is belong to this
and i don’t have any evidence ,will they accept if i show only the membership letter.
5)what are all the documents do i need to take.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks,
VJ
Hi VJ..
could you please share your timeline?
when did you apply ??
what office ??
thank you..
Hi Tony ,
Follow this link you will get an idea.
https://www.asylumist.com/2018/02/21/your-affirmative-asylum-case-was-denied-now-what-part-1/comment-page-2/#comment-103640
thank you, my friend, VJ
1 – If she is a dependent on the case, you should bring an interpreter. And if you think you need help with English, you can use the interpreter too. 2 – I wrote about witness letter on August 16, 2012. I also did a post on October 10, 23018 that might help. Be aware that the asylum offices have different rules about evidence – in my office (Virginia), they want evidence one week in advance. You can contact them to ask about the rule. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). 3 – They generally take one adult at a time, so one of you can keep an eye on him in the waiting area. 4 & 5 – Maybe but more evidence if better. You might get letters from friends and church members, photos at church events, evidence of donations to the church, etc. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
This’s what written in the interview letter:
1) You and your family members on your Form -I-589 are scheduled for interview was shown above
December -12 -2018 .
2) Bring a written form of identification : Name, Date and place of Birth and nationality; and other Evidence
not submitted before.
3) If you cannot speak English fluently, you must provide a competent ,
4) Failure without good cause to appear for interview or to provide a competent may result in immediate
referral to an immigration judge.
Thanks,
VJ
This sounds like the standard letter to me. Take care, Jason
Hi. I have been waiting for an interview for 4.5 years in Miami. Went to the interview in February 2017. A few days ago got a mail from USCIS with Re-Interview notice?
What it could be?
Regards, Roman
It can be anything – maybe the old officer left the job without completing the case, maybe the supervisor had a few more questions or a security check revealed info they want to ask about. You should prepare for the interview as you prepared for the first interview. Also, try to remember what you said at the first interview (or review the notes, if you have any) to try to be consistent with the first interview. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason.
Thanks for your site and information you provide.
I went to the second interview and I got a new officer. He asked everything not just a couple of question.
Few days after that interview I got approval notice with the granted asylum!
I had been waiting for this for more than 5 year 🙂
Regards, Roman
Second interviews sometimes happen that way. Anyway, it worked out well, so Congratulations – and welcome to the USA! Jason
Hi Jason,
Please help me with this question. I am preparing for I 730 interview at the Embassy. I received I-765 form hard copy from embassy as one of the requirements.I tried to get I-765 form from USCIS website to fill it and I realized that the form I received from the Embassy (just one page)is totally different from the current form that we can download from USCIS website.
Please advice what must I do?, The form I received from embassy its says expired date was 04/30/2013. Do I have to disregard the old form embassy gave me and fill the latest I -765 form?
Thanks.
I previously responded to this – please see below. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason
I was referred to immigration court in nj and my mch was supposed to be last week in November now my mch not trial was moved to June 2020, because the judge relocated, but I’m moving to California. I’m confused on what to do, I don’t have a problem flying into jersey when I have court dates, but also I don’t want a situation where if I move my case to California it would be delayed more. It’s already delayed to 2020. Please what’s the best way to handle this?
Hi Dear Jason, please advise me, can I use my native country passport to travel on a business trip to a third country while I obtained a LPR status in the US based on granted Asylum? If I apply for RTD, it could takes up to 8 months, but the trip I need to go on is important and will be in a month, otherwise I May loose my job.
Thank you!
