Non-citizens Can Participate in the 2020 Election! Here’s How

The U.S. immigration system is a disaster. Hundreds of thousands of applicants are stuck in limbo, many cases are arbitrarily denied, and due process protections have been reduced or eliminated. While it is still possible to win individual cases, the Trump Administration has done everything possible–legal and illegal–to block asylum seekers and immigrants, and to undermine the fair implementation of our nation’s immigration laws. With the immigration system under attack, the only way to protect individual immigrants is to defend that system. But how?

Over the last 3½ years, non-citizens and their advocates have done their best to defend the immigration system. Lawsuits have sought to mitigate the Muslim ban, “remain in Mexico,” the public charge rules, and so on. Advocacy work has had some successes as well–allowing foreign students to remain in the U.S. and reducing the number of children in cages. All of these efforts have been something of a rear-guard action–trying to keep the retreat from becoming a route.

Now, with the election approaching, there is a chance to achieve real change. If Joe Biden and the Democrats take the White House, we can expect an end to many of the most egregious attacks on non-citizens. No one has a bigger stake in this election than asylum seekers and other non-citizens. But of course, as non-citizens, you are not permitted to vote or donate money to Mr. Biden or the Democrats. But that doesn’t mean you can’t participate in the election campaign. Here, we’ll talk about what you, as a non-U.S. citizen, can and cannot do. Let’s start with the cannots.

Before they can help us, we have to help them.

You cannot vote. It is illegal for anyone but a U.S. citizen to vote in a federal election. Non-citizens who vote can face fines, jail time, and deportation.

A “foreign national” cannot contribute money to a campaign, even if that contribution is indirect (for example, through a political action committee). “Foreign national” is defined as an “individual who is not a citizen of the United States… and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence.” Thus, if you are a non-citizen, but you have a Green Card, you are permitted to donate money to a political campaign. Note that if you have applied for a Green Card or asylum or any other immigration benefit, and you have not yet received that benefit, you cannot legally contribute money to a campaign. Even if you have an Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”), you are not eligible to make a contribution.

Also, foreign nationals cannot make “decisions concerning the administration of any political committee,” meaning basically that you cannot take a leadership or decision-making role in a campaign or an organization supporting a campaign or candidate.

Finally, foreign nationals cannot work for a candidate and receive compensation from anyone.

So much for the cannots. Now let’s look at what a non-citizen can do to help during the upcoming election.

The main thing you can do to participate in the election is to volunteer with a candidate. The Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) website provides guidance for foreign nationals who wish to volunteer during an election–

Generally, an individual (including a foreign national) may volunteer personal services to a federal candidate or federal political committee without making a contribution. The Act provides this volunteer “exemption” as long as the individual performing the service is not compensated by anyone.

What do volunteers do? The most important activity for volunteers is to encourage people to register and vote. You can do this by making phone calls to potential voters. Here, the ability to speak different languages might be very useful. There are many new Americans, who are eligible to vote, but who might be more comfortable speaking in their native language. The phone calls can be made from your own home (using an app, which does not reveal your personal phone number) and the people you are calling tend to be happy to hear from you, as they have been selected because they are predisposed to vote for a Democrat. The purpose of the call is to ensure that they are registered to vote, and that they know how to vote when the time comes.

You can also participate by sending text messages to prospective voters. Again, you can do this from home, and it really does help.

There are other volunteer opportunities available as well, not only for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but for “down ballot” candidates, whose election is also very important for protecting non-citizens (and all of us). For calling and texting, and other types of volunteer work, the Biden campaign provides training and support. To learn more, and get in touch with a volunteer coordinator, contact the Biden campaign here. Make sure they understand your immigration status, so they can put you to work in an appropriate capacity.

Finally, according to a federal court decision (penned by now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh no less), the foreign national ban–

does not restrain foreign nationals from speaking out about issues or spending money to advocate their views about issues. It restrains them only from a certain form of expressive activity closely tied to the voting process—providing money for a candidate or political party or spending money in order to expressly advocate for or against the election of a candidate.

Bluman v. FEC, 800 F. Supp. 2d 281, 290 (D.D.C. 2011), aff’d 132 S. Ct. 1087 (2012). Thus, it may be possible to make financial contributions to non-political “issue” organizations that do not mention candidates, political offices, political parties, incumbent federal officeholders or any past or future election. See AO 1984-41 (National Conservative Foundation). If you plan to contribute financially, check with the beneficiary organization to be sure that your immigration status is not a bar (and remember that Green Card holders may freely engage in political activity and make donations, as long as they do not vote). 

There is a lot riding on the November election. Unfortunately, President Trump has used fear and division to mobilize many people. He has also attacked the rule of law, due process, and democracy itself. We need everyone–including non-citizens waiting to officially join our nation–to help elect Joe Biden and to preserve the republic for us all.

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223 comments

  1. Hi Jason! Question regarding travel document. I was told that after I get GC and apply for RTD it would be valid for 2 years. Just got it in the mail and it’s only valid for 1 year. Is that an error or they changed the law or something?

    Reply
    • The RTD is always for one year (which is idiotic). There is another document called a Re-Entry Permit that you get with that same form (I-131) and that can be good for 2 years, depending on how long you’ve had your GC, but that is not the same as an RTD, which is suppose to serve in lieu of a passport for people who are refugees/asylees. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  2. Hi Jason! I applied for asylum 2014, did interview 2018 at chicago office . this year my husband file the petition for me, I send all documents for the AOS. Last week my asylum case adapted to decision was mailed. And the decision is referred to court. the master hearing is September 2021. And now I don’t know to do? Asked to change the date for earlier? I don’t have an attorney, I am thinking to find one. Thanks

    Reply
    • There are different approaches, but basically, you will put the court case on hold (or just do nothing, since your hearing is not for one year) and once the I-130 petition is approved, either (1) ask the judge to terminate the case so your I-485 can be processed by USCIS or (2) ask the judge to decide the I-485. Which approach is better depends on the case and your goals. Also, not all judges give you a choice in the matter. Finally, all this assumes that you are eligible to adjust status. I wrote about that on August 6, 2018. In most of these cases, the outcome is pretty certain (you will get a green card), but it is helpful to have a lawyer get you through the bureaucracy, which can be challenging. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Thank you for everything you do

        Reply
  3. Hi Jason
    Hope you’re doing well. I wanted to ask you about court hearings. Do you know if they are doing hearing in-person or through video calling where courts are open ? I heard from someone that they are doing video conference now..

    Reply
  4. Hi , Jason
    I have pending asylum application for interview since 2018
    My son seek in third country is there anyway for me to travel to see him and return to USA,?

    Reply
    • If your case is with the asylum office, you can apply for Advance Parole and travel to see him. I wrote about that on September 11, 2017. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  5. Hello Jason,
    Thank you for everything, I have quick question.
    My sister file her asylum after a year in United States, she went for her interview and now was refer to immigration court. My question is that what form will she file so as to appear in court.
    Thank you Jason and hope to hear from you soon.

    Reply
    • Her asylum form, I-589, should be automatically sent from the asylum office to the court. Hopefully, she will have a lawyer to help her in court, as it is easier to win with a lawyer and the lawyer can explain all about what needs to happen. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  6. Hi Jason, How can I get a letter from USCIS which coming with their letter head showing that my asylum case still pending? I already about 2 weeks ago sent them an email to do an inquiry about their decision and I just received a very simple text email saying that still pending and please check at the next 90 days again! Please advise about?

    Thank you and God Bless you and your family!

    Reply
    • I am not quite sure how you would do that. The email + your receipt should be sufficient for most purposes. Also, you can check your case status at http://www.uscis.gov (using the receipt number, which starts with “Z” and not the Alien number) and print that page, which will indicate that your case is pending. Otherwise, I guess you can email them again to request something on letterhead, but I do not know that they will do that. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  7. Dear Jason I am confused I was reading people comments here . I am moving to Ohio from the east coast for Job offer I need to apply for green card . Would I have to send my paperwork to state location listed on where to send i485. Where I live or used to live ? Because I will be just arriving by the time I need to apply . I hope this makes sense tHnk u

    Reply
    • Wherever you live at the time you mail the form, that is the address you should use. Hopefully, it will be an address you can keep for a while, as changing addresses can sometimes result in missing mail (but if you check the http://www.uscis.gov website, you can see how to get email notifications for any correspondence, and that helps). Take care, Jason

      Reply
  8. Hi Jason,

    I need to renew my EAD, what documents do I need to send along with the application and check for $485? In the past when I did the renewal USCIS had a list of documents I needed to send as evidence. Now I do not see anything listed on the website. Can you please help?

    Thanks for your help!

    Reply
    • It depends on the case and on the basis for the EAD. Also, double check the fees, as some people are now required to pay for biometrics. For a renewal based on a pending asylum application, we include a copy of the old EAD, front and back, evidence that asylum is pending, 2 passport photos, and the fee. But check the I-765 instructions, as other documents may be required depending on the case (for category c-8, for example, if you were ever arrested, you need evidence about that). Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Today I received an email, that USCIS cancels furlough of their employees. I guess it’s a good news for now!

        Reply
        • Still waiting, where have you been? Just kidding😂

          Reply
        • Somehow, the money magically appeared. It makes me wonder if the whole thing wasn’t a hoax to demoralize the staff and frighten immigrants. Take care, Jason

          Reply
          • But the processing fee of certain applications is still getting to be raised in October. To renew the EAD for a family of 4 it will be about $2,520.00 with biometrics plus the attorney fee if any. I would prefer to get it filed by my attorney because there are so many new things and mistakes can get them delayed.

          • Fees go up (for most forms) on October 2. It is yet another difficulty faced by asylum seekers and other immigrants. Take care, Jason

  9. Dear All,
    Please sign below petition to help fellow asylum seekers.

    http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

    The petition is not for just one individual but for a cause. So please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it too.
    Thanks,

    Jawid

    Reply
    • Jawid,

      Thank you for creating this petition.
      We are with you as we are suffering from same challenges and uncertainty.

      By the way, are you still open for comments and suggestions to tweak/amend the text of this petition. If so, I would like to propose some changes to make the text more cohesive and comprehensive reflecting challenges of thousands rather than only yours. If so, please set a deadline and allow us to share you a revised draft. With the changes, I assure you that the petition will be signed by thousands of us here in matter of couple of days.

      Likewise, I suggest we should reach out to a journalist in one of the major news outlets to cover this petition and some of us volunteer to share our stories as s/he help us reaching our voices and concerns to policy makers (congress and government).

      Reply
  10. Hello Jason,

    Greetings, and Thank you for all the help and support to the community. I have a quick question.

    I applied for I-730 last year, on behalf of my wife who is overseas. The USCIS processing time seems to be moving, albeit slowly. However, I am concerned that once the USCIS hands over its paperwork to NVC, i might hit the roadbloack because of Trampy’s abuse of EXECUTIVE power ORDER and what more might come in days to follow (election stunt)….
    Have you or anyone in this forum had such cases welcomed into the US recently, during this pandemic ? Also, is it possible to request an emergency appointment at the consulates, specifically for this visa category (I-730) citing mental health emergency ?? I am on the brink of collapse mentally…

    Thank you again !!!
    Sincerely,
    Asylee_2019

    Reply
    • I believe we have had some people come here since the pandemic began, though my memory for time frames is always a bit fuzzy. I know people are still coming, though it is slower than before. You can try to expedite a case with USCIS (I wrote about that in January 2020) or with the embassy. For help with the embassy, I did a post in December 2019 where I linked to an I-730 manual. That manual is very helpful and it talks about different situations and how to move cases faster. It does not always work, but certainly you can try. In your case, maybe if you have a letter from a mental health professional attesting to your difficulties, that would be good evidence to support an expedite request. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Thank you Sir.

        Reply
  11. Hello sir Jasón quick questioned here . I need to apply for green card asylum based . I live In state A . WhT happens if I apply in state A and move to state B . Would they change the processing center or once you appply with a certain address your stuck with that processing center regardless . I don’t know how to go about this

    Reply
    • I do not know what happens internally, but if you move, you have to file an AR-11, available at http://www.uscis.gov. This form changes your address, and them if anything is needed from you, like biometrics or an interview, they will do that locally. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Hi Jason
        Hope you’re doing well. I wanted to ask you about court hearings. Do you know if they are doing hearing in-person or through video calling where courts are open ? I heard from someone that they are doing video conference now.

        Reply
        • Some in-person hearings are going forward. It seems no Master Calendar Hearings are going forward in-person, but some Individual (Merits) Hearings are. Also, detained cases are going forward. Different courts have different rules, and so maybe in some courts, the non-citizen can appear by video, but I have not heard about that. I know that in some places, the lawyer can appear by phone. I do not know about video, and I have not heard about that. Take care, Jason

          Reply
  12. Mr Jason I have a question what exactly do I add besides to the green card application like what other supporting documents do you include . And do you staple things or leave them separate ? I’m confused as to how to make this application .

    Reply
    • Gloria,

      I am not Jason. Jason will respond soon.

      You must read the instructions on the USCIS website BEFORE you fill out or submit the application (I-485). There is a detailed document (called “Instructions for Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status”) on their website that explains everything you need to do. Here is the link to the document: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-485instr-pc.pdf

      There are also instructions on the USCIS website specifically for asylees who want to adjust status. Here is the link to that: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-eligibility/green-card-for-asylees#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20an%20asylee,Permanent%20Residence%20or%20Adjust%20Status.

      According to USCIS, “The alien who was granted asylum is called the principal applicant. If you are the principal applicant, you should submit the following documentation and evidence to apply for a Green Card:

      -Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status with the required fee or with Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver;
      -Proof of your grant of asylum (such as a copy of the letter, decision of an immigration judge, or Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record that shows the date you were granted asylum);
      -Evidence of one-year physical presence in the U.S (you must live in the U.S. for at least 1 year from the grant of asylum BEFORE you can apply to adjust your status).;
      -Two passport-style photographs;
      -Copy of your government-issued identity document with photograph (state IDs, drivers license, and passports are acceptable);
      -Copy of your birth certificate (if available);
      -Copy of your passport page with nonimmigrant visa (if available);
      -Copy of your passport page with admission or parole stamp (issued by a U.S. immigration officer) (if available);
      -Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (you may submit this form together with Form I-485 or later, for example, when USCIS requests it or in person at your interview, if any);
      -Certified police and court records of criminal charges, arrests, or convictions (if applicable); and
      Form I-602, Application by Refugee for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability (if applicable).”

      Reply
      • This is very helpful, but if you are not sure about what to submit, I recommend you talk to a lawyer. USCIS is looking for excuses to deny these cases (I have seen 2 cases where USCIS denied – and the person lost the $1225 – because the person checked the wrong box on the form!). Take care, Jason

        Reply
        • Jason, excellent point about the lawyer!

          Reply
    • I sent the following with my 485 when I applied 3 years ago
      Copy of drivers license, Copy of RTD, copy of immigration judge asylum grant letter, copy of I-94 during my last entry from Canada and medicals envelope from doctor. No RFE and granted in 6 months

      Reply
      • Thank you , may I ask which state did you apply from ?

        Reply
        • Indiana

          Reply
          • Thank you I was thinking of applying there . I don’t know why parelgals or immigration doctors . I’m from a different state so I don’t know if submitting a different state license will be an issue

        • Gloria, if you go back and look under your original question/comment you’d see that I responded with a very detailed explanation (links to the information were also provided) of what you need to submit. The instruction also explains WHERE you should send the I-485 application and how. You can’t just send your application to any USCIS location for processing. The application must be sent to the correct location or lockbox facility, which is usually dependent on where you live and the courier or USPS service you opt to use. Failure to do this properly may cause further delays, cause the application to be lost in the system for a while, or worse, rejected.

          While you can use other people’s experiences as guide, you must realize that everyone’s application is different. What YOU need to submit may not be what I, or anyone else here, need to submit, and vice versa. Where YOU should send your application may not be where someone else on here submitted, or needs to submit, his/her application. If you are not able to afford a lawyer, your most trusted source should be the USCIS website itself.

          Reply
      • This is great – but every case is different, so please be careful. Take care, Jason

        Reply
    • It really varies by case, and so I cannot give you much advice. Check the instructions to the I-485, available at http://www.uscis.gov. If you need help, talk to a lawyer. The problem these days is that if you do not submit a complete application, it is possible that they will deny the application and you will lose your money, and so you have to be careful. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  13. Hi Jason,
    thanks for everything you do to the Asylum community. I am filling out my form for the green card application. I am using a computer to fill the form and there are some questions that I am unable to write N/A. for example for dates or some fields that ask for additional first names (I get the error “enter only letter, space, and hyphen”). What do you do in these situations? They asked us to answer every question. Do you think it makes sense to fill it out with a computer, print out the form, and write N/A in those areas with a pen–where I am unable to fill with a computer?

    Reply
    • That is what I do – I complete the form as best as I can, and then if there are spaces where I need to write “n/a”, I do that by hand with a pen. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Hello Jason, and everyone.
        While filling out the new EAD form, do I
        have to fill N/A on every box that is not relevant to me?
        I cannot afford to have the form rejected for a flimsy reason, because i need the receipt to keep my job, while waiting for the actual card, or asylum interview.

        Reply
        • We have not been writing N/A in every box on the I-765, but there is no harm in doing that. Maybe better safe than sorry. Take care, Jason

          Reply
          • Thank you, Jason.

  14. Hello Jason,

    It’s been 3 weeks since I sent an application for a refugee travel document. I checked the USPS tracking number it it says my mail was delivered. I have no way of telling if the money order was cashed. Does it usually take this long to get a receipt from USCIS?

    Regards,

    Reply
    • Receipts are slow these days, along with everything else. If USCIS received it, you should be fine. Hopefully, you will have the receipt in the next couple weeks. If not, you can call USCIS and inquire: 800-375-5283. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  15. Dear Jason,

    I want to file a FOIA request before filing my asylum application. Do you think this might make them suspicious?