A friend of mine who got his green card many years ago through asylum traveled to a third country using his native country’s passport a year ago. Last month he went for his Naturalization Interview and he was grilled during interview on why he had to use his country’s passport while seeking protection from the same country. Last week he was asked to go for another interview and according to his attorney his status as LPR is in serious jeopardy. Again I guess it all depends on the particular of your situation and the country you traveled to…
I would apply for the RTD anyway and ask them to expedite it. That way, if you don’t get it (or the country you are visiting cannot accept the RTD), at least it will be easier for you to explain why you used your passport. Also, if you do not fear your home government (but instead maybe fear some non-state actor), using the passport is less of a problem. However, it is better to use the RTD if you can, and you should be prepared to explain about the passport if asked. Take care, Jason
Find a lawyer in CA and have the lawyer file a motion to change venue. Your case will transfer to CA. Whether this will make it slower or faster, I do not know, as it depends on how long they take to move it and what judge you land on, but you are required to change your address and so it makes more sense (and is legally proper) to move the case to where you live now. As long as you already have a work permit, you do not have to worry about moving the case or affecting the asylum clock. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
I just moved to a new state. I have filed AR 11 online. Is it necessary for me to also inform the local asylum office through mail or e-mail? Your prompt response will be appreciated. Thanks
You should not have to, but it doesn’t hurt to do so. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). Take care, Jason
Hi Jason
My nephew arrived in theUS two months ago and it happened that he came to stay with me at a friend’s house (lets say A). Idon’t have a place for myself yet so he had to come where i am staying. He applied for asylum two weeks ago BUT he used another friend’s address.(B) (reason- the friends we stay with still have pending immigration cases so they don’t want to compromise their cases). Now, yesterday we received a phone call that Immigration Officers came to the address that my nephew used (B) and the people there told the Immigration Officials that they do not know my nephew he doesn’t stay there, actually they came twice. That is day before yesterday and yesterday.
It is true he doesn’t stay at A but stays at B , situation beyond his/ our control forced us to resort to using B’s address.
Questions
1. Has this ever happened before, do you have any similar examples.
2. Now that they came twice looking for him it means they are seriously on him, HOW BEST CAN WE HANDLE THIS PLEASE?
Would you have any idea what step we should take now.
NB he doesn’t have a lawyer *
He doesn’t have any record of crime at all but we are just surprised how they chose to track him like this.
Could you please if you have any idea let me know…….STRANDED!
Thank you
1 – They do sometimes visit the houses, but it is pretty uncommon. They may be interested in him for some reason other than his asylum case. 2 – I would get a lawyer. If he has filed for asylum and has the receipt, he has some protection, but they may send him to Immigration Court and they could potentially detain him (though I have not seen anyone detained, we did have an asylum applicant get sent to court and given an ankle bracelet, which was all ridiculous, but I think it was because he had a J visa and they are cracking down on J-visa overstays). Take care, Jason
He has not yet received the receipt. He applied 17 days ago.
Can he change address and how because the online form has sections where there is need for an A number or receipt number yet he doesn’t have one yet.
I do not know how to change the address if you do not yet have the receipt number. Maybe try calling USCIS to ask if there is anything to be done. You can find the number at http://www.uscis.gov. Probably, he will need to stay at the old address until the receipt arrives, which should be very soon. Take care, Jason
Hello please jason its been 8 days since i recieved an approval for my initial EAD, on the case status online thats the last update. I jave since recieved the notice of action do you have an idea when i wld recieve d card. Should i call uscis to inquire or expedite
It often takes a couple weeks after the notice appears online, so as long as your address is correct, you should get the card soon. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason, I really appreciate your continued efforts and this forum to support us and make the wait tolerable!
My question is can we directly contact the officer who interviewed us to inquire about the case status? If so, where can we find their contact information?
There is no real way to do that. You can find the contact info for the Asylum Office if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). If you know the officer’s name or number, you can direct an email to the specific person. Whether that will work, I am not sure, but you can try. Take care, Jason
Hi Dear Sir:
Do asylum seekers become US citizen after holding Green Card for five year or they will be in a different process? If yeah, is the same process that applying on others or different( like difficult).
When you get a GC based on asylum, the card is back-dated one year (so if you get it today, it will say November 19, 2017), and you can apply for citizenship 4 years and 9 months after the date on the card (so if you got the card today you could apply in late July 2022). To apply for citizenship, use form N-400, available at http://www.uscis.gov. Take care, Jason
Hi, Jason, thank you for this amazing blog. Have you seen new Asylum Quarterly Meeting statistics? Can you please share your thoughts, it seems that backloag keeps getting bigger. Thank you
The latest I saw were from June 2018, I think. But I know that the backlog continues to grow, since they are still receiving more cases than they can interview. I thinks it is growing more slowly, and so maybe they will reach a point where they are interviewing more cases than they are receiving. We just don’t know how things will progress, as it is unpredictable. I think that the migration from Central America slows down in the winter months, and so maybe if that happens, they will make more progress on the backlog. We shall see. Take care, Jason
Hello!
Anyone know approx what backlog month is being interviewed at San Francisco Asylum office? I applied on May 2017 and yet to hear anything.
Thanks!
Hi,
I m not sure which year interview is taking now. Due to backlog, i was interviewed in july 18. Applied in dec 17 sfo office.