    Reply
    • You are very smart

      Please please do ask for your document via FOIA. Do not care or even think that they will be suspicious or not.

      I repeat You are doing great and have great idea

      You will regret all your life if they find inconsistency between your claim and other document which you are trying to obtain via FOIA

      Best

      Reply
    • No – It is not a bad idea, as you want your asylum application to be consistent with past filings. However, it can take a while to get the FOIA response, and so just don’t miss the one-year filing deadline while waiting for an answer. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Hi Jason,
        What should a non-immigrant ask for in a FOIA request to get all the documents they have of you? I mean a non-immigrant does not have an A-File, and in the online FOIA form, all the other options are specific forms and documents (like I-94, etc.)

        Reply
        • There are all sorts of FOIA requests. I guess it depends on what agency you are requesting from. If it is from USCIS (maybe for a petition?), give as much identifying info as you can, and hopefully you can get what you need. Take care, Jason

          Reply
  16. Dear fellow asylumists,
    I have a concern that is not related to this post but is probably affecting many of us. How do you find a job after graduation as asylum seeker?
    I just finished an MBA from a US University and honestly I’m finding it hard to secure a job. After my last interview, the recruiter made me understand that he doesn’t feel comfortable with the fact that I have an accent. Even though English is not my first language, I have a high level on speaking and writing. But the accent? There is nothing I can do about it. I do not have an extensive work background either. While completing my MBA, I was working at a restaurant and nursing home. Entry level jobs are requiring 2-3 years of experience, even some internships require work experience. It just doesn’t make sense. I have worked so hard and invest my time and my money to get a degree not to find a job. If anyone here has some suggestions or resources that can help, I will be grateful.

    Reply
    • IFY,
      I completely understand what you are going through. Don’t worry, It is not only you. All of us coming from different countries have some sort of accent even pronounce some of the basic words wrongly. Regarding job hunting without 2-3 years of experience. I suggest doing your ongoing work to be able to pay your bills and besides that start applying for internship in different private and non-profit organizations. Internship/volunteer is the easiest path to get a full-time job as you will get orientation to the work space environment and also build professional relationship to gain trust which will help you get full-time job.
      All the best my friend!

      Reply
      • This sounds like illegal conduct to me, but I do not do such cases. I don’t know if it is worth talking to an employment lawyer, given that all you really need is a job, but I do not think employers should be getting away with such conduct. That said, maybe it depends on where in the US you live, but most major cities have large numbers of foreign-born people, and so I would hope that this will be less of a problem in the more open-minded parts of our country. Take care, Jason

        Reply
        • Jason,
          I live in Philadelphia. How can they claim to be equal opportunity employers with such discrimination?

          Reply
          • God bless you for your kind words.
            Appreciated!
            I have tried to expedite 3 times with no luck.

      • Thank AS for your comment. It really means a lot to me

        Reply
      • IFY, aside from the employment discrimination which Jason touched on (title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or sex. Employers therefore can’t discriminate based on race, religion, color, or national origin, which includes ancestry and certain attributes and characteristics unique to your national origin), you should know that, though you may have an MBA, securing a job in major cities can be highly competitive, even for candidates born in American. You should also know that it can take a while before you actually land a job that requires you to use some or all of what you learned in your MBA. As well, jobs have become harder to get, even for the most experienced and learned, because of the current pandemic. By the way, have you tried or thought about applying outside of your state or city?

        There are a couple of things you might want to also bear in my mind (I learned these while living in the U.S.):
        – The U.S. culture is not so big on degrees or academic qualifications, unless, of course, the job specifically asks for the degree or specialized knowledge in a particular area. And, generally, when the job requires specialized knowledge or skills, there is usually certification or licensure requirement(s). This is quite different from many European, African, Latin American, Caribbean, and Asian countries where they tend to dwell on academic superiority and qualifications. In the U.S., many mid- and top-level managers only possess a bachelor’s degree/lesser. However, they are usually very experienced in their field or something similar. For instance, the VP for sales at my company only has a BSc degree. The Director of Operations also only has a BSc degree. All of the Sales Mangers only possess a BA/BSc/ASc/high school diploma. My manager-and bear in my that I am also a manager for 5 locations- is just completing her BSc in Business Administration. Between volunteer and paid work, some of them non-profit, I have worked at over 10 organizations; the pattern- as it relates to academic qualifications and actual on-the-job experience- is the same.
        -The U.S. is big on experience, internship, and volunteerism. Personally, if I were an academic advisor, I wouldn’t advise a student to pursue an MBA, especially if the MBA is general or doesn’t have a concentration like Accounting, for example, without first gaining some amount of professional experience. For, the U.S. employer, despite you presenting a master’s degree, will, more than likely, look favorably upon a candidate with a bachelor’s degree, or even an associate degree, and “demonstrated” experience.
        -Unfortunately, where you earned the business degree, especially if it is a non-specialized business degree, is very important! This is also independent of your country of origin. The employer automatically assumes that you’d have gone through a rigorous selection process and academic journey; therefore, you will be an asset to his/her organization. As such, in many respects, graduating from a “name-brand” or “prestigious” college does make your resume stand out. The effects of not going to a name-brand school could be cushioned, though, to some extent, if the job requires certification or licensure, as everyone would need to take the same exam before s/he can accept employment. In a sense, certification and licensure requirements/exams can sometimes “level the field”. You should also bear in mind that there are other candidates- some may have gone to one of the “prestigious” colleges- applying for the same job. (I am not assuming that you never went to a name-brand college that is known for business studies. This is just one of my observations living in the U.S. and something I think you should bear in mind).
        -The key is to try to get into the organization, even if you are going to clean the floor, and then demonstrate to the employer that you are more than capable. Many people achieve this by volunteering and interning with organizations. Again- and this is from personal experience- this country is big on volunteer and internship work. I know that this can be difficult for a lot of people because they don’t have the wherewithal, or support system, that would allow them to take on work that doesn’t pay. This is why it is imperative that the individual creates a road map, so to speak, before embarking on these journeys (taking on a master’s or PhD degree, for example).
        -Also, be “generous” when talking about your special skills, accomplishments, even those you achieved in your home country, and any certificate that you may have completed. U.S. employers admire candidates who are unique and not afraid to be different (in a “good way”, of course)/go the extra mile or two. If you have the time and resources, go do some certificates or courses that align with jobs that you are interested. This can only contribute to your skill set and make you stand out. In addition, don’t be afraid to talk about how you excelled at school, excelled in a particular subject(s), or how you used your leadership skills, for example, in your group projects, in grad school. How impressive were your projects? Did your professors think the companies that you studied or looked at like your projects? What feedback did you get from professors and the companies you assessed, analyzed, or created models and simulations for? Talk about how you took on a challenge and overcame the challenge in your grad or undergrad career. How did you use your initiative in grad school? Did you take up challenging electives so you could challenge yourself? Did you apply for any graduate assistant position? Did you publish any original work (this could also be poems, short stories, or more academic work)? Did you tutor undergrad students? Did you just go through the motions of grad school because you were paying for it? These are some of the things you’d need to look into and ask yourself.
        – Believe it or not, many U.S. employers value diversity. This also includes the ability to speak more than one language. What may concern them, however, especially when you have to be the face of the company, or work in certain positions that require you to interact with important clients and top-level management, is when your accent is so “strong”, it affects their ability to understand clearly what you are saying. This doesn’t mean that you are not speaking perfect or fluent English; it may just be that the interviewer is having a difficult time understanding your spoken English and is justifiably concerned about hiring you for a certain position. Though I am sort of ambivalent about this, if you have the money and time, and if it is something that you think may help you in the long run (completely up to you), I would suggest that you go to an expert in accent reduction. These speech “therapists” help you to sound as close to “American” as possible, or the very least, reduce your original accent to the point where you are better understood by most Americans. You can also practice at home/watch videos online. Again, I am not saying that you have a “thick” or “strong” foreign accent. I am conveying what I realized as a result of living in the U.S., New York City to be exact- a supposedly diverse city (linguistically diverse, more so). I speak 4 languages and 1 dialect fluently- French and Spanish being 2 of them (and English obviously)- and so, trust me, I can relate to being hardly understood when I just came to the U.S., or lacking the confidence to speak to people for fear of being perceived as unable to speak “correct” English/not getting a job because of my accent. In many conversations with people I just met, my accent, and what languages I speak, took up a lot of the conversation- even in interviews!!! I was able to overcome this by practicing in my mirror and I spoke and read aloud when I was alone. I also watched videos on YouTube. I also took a few speech classes. Now I barely speak my original accent and people hardly notice that I had or have a “strong” accent.
        – Unfortunately, U.S. employers like when the candidates have U.S. work experience, and preferably a U.S. degree, or able to demonstrate competence by passing a state or regional exam (a bar exam for lawyers, nursing exam for nurses, CPA for accountants, for example). This is not always the case, though, but jobs that require you to have a business degree will most likely require you to have U.S. experience, even if it is not mentioned in the advertisement for the position (the exception is when you have extensive experience managing large or medium size organizations overseas). The recruiting people will feel more comfortable selecting the candidate who has U.S. experience. With that said, and I am not trying to discourage you, you’d have to be extremely lucky to land a job in your area, or something that will allow you to use you degree, if you only have the business degree. This can be overcome if you did a degree that has a high demand and low supply. In other words, not many people pursue the degree(s), for whatever reason, but employers are constantly looking for people with such degree(s). These degrees are usually found in the STEM and medical fields, accounting/fiance (to some extent), and law. As well, for most degrees, it depends on what school you earned your degree from and if you passed the licensing requirement or get certified by the state/region. If you can get certified by the state, or pass a licensing exam, your experience overseas becomes less important.

        Earning an MBA, notwithstanding the aforementioned “drawbacks” of pursuing on MBA “too soon”, demonstrates to employers that you potentially have certain skill sets: You can think critically and independently, you are well-rounded, you are able to solve complex problems, you are detail-oriented, you work well under pressure and in challenging situations, you can meet deadlines, you are able to communicate clearly and effectively, you are computer literate, especially the ability to manipulate Excel functions and formulae and create databases, analyze and interpret data, you work well in groups and as an individual, you can work with little or no supervision, etc. Do not be afraid to show potential employers the knowledge and experience you’ve received in grad school. I don’t know if you haven’t yet, but you may also want to send your resume and cover letter to professional resume builders/editors and letter writers so they can perfect your resume and cover letter for you. It sometimes boils down to how you sell yourself. Your resume and cover letter must be tailored to the job you are applying for. The same goes for resumes that are built on online platforms such as LinkedIn. I am not saying you in particular are guilty of this, but where a lot of potential employees go wrong is sending one resume and cover letter to several employers, or use the same resume and cover letter for many jobs. As someone who has worked in HR, and also studied HR and employment and labor laws, I can tell you, for sure, that you should NEVER “mass apply” for jobs (again, not saying that you did or do that). Employers who are picky, or can afford to be selective, can sense when a candidate seriously wants the job and took the time to perfect an application for a position- one that is tailored to the position and company the potential employee is applying for and to. Furthermore, you should study the position- and, of course, the company- you are applying for (for example, the job description, the company’s culture, and the type of employees the company likes to hire) and tailor the resume and cover letter to the job, and company, you are applying for. You must approach job hunting the same way you approached grad school or undergrad, assuming you were a high achiever in college.

        Do not be afraid to call the companies- go in person even- when you applied and didn’t get a response. Practically speaking, though, sometimes you are not the most suitable candidate for the position that you applied for, even if you have an impressive resume, and you won’t get the position you applied for. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t another position that you could potentially qualify for or get in the same company. Also, do not be afraid to walk into organizations and ask them nicely and politely to look at your resume, or ask them if they are employing. I helped 3 fresh university graduates secure jobs for the company I work for because they simply walked into one of the buildings that I manage and politely asked if we were hiring. I will also never forget this young man from Africa who has an impressive academic and professional background but was never getting called for interviews. He has extensive experience in accounting in his home country. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from his home country and master’s degree from a U.S. university. However, he was only landing “door man” jobs in New York City. When he showed up and politely asked if we were hiring, I must admit that I was not interested to look at his resume at first. I told him to leave his resume, nonetheless. Before I left the office that day, I decided to go over his resume and cover letter. I was so impressed with his academic qualification and accomplishment, I kept asking myself why he wasn’t getting called for interviews. I thought harder. And I noticed his resume wasn’t in the “American format”. It was dull and had a very hideous and unprofessional design. The resume, along with the cover letter, also lacked something that could immediately grab someone’s attention. The order was also off! And so I decided to redo his resume and cover letter, unbeknownst to him, and give it to one of my clients (a CPA, accounting lecturer and tax expert). (By the way, I didn’t change the information on the resume. I just changed the design, format, the order in which his professional experience and academic career occurred). You know what the client asked me? The client asked me why is the young man working as a door man! He called him for an interview the next day. And apparently he aced the interview as he was offered a position as a Junior Tax Accountant in the same week! He is now doing a PhD in Accounting and Finance at NYU and also a research/graduate assistant at the university.

        Last but not least, if your application was rejected because they found a more suitable candidate, especially if you did an interview, write the interviewer or organization and let them know that you are grateful for the interview, or grateful that they took the time to look at your application. Take the opportunity to tell the company that you love and admire the company and the products and services they offer, and that you believe you’d be an asset to the company. Tell them to keep your application on file for future openings, if they didn’t mention that in the rejection email or letter. You may also tell them that you will follow up in the near future (don’t give a specific time when you will follow up) to see if they have any position available that is commensurate with your experience and qualifications.

        I apologize for the lengthy and “meandering” response. These are some of the many topics I am passionate about. I couldn’t help it. I am not professing to know it all when it comes to hiring practices and culture in the US; this is based solely on my experiencing working in HR and working for a couple U.S. companies- some large and some small. It is also what I noticed my clients, who are professionals and at the top of their careers, say and do. It is also based other people’s experience whom I know. The culture may be different depending on the state, or city even, that you are located or live in, as well.

        On a more serious note, though, I hope this helps not just only IFY, but any other member of this blog who may have similar experience or questions.

        Reply
        • This is helpful. In my field, I notice it is more about “who you know” than “what you know” when it comes to getting a job (hence, I work for myself!). I have seen that people get internships and that helps expand their network, which then makes it easier for them to get a job. Good luck, Jason

          Reply
        • Dear Jamie,
          First and foremost I would like to thank you for taking the time to make such a detailed and thorough comment about my concern. It is obvious that you are passionate about the subject but the most important thing is how useful this is to me and will probably be for many others in this blog. From your comment, I could identify ways to improve my job hunting process and present a better version of myself in the job market.
          I apologize for taking so long to respond as I wasn’t feeling well. Even missed couple of interviews but I am back and I will definitely keep you guys posted.

          Reply
    • Ify, where are you located?
      What is expectation as far wages?

      Reply
      • What is your expectation *

        Reply
        • Oh my goodness! Your expectation per wages, I meant to write.My head isn’t just functioning today.
          I am not asking for $ figure though. Just to know if you are able to start from somewhere, and work your way to your desired goal.
          Are you looking for any kind of job in particular?

          Don’t be discouraged, the second interview I attended, the woman told me that I hurt her with my firm handshake at the reception where she came to receive me😭😭
          She managed to take me upstairs for the interview, and told me point blank, during the interview that if she called to discuss with customer service, she would like to understand customer service, and that she could barely understand me, so she could not hire me.. She was so prejudiced!
          She was so condescending that I felt like a piece of trash after that encounter.
          One of those times that you get very close to ending it all , but at that point, GOD sends a voice that yells ‘mooooom’!
          You turn around, and become strong again😊

          Reply
          • Dear Tina,
            You took the words right out of my mouth. I felt so useless and so depressed these last few days that I do not have the courage to look at my jobs notifications . I didn’t expect the process to be easy but I wished they could be fair. As for my expectation, I am absolutely willing to start anywhere and work my way up.
            I live in Pennsylvania ( Philadelphia) and I am open for any proposition.
            Thank you for taking the time to respond.

          • Ify,
            If you have not, try the big banks.You will be surprised.
            Teller, collections specialist, or customer service. They are always hiring for these entry level positions.
            Get your foot in the door, and while in the system, apply to internal openings after some time. If your asylum is pending, it may be a little difficult to switch to higher roles. Pay is usually way above minimum wage,so depending on your family size or responsibility, that can pay the bills for now.
            Once you are in, you can easily switch to a better position in a short while, or have something on your resume to pursue better opportunities.
            How long have you lived in the US, if you do not mind me asking?

          • Tina,
            I have been in the US since 2016. My asylum was approved last year after expedition. Will be applying for GC soon. I wanted to thank you for your devotion to this asylum community. You remind me of Sara who was also committed and never missed a chance to make a meaningful contribution to others posts. Your time is really appreciated. I haven’t tried those banks yet. I am just starting my job hunting and this will be my next step. I sincerely wish you a quick and positive outcome for your asylum

    • Hi Ify
      They can’t technically discriminate based on your accent however in the management field (MBA) you need to have good communication skills and not being able to articulate your thoughts well and people not being able to understand you can be a problem. So the employers do look at that and it makes sense.
      If you don’t mind, I can make a suggestion about improving your verbal English communication skills based on my personal experience. I barely spoke English when I came here but now I barely have an accent, it might be a very tiny bit to a point that no one asks me “where I’m from”. All of us can do it if we put specific efforts in that direction. Language improves with practice and many immigrants make the mistake of not socializing outside their community. In college I stayed with American roommates and a year later joined a fraternity, dated American girls etc. I am not saying you need to do these specific things but you need to push yourself to communicate with native speakers as much as possible. I also used to record myself on the phone saying various things and then observe how I sound like and make improvements. It took 3-4 years but over time it worked.

      Reply
      • Jon,
        What is your point?