Hi Jason,
Is it ok that the asylum officer took my biometric and asylum date notices in the asylum interview?
I had an interview like three weeks ago and when I am looking for these paper I didn’t find it any more.
I was exhausted and panicked and I didn’t even remember if she did took it or I just lost the papers.
The officer Mentioned that I will get my decision in two weeks by mail and until now I don’t receive anything
Give your advice.
Thank you
I doubt the papers will be a problem. As for the decision, the officers often under-estimate the wait time, so that is normal. I would give them at least a month, but if there is no response, you can email them and inquire. You can find their contact info/email if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). Take care, Jason
Hi Jason. Thank u for everything you do here. God continue to bless you in every area of your life. My husband filed for asylum & I’m his dependent, he was interviewed & we are waiting for the decision. Then I got a letter to go for second biometrics, what does it mean? Is it a good sign? Thank u
I think you cannot read into that. It may mean nothing, or it may mean a decision is coming soon. It certainly tells you nothing about whether the case will be granted or not. Overall, I would say it is nothing to worry about. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
This blog os a life saver. My question is my best friend family got NTO, is in referred to immigration court. They are family of 4 only two of then received MCH. I don’t know why?. Meanwhile, whole family got U visa approval. They are filing for termination. My question is they were referred for inconsistencies in asylum application. Will that be an adverse factor in green card application. They all have no criminal record. They are so scared. Their lawyer is not telling anything. I will appreciate your point of view.
It could be an adverse factor, depending on what was said. However, many times, “inconsistencies” as found by the asylum office are really nothing, and in that case, there would be nothing to worry about. I do think they should try to remember what was discussed at the asylum interview and what the inconsistency might have been. My guess is that this will not be a problem in the end, but it would be good to try to remember and to be cautious and make sure all future forms are consistent with all previously filed forms. Any inconsistencies should be explained. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the reply. But I have a another question. I tried to get I-765 form from USCIS website and I realized that the form I received from the Embassy (just pne page)is totally different from the current form thats we can download from USCIS website.
Please advice what must I do?, The form I received from embassy its says expired date was 04/30/2013. Do I have to fill the revised or new form now?
Thanks.
Dear Jason,
Thank you very much for your work. First of all, I want to share my experience in obtaining asylum under the new process:
Applied on March 2018, Interview scheduled in April 2018, Received an approval letter in the beginning of November.
First of all, thank you very much for your support. I was able to prepare my case without a lawyer thanks to your blog and amount of information that you publish for free! I do have one quiestion for you though.
I am planning to apply to refugee travel document, but since it is valid for a year and is usually delayed – many countries WON’T accept it if it is valid for no more than 6 months. Is it a bad idea to get a visa in my passport from country of former prosecution?
On the one hand, I don’t think it’s a good idea, since it may be considered that I seek protection from my former government. On the other hand, I am not contacting any of their offices or organizations, I am contacting foreign embassies to get a visa.
Can you please provide your ideas about this case?
The issue is that when you use the passport, you are “availing” yourself of the protection of that country. This is more theoretical than real, but it can cause USCIS to question the legitimacy of your asylum claim. The problem is worse for people who fear their home government (as opposed to people who fear non-government actors). I have not actually seen anyone get into trouble for using the passport, but it is possible, and these days, it is better to be careful if you can. Get the RTD and try to use it (and use it to re-enter the US). At least that way, if you are questioned, you will show that you did everything you could to avoid using your passport. Also, congrats on winning asylum! Take care, Jason
Congratulations on your approval, would you mind sharing which asylum office you applied and whether you are from a banned country?
Thanks! No, I am not from a banned country. Applied to New Orleans office. The process was pretty quick and straightforward. Good luck!
11/14/2018 rfe delived at uscis office by usps
11/15/2018 response to uscis’s request for evidence was received. Our Texas center office will begin working on your case again.
It was a birth certificate ! I was scared because I didn’t have the original at the time i was born but i have a substitute that I applied in 2014 ! Translated and certified by rev.com and notified .
Hope that means that it is accepted ! Now i am gonna wait for the decision !
Good luck to every one !
Hi Dear Sir:
How many times can we try expediting a case? In case, it get denied for the first time, can we try again and again? Or it is limited a to number.
Regards,
As there are no rules related to expediting, you can try again and again. However, unless you have some new basis to expedite, the request will be denied. Take care, Jason
Thank you so much for prompt reply.