        Reply
      • Jon,
        What do you mean by s/he needs to have some good communication skills?
        Did you miss the part that she said she has a high level of writing, and speaking? No, you need a little more English class to learn the difference between English language, and accent.
        Did you say s/he needs to improve her verbal communication skills by learning to sound like Americans? You do not know Americans have different accents too? Have you heard someone from Alabama, or New York Speak? Have you heard black Americans speak?
        You stated you no longer have an accent! So the American accent you worked hard to acquire is not an accent? Everyone has an accent, my friend!
        Let me guess, in your head, your acquired accent is improved American language skill.
        Let us say Ify goes ahead, and adopts the American accent like you have advised.
        Two years down the line, life takes her to live in the UK. S/he will have to adopt the British accent too, because then, that becomes a superior language skill, right?
        If you consciously speak slowly, everyone will understand you.
        It was easier for you to learn to sound like an American because you never spoke English at all.
        Some people spoke English from elementary school to college level where they came from, and you have no idea how tough it is for such people to start learning a new accent as adults.
        I hope you get my point that accent is not a language, and no accent is superior to any other.
        We just need to speak slowly to respect people whose ears may not be attuned to how we speak, so they can understand us.

        Reply
      • Jon,
        I would like to thank you for contribution. I agree that practice makes perfect and I am an eternal learner. Without a certain level of communication skills, I wouldn’t be accepted into this program. Additionally, I do not intend to do anything purposefully to hide or loose my accent. I believe it is part of my identity and that’s exactly why I am teaching my 15 months old to speak french. As long as I am confident in my level of English, i will find my way. But again, thank you for your contribution

        Reply
      • I second Tina, there is a bank branch where I am going for the last about 3 years because of my office’s commercial accounts. There was a lady who was just a teller when I started going to that branch, she had a very strong accent and sometimes I barely understand what she said (no offense my accent is hard to understand too sometimes) but later, she became some type of supervisor in those tellers, recently I visited the branch, and she has the corner office and the whole branch is working under her. Keep in mind, in the US too the people on big posts started as interns, assistants, etc. we as asylum applicants are starting our lives all over again, we should expect the same behavior as an intern or a fresh graduate too, once we get a chance even at a lower post, with our past experience, we can make a difference and earn the suitable place with time and hard work.

        Reply
        • I had a friend from Pakistan who used to fake a strong accent so people would not understand him. It got him out of many conversations. I am not sure if that is the case here, but one never knows…

          Reply
          • 🤣🤣 oh my goodness, Jason

          • Lolzzz, yes Jason this is a real problem😂

        • Right, seeker.
          Once you are sure of what you are bringing to the table, you are not afraid to start from the bottom, because it will only be a matter of time, before you get to where you need to be.

          Reply
          • Yes Tina, I remember sending my resume to hundreds of places after obtaining my US diploma. I was in the impression that because of my past experience and recent US education I will get a suitable job easily, but in reality, I was totally wrong. It took some time, a re-start of professional life from the bottom, but it worked in the long run, not fully satisfied, but it will work.

    • If it wasn’t for this pandemic, I would just buy you coffee ☕ and may be listen. While cultural and some other “barriers” could perhaps aggreviate the situation for some immigrants, I would like to point out that not all fereshly minted grads could easily find a job especially now as the market has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Nevertheless, there are still jobs and yes, some set backs too.
      I have graduated from here as well and I recall how frustrating it was. I speak several languages and couldn’t find a job with a law degree. Yes, a US law degree.
      Needless to say I have a law license (barred,) but no shingles!
      The best thing you did was to invest your time in something you believe and wanted to do.
      As my case is still pending, I almost lost hope when I was told I couldn’t take the oath ceremony ( be an attorney).
      This is what worked for me
      1. Reach out to your campus student service. Unfortunately, many of us are not really acclimated how the networking works in this country. That office should have sort of list serve for vacancy that are more tailored to your goal.
      2 Your resume might need to be polished.
      3. Have an open mind about a job.
      I started as an admin assistant with several master’s degree and yes MBA too.
      4. I reached out to alumini, professors and basically anyone who might know someone that knows some one, I had them share my resume. You have to keep up the fight. Eventually, someone who values what you are able to offer will stepped in.
      One thing I have learnt through that process of job hunting, people generally are helpful. I don’t know if this peculiar to lawyers but when I sent an email for a cofee and asked advice, they came through and I rember having 4-6 cup of coffee a day!
      5. Find volunteer opportunity within your community even part time. It helps immensely and it’s an opportunity to acclimate yourself to an office culture
      6. You might want to expand your search area may be out of state? If you are in a city that’s likely to attract more competitions, the more choice employers have for more experienced candidate.
      7. I would not say this if I had not lived through it. I know the pain. This too will come to pass. Keep up the fight.

      Reply
      • Solomon,
        Then you will be offering me two cups after pandemic. I didn’t expect my post to generate so much enthusiasm from all of you and I am grateful for all of these suggestions. I am definitely going to improve my networking strategy and hopefully things will work out better. Thanks

        Reply
        • IFY,

          Don’t worry keep applying for as many opportunities as you can. Don’t loose courage or hope. America is the land of opportunity. You may find some people to be racist or hostile or unethical even but you will also find a lot of kindness and generosity here (Take Jason here for an example). Right now the job market is in a tough spot for sure due to this COVID-19 pandemic. Also since you are a fresh graduate so you will have try harder and apply to as many opportunities as possible. You may have to start with a lower position first to gain some experience and then jump to a higher level positions later on. The fact that you have an M.B.A will help you a lot in the long run. Hardship and struggle will make you stronger.

          And remember every now and then you will run into people who are hostile or slightly aggressive towards you because of your race or skin color or foreign origin but in my personal experience i have met more nice people at workplace here in USA than bigots……..Best of Luck Keep trying…you will find a great opportunity soon………….

          Reply
          • Thank you so much John

    • IFY,

      I completely understand what you are going through. To be honest, you’ll always run through this type of micro-agression anywhere you go because you sound a bit different or look a bit different. And this is not limited to the U.S. I tend to think the nationalist sentiment brought forefront by the Trump administration made things a bit worse, but to be fair, this kind of behavior existed way before him.
      Do not let this sort of things break your spirit. There is opportunities for you out here. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. There’s a lot of employers that do not have a problem with hiring someone with an accent. For a HR specialist to even admit that they have a problem with the fact that you have an accent, is unethical to say the least. Finding work right out of college is challenging for almost everyone. Especially now that things are exacerbated due to the pandemic. People are anxious about their future, their jobs, and this often turns to resentment towards foreigners. This is just the truth. Some try to rearrange themselves to look somehow more “Americanized” and quite frankly, it works out well in some cases. I personally opted for affirmation. I have a foreign sounding name. I have an accent. I often dress traditional. And I’m comfortable with it. It never stopped me from achieving my goals here. I’m grateful for that.

      Reply
      • Thank you Cordy

        Reply
    • If you’re a foreigner but didn’t get into a top-15 school for your MBA (and it seems to be the case), then the money was wasted. Sorry about that but you should’ve done research beforehand.

      Reply
      • Dear NM,
        Usually, I try to be as cordial as possible when interacting with people via such platforms. I believe that we all have the right to express our opinion. However, you are deciding on the faith of someone who worked tirelessly and has invested physically, emotionally and financially 3 years long to finally accomplish her goal. I didn’t go to a top 15 business school but let me be clear:
        I did not waste my money because my education has positively impacted my life
        I did not waste my money because unlike others, I am not doomed to failure. I am a fighter and I will make my way up.

        Reply
      • Education is never a waste of time. Many people make college choices based on financial constraints as well. For example, I was accepted to Duke and CMU but I chose a cheaper state school because that’s what I could afford. Many people who join Harvard, Kellogg, Booth or such other top tier MBA programs usually work first in consulting firms like MBB or Big 4 and then join…these companies pay for your MBA. A top MBA can cost over $60K per year in tuition. The value they bring is not really about the content of the courses which are quite similar for AACSB accredited schools, but from the networking you build at these top schools. It’s mostly about creating opportunities through networks. Yes, it is absolutely worth the money if you can afford it or someone else pays for it.

        Reply
        • Correct: you pay $60K/year for networking and for the fact that Blackstone and Two Sigma come on campus to interview you. When you go to a school in which you somehow manage to work part-time at night, you still pay thousands of dollars in tuition but you have Cummins coming on campus instead.

          An MBA is not about studying (finance and marketing classes are commoditized; what you learn at Indiana has no difference with the curriculum in Chicago) but rather about meeting the right people (classmates), learning from them how to act and how to speak, and being exposed to the right companies.

          Reply
  17. hi Jason
    I expedited myi730 petition a request through congresswomen. so today I checked online it says

    ON AUG 24 YOUR REQUEST TO HAVE YOUR CASE EXPEDITE, REFERRAL; NUMBER ……………… SFR WAS COMPLETED. sir do you have any idea whats that mean?

    thanks so much

    Reply
    • I do not know, but it sounds positive. I suppose you could call USCIS and try to ask them if the case is being expedited: 800-375-5283. It would be nice if their on-line messages were a little less mysterious. Take care, Jason

      Reply
    • Hi RP, may I ask you what papers you had send to your congresswomen? Thank you

      Reply
  18. Tina
    Haven’t you had bio matrics in the past?

    I applied in May for renewal, didn’t go for finger print. How do u know it is needed?

    Jawie

    Reply
    • Hi Jason,
      Just a gentle request for you – please change the headline/title of this blog post. I know you have elaborately explained the details about how non immigrants and asylum seekers can participate in the elections, but unfortunately most people do not read beyond the headline and if some folks take this as a green signal to register to vote or actually vote by mail or in person it may have disastrous consequences as there is no waiver for falsely claiming to be a citizen apart from some very limited exceptions in 209(c). There have been many many cases where people have unfortunately done this unknowingly which results in deportation as you maybe aware. I know your heart is in the right place you take this in the right spirit.

      Reply
      • I guess I understand the concern, but I don’t feel people will see the headline and run out to vote, and the post explains the rules, so I do not think a different title is needed. Take care, Jason

        Reply
    • The new rules. Renewals from August 25th, biometric fee is required.

      Reply
  19. Has anyone applied for EAD recently?
    I wanted to find out if the new finger print fee, and EAD renewal fee should be combined in one check or separate checks.
    I can’t afford to have my application returned for any errors, because I need the receipt to keep my job while I wait for the EAD.
    I have no idea how long it will take to the new card.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • We usually file the fee combined in one check, but you can do that either way. We have never had a problem in either case. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Thank you, Jason.
        Have you filed any renewal since the 25th?

        Reply
        • Not yet, but we did try to get a new one filed where the deadline was the 150th day was August 24. That one was tricky…

          Reply
          • 😀

        • We have some getting ready to file. There is a new form, which I’ve filled a couple times so far, and it is about the same as the old form. There are also some new requirements related to discretion and potentially people who entered unlawfully, and I still need to look into that. Take care, Jason

          Reply
  20. Jason, Thanks for your post. However I strongly advise fellow Immigrants to stay away from protests if you can. These protests are getting violent here more and more and charges are being filed. The non-profit where I volunteer in CA is dealing with several cases where immigrants with DACA, asylum, green cards and even undocumented are stuck with felonies and misdemeanors resulting in deportable offenses. Most don’t have resources to fight these charges and probably never realized what they could lead to. They just happened to read social media posts forwarded by friends asking them to show up at a certain place and time. Please stay safe and protect your status first. And NO it’s unlikely that Biden will be able to help especially if you have felonies and CIMT. I’m saying this because the same people are asking social workers and pro bono attorneys if they will be safe once Biden comes to power

    Reply
    • I agree with you TJ. I for one dislike protest for they often result in violence, and all kinds of things.
      Even when, and if I become a citizen, I will prefer to write than show up in such gatherings.
      Just my personal preference, because I have a phobia for any appearance of violence.

      Reply
      • Hi Tina,
        I am with you 100%. I became citizen 2 years ago (ex Asylum) and I do not attend street protests either nor do I prefer them since they cause extreme inconvenience to the people who have nothing to do with the issue on hand due to street closures, public transportation closures, dirty streets afterwards, graffiti, noise etc. Tax payers have to pay for cleanups afterwards as well. There are other ways of protesting like you rightly said. If street protests are necessary then they can be done at the right venue where the politicians are such as the capitol and White House not in random neighborhoods. However I do not want to say this since I know many people disagree with me and that’s fine. But honestly my comment has nothing to do with my personal bias, this is really what’s happening at the non profit organization where I volunteer so I wrote a warning.

        Reply
      • TINA and TJ, there is absolutely nothing wrong with peacefully protesting/petitioning your government. It is a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. U.S. citizens and residents should feel free to protest, even if it causes you to feel uneasy/anxious. That’s the whole purpose of a protest- to bring attention to whatever the cause is via disruption of normalcy and contentment that some enjoy.

        There are many people who flee their home countries, and become refugees and asylees, because they protest for human rights and against human rights violations! It was protests- though they inconvenienced many- that allowed for universal suffrage, an end to chattel slavery, an end to Jim Crow laws, the ability for consenting adults to marry whomever they so choose, freedom of assembly and association, freedom of speech, to name a few. People have died fighting and protesting for some of the rights we now take for granted. In my country of origin, my ancestors protested, sometimes rebelliously and violently, and gave their lives the process, so their progenies could enjoy some semblance of justice/freedom.

        I know that most of us, including myself, don’t like violence and don’t want to be a part it- by the way, are majority of the protesters deserving of the label “violent”, really?-but what do you do when everything that you have done, including staging protests, fails to resonate or gain traction? Now, imagine doing the same thing over and over again for centuries to no avail. If what they are protesting against (violently or peacefully) is an existential threat to YOUR existence or life, would you believe otherwise, especially if that threat doesn’t seem to be abating despite centuries of calls for justice and peaceful protests?

        You are also free to not participate in protests, even if and when you become a citizen. That is your right. But who are you tell people who have been experiencing systemic injustices and brutality for centuries how to protest/petition their government, especially when your “suggestions” have proven futile?

        Reply
        • Jamie, Every person has a different outlook and different ways they like to contribute to the society. I faced a difficult immigration journey, that’s why I volunteer with an immigrant organization which helps asylees and new immigrants. I’m merely gave a warning based on whatever I saw during my volunteer work in the recent weeks due to numerous charges filed. People were arrested, let go and charges filed which range from a felony to just misdemeanors. Most of the misdemeanors are CIMT and unfortunately most of the people are in no monetary situation to deal with this. Obviously anyone is free to ignore and take their own decisions, I am in no place to force anyone to do anything. I was merely sounding a warning. Also, my opinion specifically about Street protest was my personal opinion and I clearly stated that people might disagree with me and that’s fine. Protests are of different kinds, I was only referring to street protests and not of other types of protesting

          Reply
          • I think your point is well taken – non-citizens who attend protests take more risks than citizens, and it is important to understand those risks before deciding to go to a protest, and to take precautions to be safe. Take care, Jason

          • TJ- reread your last comment before your response to me and then we have then you can have a discussion.

            Let me put it here for your convenience:

            “Hi Tina,
            I am with you 100%. I became citizen 2 years ago (ex Asylum) and I do not attend street protests either nor do I prefer them since they cause extreme inconvenience to the people who have nothing to do with the issue on hand due to street closures, public transportation closures, dirty streets afterwards, graffiti, noise etc. Tax payers have to pay for cleanups afterwards as well. There are other ways of protesting like you rightly said. If street protests are necessary then they can be done at the right venue where the politicians are such as the capitol and White House not in random neighborhoods. However I do not want to say this since I know many people disagree with me and that’s fine. But honestly my comment has nothing to do with my personal bias, this is really what’s happening at the non profit organization where I volunteer so I wrote a warning.”

            The whole comment IGNORED why people are protesting! It also came off as condescending, unsympathetic, snooty, and clearly from someone who is not BLACK! Your pretentious, holier-than-thou attitude toward the protesters, many of whom are non-violent, is insufferable and uncharacteristically asylee (perhaps this is because you now have citizenship),to say the least. In case you didn’t know, lives are more important than damn buildings and graffiti! I also fail to believe that asylum applicants and asylees, like you claim, are out in the streets violently protesting and getting charged for offenses that amount to crime involving mortal turpitude (CIMT) or offenses that can get them deported.

          • Jamie,
            I don’t see a place that I stated that people should not protest how they like.
            I was stating my personal preference.
            Yes, protests often result in violence.
            The above statement does not mean that genuine protesters are violent.
            It simply means that violence erupts because some other people with other motives highjack such gatherings.
            I clearly stated the form of protest I prefer ,and that in no way condemned other forms.
            My phobia for anything resembling violence emanated from something you know nothing about.
            I will not spend anymore time dwelling on this, or trying to explain why I dislike in person protests.

          • Jamie, let’s agree to disagree. I already stated my preference against street protests and violence and it is because of my past experiences. I did not say that people’s concerns are unwarranted. About the charges, you can disbelieve if you want but charges are being filed for unlawful assembly, assault, vandalism etc. And I never said that they are only filing charges on asylees, it includes undocumented folks. Daca and other statuses. They include citizens as well but the organization I volunteer focuses on immigrants. Most have already bailed out but the charges stick unless dismissed and they will have immigration consequences as per the pro bono attorneys. I’m not sure what’s so unbelievable about this but no point arguing. Good day.

    • TJ,
      Please sign below petition to help fellow asylum seekers.

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
      • Thank you Jawid. You did a great job starting this petition. Thank you for taking the initiative on behalf of all pending Asylum seekers. I hope it brings some positive change and we see some significant results. Asylum seekers are loosing patience waiting for so many years.