If the base for expediting is medical issues, can’t we expediting it again based on medical? For instance, if we get denied for the first time, we go get more documents from docters with evidences. Is this fine or no, we can not expedite based on medical issue again?
We are lucky that we have you here to give us advice, actually, I feel so lucky.
Regards,
You can do that. But if the medical issue is the same, it probably won’t work. One point – Have the doctor explain why a sooner interview would help alleviate your medical issue (for example, in our case recently, the doctor explained that the client had cancer and that the stress from the pending case was affecting his health). Take care, Jason
Hi Jason and Bloggers,
This post is informative, in case someone in the jurisdiction of Orlando, FL was sent to court, I had my master hearing on November 8 and the closest date that the judge granted me for my individual hearing was January 2020.
Good Luck to everyone!
My is there also can we share our experience?
Hi Jason,
Please help me to clear below questions. Thanks.
I got my interview date at embassy in regards to I-730. Embassy requested me to come to collect the appointment letter and required documents list. I have the list now and there are 3 Application forms G-325,DS-230,I -765. They gave me hard copies for these forms. I have 02 questions.
1.Do I have to fill these forms online or hand written?
2.Are there any fees associated with any of these forms?
The lady in the counter was very busy and was not able to help. Please help me with your advice.
Thanks
1 – You should be able to fill them online and print them. As long as they are the same forms that the embassy gave you. 2 – There should not be. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Thanks for the reply. But I have a another question. I tried to get I-765 form from USCIS website and I realized that the form I received from the Embassy (just pne page)is totally different from the current form thats we can download from USCIS website.
Please advice what must I do?, The form I received from embassy its says expired date was 04/30/2013. Do I have to fill the revised or new form now?
Thanks.
I do not know – you might contact the embassy and ask about why they gave you the old form. Or, I suppose you can give a copy of the old form and the current form, and explain that the embassy sent you the old form, and so you have submitted it, but you are also submitting the newest form in case they need it. Take care, Jason
Hello Cathy,
Could you please tell me how long did the process for I730 take? When did you apply?
Thanks in advance.
Hi, I applied in November 2017. It took 9 months for approval and after that its still on the process at the Embassy.
Aww!!! I’m so happy for you Cathy. My expedite request for i 730 was denied after sending them RFE. I wonder how i will have to wait again this long to ever reunite with my husband.After going through the asylum process itself
Hi Cathey. Iam also waiting for my family I 730 interview at embassy station kindly can you tell which country you from. Then I have some idea about my family interview. Thanks
Hi jason
Hope you’re doing well
I applied for TD and yesterday I did the fingerprint
From your experience how long it is going to take ?
Thank you
In my case after I completed the fingerprint, it took 5 months and 3 days when I got my Travel Document in mail…
Sorry, I do not know what you mean by TD….
I’m sorry, refugee travel document
Got it. They have in the past been fairly quick – maybe 3 or 4 months, but these days, you never know, and it is very difficult to predict how long it will take. You can check the http://www.uscis.gov website and look at the processing time for the I-730. That is not always accurate, but it is the best info we have. Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
thank you for always providing answers to us here.
I filed my asylum case in August and was interviewed in the Houston Asylum office in September. Since then I have been waiting for a decision since then. I have not received any letter notifying me of any approval or denial.
What do I do? I have tried to email them, and they have not responded. what should I do?
Jake
Such delays are very common and there is not much to do to make it faster. If they do not respond to email, you might try again – sometimes, it takes a few tries. If possible, you can also go in person – but check their website for office hours. You can find their contact info/website if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). Probably, they will just tell you that the case is still pending, but there is no harm in asking. Take care, Jason
Yeah I had my interview in Houston Asylum office October 11 2018, I didnot get my result also. I email them they didnot respond to me. I visit in person, the check for me and told me they have some problem in system, keep passion you will get the result through mail, I said ok. I asked expectedly when I will get the result, they told me, don’t know because there are a lot more people before then me.
Hi Jason,
I interviewed in Boston 2 months ago. No decision till now. I was thinking about inquiring via email. I saw somewhere that I can enroll for case status text updates. Can you please direct me how to do it?
Thanks
I think you cannot get such updates for asylum cases at this time. That will probably change in the coming months, but not yet. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason,
I emailed the Boston asylum office if there is any update on my case as I interviewed 2
Months ago but I did not get a autmated message or anything. Could you please provide any suggestion or information that you may have?