        Reply
    • I do not think Biden will solve all the immigration issues, but I do think he will restore rule of law and improve due process protections. As for protests, I think it is ok to attend, just as long as people realize that there are severe consequences for being arrested (like deportation). I think it is not hard to see when a protest turns violent and to avoid trouble. Of course, it is safer to not go, but I think in most cases, if you are careful, it is fine. That said, I think working to help elect Joe Biden is safe and is more effective than protesting. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  21. Hello,
    I was married to an American woman in March 2016.
    I applied for asylum in September 2016.
    I got the green card based on marriage in February 2019.
    I sent an email to withdraw my asylum application in March 2019 and have not received any response since.
    Today August 27, 2020 I got Notifications that is schedule an interview. my asylum file at Arlington office.
    what should I do? I just don’t want any immigration complication!
    Thank you very much

    Reply
    • AS,
      Please sign below petition to help fellow asylum seekers.

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Good luck with your withdrawal application.
      Jawid

      Reply
    • I think you call the asylum office and tell them you had withdraw the application.

      I also applied in May 2016 and not get interview.

      Did you applied after one year Or have you ever submit query for interview? I heard they only schedule applicants which has one year bar from the old.

      Reply
    • Email them again with a copy of the green card and tell them you want to withdraw the case. They should let you do that (they normally have you fill a form). If they do not let you do that, you should go to the interview and tell them you want to withdraw (assuming you do – some people want asylum anyway, so they can get a Refugee Travel Document). Worst case, they could try to interview you, but I think that is very unlikely (unless maybe they think you have committed a fraud or there is some other issue – if you are worried about that, you should probably talk to a lawyer for help). Take care, Jason

      Reply
  22. Hello

    are people getting affirmative asylum interviews at arlington asylum office nowadays?

    Can I know my interview information using Alien number ?

    Does arlington office still allow walk-in service ? I want to ask to put ob shortlist?

    Best regards

    Reply
    • Asylum Seeker,
      If you have a pending asylum case, I created a petition at change.org here it is

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
    • We have had a couple recently, but they were people with one-year bar issues. Otherwise, I think some LIFO cases are being interviewed. It is unclear how many, but previously, they said they would interview 10 per day. I think it is less than that, but I do not know. If you want to get info online, you need the receipt number, which starts with ZAR if the case was originally filed in Arlington. They do not have walk-ins there or InfoPass. You can email them – you can find their email if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  23. good article

    Reply
    • Mano Babu,
      If you have a pending asylum case, I created a petition at change.org here it is

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
  24. Hey, how long does it take these days to receive asylum receipt and biometrics letter?

    Reply
    • It’s very unpredictable, even from the same asylum office. We just received a receipt maybe 3 or 4 days after mailing the case (I think this was the fastest we’ve ever received a receipt), but in other cases, receipts are taking over 2 months. Mostly, receipts are slower than they were before the pandemic. Biometrics are also not predictable. Most people seem to be waiting a few months. One person who filed in April received his biometric appointment letter last week. Others are still waiting after 2 or 3 months, or longer. Take care, Jason

      Reply
    • Mark,
      Please sign below petition to help fellow asylum seekers.

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
  25. Hi everyone,
    If you have a pending asylum case, I created a petition at change.org here it is
    http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

    I don’t know how effective it will be, but if we get many many signatures may be it will have some impact.
    Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
    Thanks,

    Jawid

    Reply
  26. Beloved Jason,

    Thank you for your kindness and dedication. We are also grateful for your team and guests who contribute to your noble cause.

    I have just submitted my offer to volunteer and its super easy. You just go to the website of your preferred candidate and follow instructions on the Volunteer tab.

    Before the election even happens, I see some people have already concluded that it’s rigged. If they are genuine, why not take immediate action by putting controls in place and thus safeguard the integrity of the election. There is still time to close any loopholes before the voting begins, and I believe there are systems already in place to prevent most of the concerns being raised. Even Republicans should realize that if they condone such attacks on democracy and disregard for law, they are setting a bad precedent for future Democrat administrations. That is not good for the USA. Take Care

    Reply
    • Thank you for volunteering – it is very important work. As for the election being rigged, while I expect there will be issues, especially related to foreign (Russian) interference, I have not heard about concerns that the election itself will be rigged (except the nonsense from our President, who is not credible). I do expect there will be efforts to make it harder to vote, in the hope that it will benefit Republicans, but that is part of the volunteer work you will do – educating prospective voters so they know how to vote. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Yes Jason the President is the one I’m referring to. If he is genuinely concerned about any flows in the election, why is he not taking any action to address the situation, instead of stoking discord. Let’s also hope Russia and China stop their shenanigans. Take Care.

        Reply
        • He sows discord because he believes it will encourage people to vote for him. Sadly, in the case of many people, he is not wrong. Take care, Jason

          Reply
    • Daniel,
      If you have a pending asylum case, I created a petition at change.org here it is

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
  27. Hi Jason,

    I submitted my asylum I589 application in late May, 2020. Couple minutes ago I checked my case status online using my receipt number, it says
    “You must have an application pending for at least 150 days before you can apply for a work permit, which is called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). ….. Your case has been pending with USCIS for 95 days, not including delays, and the USCIS portion of the EAD Clock is currently running.”
    Isn’t EAD Clock 365 days rule effective as of 25th of August? Or USCIS hasn’t changed it yet?
    (If 150 EAD clock days rule still effective for recent applicants, that will be so much relief for all asylum seekers recently filed their I589.)

    Is the EAD 365 days rule only valid for asylum seekers, who submitted their asylum applications on or after August 25th?

    Have you heard anything about it?

    I always thank you for everything you are doing here for us.

    Best,
    NEM

    Reply
    • My understanding is that the new rule is now in effect, and that you have to have 365 days on the clock to file for an EAD. However, there is a lawsuit pending to try to stop the new rule, but as far as I know, there is no result yet. My guess is that USCIS has just not updated their page, but I do not know. It is also possible that I (and others) are mis-reading the new rule and that it only applies to people who file for asylum on or after August 25, but I do not think that is the case. The problem is that the new rule is not as clear as it might be, and USCIS is generally a mess. By the time your clock reaches 150 days, maybe there will be more clarity on this point (or maybe the lawsuit will have had some effect). Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Dear Jason,

        Thank you. Hope the lawsuit will win.

        Have a good day

        Reply
      • So now, with the wait time of 365 days….Could we really see a diminishing of backlogs ?

        Reply
        • Not just that – it is also harder to get to the US and so I guess there are less applicants, and they have more asylum officers than ever. If the coronavirus abates, I would expect cases to start moving more rapidly. We shall see. Take care, Jason

          Reply
          • Okay, thanks for your take.

  28. Dear Jason and members, i have a question for you all…

    Does anybody here have experience of applying to a car loan while on pending asylum ?
    Is that possible ? Has anyone done it.?

    Reply
    • You can finance a car.
      Whatever you do, do not go to “buy here pay here”.
      They will rip you off, and not report your payments to the credit bureaus.
      Reputable dealerships usually have banks that offer financing to their clients. The Dealership can find a bank that will agree to finance you.

      Reply
      • Thank you so much fir this information, now i don’t know if you ever came across with this but, when you’re filling the application for the loan what do you enter in the Citizenship question ? Are we permanent resident alients or non-resident aliens ?
        I thought this question was meant to bar you from getting a loan… what’s your experience with this ?

        Reply
        • If those are the only 3 options on the form, it will be non-resident alien.

          Reply
          • Thank you Tina,
            You’re always kind !

        • I do not know about that question, but I would suggest you be very careful and be sure not to claim you are a US citizen. There is a very wide bar against claiming US citizenship, and it could block you from ever getting a green card, even if the citizenship claim is just made on a loan application. Take care, Jason

          Reply
    • Yes, you can buy as many cars you like. I personally have bought 3 cars on loan as I manage car rental business on part time basis. Ally auto finance and capital one finance has given me loans, but there are plenty out there. You just need to have a good credit history and valid EAD.

      Reply
    • I do not, but if you have a work permit, you should be able to get a loan, as some of my clients buy cars. I think it will depend on the dealership. If one does not agree to give a loan to you, another one might. Take care, Jason

      Reply
      • Thank you so much fir this information, now i don’t know if you ever came across with this but, when you’re filling the application for the loan what do you enter in the Citizenship question ? Are we permanent resident alients or non-resident aliens ?
        I thought this question was meant to bar you from getting a loan… what’s your experience with this ?

        Reply
      • What about student loans? Do they give student loans with only work permit?

        Reply
        • I don’t know, but I doubt it.
          I guess it’s easier to get car loan ,and mortgage because they are tangible items that could also double as collaterals for the loans.
          For student loan, the bank will have no way of recovering the money.

          Reply
          • Maybe they could force you to work as an intern?

          • Well Jason, if the asylum seeker ends up being deported, how would the bank get him/her to work as an intern?😊
            On a home or car loan, they have the home or the car.
            I think that is why they give loans that have tangible collaterals to us.
            I was surprised when when a bank increased my credit limit to $5000, because credit card too has no collateral.
            It was always between $500 and $1500.
            I guess because of the revolving nature of credit cards, plus the bank can block you from using the card, if they notice a max out trend with no tangible repayments to mitigate their loss.
            Student loan carries more risk.