Thanks
I do not know whether all offices send an automatic reply when you email them. Make sure you have the correct email. You can find their email if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). It often takes a couple weeks to get a response from them by email, but sometimes, you never get a response. If you are close to their office, you might try stopping by, but check their website for office hours. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
What is NTA? Can an I-730 petitioner who is currently in the US with a valid status ( unexpired visa) can get that? They recently posted about NTA in USCIS website.
The only NTA that I know is the Notice to Appear. It is a document you get when the government wants to deport you and send you to Immigration Court. Otherwise, I don’t know. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason, thank you as always for all you do.
I applied for asylum along with my father at the Chicago Office (Nebraska service center). My case was received about two months before his, and so I had my interview in March of this year but he never got his.
However, I got no decision till now. I was wondering, is it possible that because part of my asylum story is about the threats he got, that they are waiting until they interview my father before making a decision on both of us? Is it possible that the decision on my case will depend on his interview, and thus they are waiting to conduct that?
Thank you
I suppose it is possible that your case is delayed due to his, but I have seen the Asylum Office make a decision in one family member’s case even before interviewing the other family member. You may want to contact them and ask about your case, and maybe your father can try to expedite his interview so both of you can get a decision. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator (under Asylum Seeker Resources). Of course, you may get a decision even if he does not get an interview, but there is no harm in inquiring. Take care, Jason
Hello Sir,
Does valid J1 status affect the decision time after asylum interview? thank you
I am not sure what you mean. If you are in valid status, the case will not be referred to court, it will be denied. I wrote about that process on February 21, 2018. Take care, Jason
Thank you for your reply and help. my question is does valid j1 status increases the time to make a decision on asylum cases? or in other word, does valid status takes longer time for the decision than the out of status? thank you.
I have never seen any statistics about that, but based on my own cases, I do not think it makes any difference. Take care, Jason
Thank you for the report on Nansen. I am disturbed by his role in the Turkish-Greek population trade, which caused great suffering on both sides, but perhaps that’s hindsight; Nansen may have thought he was saving minorities in both countries from genocide by helping to banish them, and he may have been right.
I wanted to ask a question about relatives following to join asylees. I assume it must sometimes happen that an asylee’s relatives in the country of persecution can’t get passports, or that the persecutor seizes or revokes their passports. In that case, what does the U.S. consulate in the country do with the approved I-730s? Does the consulate give the asylee’s relatives some alternate kind of travel document that allows CBP to admit them under the documentation requirements of 8 INA 212(a)(7)(A)(i)(I)?
I wonder about the population transfer as well. I remember visiting Turkey years ago and seeing the abandoned churches because Greeks had to leave. Whether his decision was the right one (or even if there was a choice), I do not know, but based on his other accomplishment, I believe that he was trying to do the right thing. As for the I-730 question, it is a good question, but I have not had to deal with that and I do not know. I thought the State Department could give the person some type of document, but I don’t know for sure, sorry. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
For a green card holder based on asylum approval, which travel document would you recommend? RTD( Refugee travel document) or Re-entry permit.
Also, if I already have a valid advance parole which I applied for when my I-485 was pending. what should I do with it? should I send it to USCIS when filing the I-131 form or can I keep it and just apply for the travel document ?
Thank you and best regards,
We apply for the RTD for our clients, though the issue there is that it is only valid for one year. The RP is not really meant to be used in lieu of a passport and the RTD is, so that is the main reason we prefer the RTD. However, if the country you want to visit accepts the RP in lieu of a passport, that might be better, since it is valid for two years. As for the Advance Parole document, I do not think you need to send it to USCIS; we have never done that. I do not think you should use it, since it may be invalid now that your GC is approved. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Thanks for an interesting article. I have some questions and would be thankful if you can answer. What if filed my case three years go in Miami. How long do you think it going to take to get to the interview? Based on the statistics that USCIS publish, it seems like I am very far away, because of the backlog and switch to the LIFO system. On another note, if my employer agrees to sponsor me, when do you think I can adjust my status, right after PERM?
Thanks,
I do not know about wait times in Miami, and no one else does either. However, it is currently the busiest office, so I would not expect an interview any time soon. You can always try to expedite – I wrote about that on March 30, 2017. As for PERM, unless you have some status besides asylum pending, you would probably have to leave the US to get a GC based on employment. I wrote about this issue on August 28, 2018 and September 6, 2018. Take care, Jason