        • I do not know, but I would think it depends on the loan company. For example, there are many F-1 students in the US and some of them may use loans (maybe from their home country). I do think for people in the US and not on an F-1 visa, it would be very difficult to get a loan unless you at least have an EAD. It may be worth talking to the school though, as there is sometimes other money available (scholarships) for students and maybe that would help. Take care, Jason

          Reply
  29. I just received a letter:

    Aleksandr,

    We did it!

    We received official confirmation from USCIS management that the furlough of more than 13,000 employees HAS BEEN CANCELLED!

    This is a major win for every dedicated public servant at USCIS and for our union. For weeks, we joined together to put pressure on management and congressional leaders to end these senseless furloughs. In the midst of a global pandemic, it was unacceptable that the agency was looking to put working families out of a job.

    With your help, we made more than 55,000 contacts with Congress, hosted information sessions via video teleconference, engaged thousands of people on social media, and activated the full force of AFGE’s membership and the entire AFL-CIO labor community to keep USCIS workers on the job.

    When we work together, we know that we can win.
    Even with this victory, we will still need congressional action to prevent similar funding challenges in the near future. We need to keep Congress engaged so that they ensure that the agency remains operational and that USCIS jobs are secure.
    Thank you all for your service to the American people and for fighting against these furloughs until victory was ours.

    Look out for more communications on our next steps to protect USCIS.
    In Solidarity,

    Dr. Everett Kelley
    AFGE National President

    Reply
    • I really don’t understand the whole furlough fiasco. I guess they just wanted to use the pandemic as an excuse to destroy USCIS. To mistreat their employees the way they did is a real disgrace. Sadly, from this Administration, it is par for the course. Take care, Jason

      Reply
    • Aleksandr,
      If you have a pending asylum case, I created a petition at change.org here it is

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
  30. I believe that it’s unethical to call for non-citizens to participate in the election campaign. We (asylum seekers) are guests in this country. This country gives us relief (and huge opportunities!) after living in dangerous and messy places we came from. And we must be thankful for that no matter how long and hard the way to become asylee is. For us being here is not a right, it’s a privilege. And we should let American people decide what is better for them no matter how it affects us. Ultimately we can move somewhere else, but this country has always been their home and that’s they right to make any choice.

    Reply
    • You have a slave psychology. You should not mix concepts such as right and privilege. You are not doing you a favor when you are given asylum, you are getting it by law. And you need to be able to fight for your rights.

      Reply
      • I know how to fight for my rights. I had to leave my own country because of my political opinion and actions. And I definitely wouldn’t like if the destiny of my county is decided participation of non citizens.

        Reply
        • @Nick, I have typed, deleted, typed deleted, typed again, and again and deleted to avoid sounding disrespectful to you.
          When I find the right words, I will be responding to you, but in the meantime, here is something reflect on. I hope you did not burn all the bridges in the place you came from, because if this administration gets another 4 years, you may be going back to participate in the politics of where you came from, except of courseyou are from Norway?
          Stay tuned!

          Reply
          • Something to reflect on*

        • I don’t care for what reasons you left your country. The main thing is that you do not understand the principles of immigration law. Nobody asks you to break the law. I think it’s because you like Trump. Most immigrants hate Trump and are ready to resist him by all legal means.

          Reply
          • I’m not talking about the law. The law is not absolute. It’s changing. The cruelest crimes against humanity were committed according to current law. That is why I’m talking about ethics.

        • Where I disagree is that the law specifically allows non-citizen (and lawful permanent residents) to participate in the process to some degree. That is a benefit of living in a free society. Take care, Jason

          Reply
        • Nick, you say you know how to fight for your rights but do you know your rights. Participating in election campaign is your right. But I see you fight for it by attacking those who stand by you. Also, that mentallity of focusing on citizen/non-citizen instead of focusing on right/wrong when it comes to destiny of your country is xenophobic. Take it easy.

          Reply
          • I’m not attacking anyone. I just said my opinion and I’m very surprised how intolerant and aggressive most of the asylum seekers toward different opinions. I thought it should be the opposite.

        • Just keep this in mind. Lets suppose trump wins another 4 years. Do you think he will be kind and nice towards asylum seekers? Who is going to stop him if he issues another executive order that the EADs of all asylum seekers currently present in USA should be cancelled and they should be put in private ICE detention centers indefinitely for decades until their asylum cases are adjudicated. Asylum seekers who are detained are treated like animals without getting a bathroom break instead given a plastic bag to use. They sleep on floor in a cage or in a confined space with just a thermal sheet given for sleep.

          Would you rather prefer that all asylum seekers be treated like animals because that is what Trump is going to do. He is already treating children like animals. May children die in ICE detention centers. Do you prefer that all asylum seekers be treated like that.

          Have some common sense. By U.S law all senators and congressmen of every state are legally obligated to represent all people living in America not just U.S citizens. I am talking to my congressman and senator on a continuous basis to expedite my interview. We have as much right to voice our verbal support towards US presidential elections as anybody else.

          Reply
    • Hi Nick,

      According to the Merriam-Webster, “unethical” means “not conforming to a high moral standard: morally wrong…” The Oxford Dictionary defines it as “not morally acceptable”. When does something or someone have “high moral standards”? Examples of when people lack “high moral standards” are lying, cheating, stealing, killing, etc. The lexical definition of “moral” is principles of right and wrong in behavior/conduct. Hence, when one lacks morality or high moral standards, s/he, or his or her action/conduct, can be described as unethical- “morally bankrupt”, even.

      Calling for non-citizens- who hope to one day be full integrated into the society and live in the country permanently- to participate in the country’s democratic process is far from unethical.

      What is truly unethical, though, is targeting a set of vulnerable people who are unable to shield themselves from the attacks. What is unethical is frequently “dishing out” due process violations to asylum seekers, just because they are asylum seekers! Unethical is when the most powerful country on the planet rips babies and children from their parents who are seeking refuge from persecution, or the possibility of persecution, as a form of punishment. What is unethical is deliberately making the asylum process difficult, discouraging, and riddled with obscurities and legal and procedural hurdles. What is unethical is using the power of the government to scaremonger and propagate falsehoods and falsities about asylum seekers and refugees. Unethical is becoming a signatory, at your own volition, of an organization, convention, entity or body, and reneging on that promise. Or completely ignoring the fact that you are contravening your own laws in a bid to carry out your and your base’s racist agenda.

      FYI, the United States of America has a moral and legal obligation to people fleeing persecution and seeking refuge here. What the U.S. can do, however, is abnegate its moral, ethical and legal responsibility to protect vulnerable people who seek its protection. Until then, the U.S. must provide protection, in the safest and humane way possible, to those who genuinely need it. And, if it is not providing the protection/refuge because the person seeking the protection is not qualified, it should use a procedure(s) that is safe and humane. If the U.S. does not live up to the foregoing, it doesn’t only become an ethical issue but also legal and dangerous issues.

      Reply
      • The Clinton administration made changes to the asylum system. These changes were human, and very effective in the 90s.
        His administration also switched to the LIFO, it worked out okay, and resolved the backlog issue. INTENT!
        Schumer was the Stephen Miller of that era. I am super surprised to see how Schumer has evolved on immigration🙄

        The clear distinction between the Clinton era, and Trump era in my opinion is the fact that one was solution driven, while the other is a pure racist agenda.

        Reply
    • Nick,

      Your comment is wrong on so many levels. Let me try to take one sentence at a time.

      1–> It’s not unethical for Asylees/Asylum Seekers to participate in the election campaign. Our lives are stuck on the political outcome of this election. We have more right to participate and and more at stake here than any one else. We have already been through hell and don’t need any more suffering at the hands of Trump and his evil government

      2–> We are not guests in this country. We have no where else to go so this is as much our home now as it is any one else’s.

      3–> It is not a privilege. It’s a basic fucking human right. The same right that Americans will also enjoy if they have to seek asylum in other countries.

      4–> We should not just sit silent and let other people decide the fate of our lives. We should be on the right side of history and trying to support for our cause and our rights. This political election is not just for American people. It affects my life and my family’s life so i will support the political party that fights for my rights.

      5-> You my friend do have a slave mentality. American people immigrated here from europe and other countries in the last few centuries. They were immigrants before just like we are immigrants now. They were not native to this land. They took opportunity to come here as immigrants and many of them came here as asylees fleeing persecution from their home countries in the last few centuries.

      6–> And where else are we going to move? Do you think that we hold multiple citizenships. There is no where else to go. You might be fine with sitting like a duck while other evil men decide your fate and your family’s fate but I and other asylees will continue supporting our rights .

      Get your facts straight before you start spreading silly ideas.

      Reply
      • “We have no where else to go so”… I wonder, there are almost 200 countries in the world, how is it possible that the only place you can go to is the USA?

        You said that this government is evil. Really? Roughly half of Americans support this government. They are evil too? In that case what are you doing here, in 1/2 evil country? Maybe you should flee somewhere else? There a lot of beautiful countries who share your opinion. How about Iran?

        Or you wanna fight this evil? How? When you fight evil all’s fair. You may find other non-citizen volunteers across the ocean. Did you hear about the Russian troll farm? They would be glad to help you. Why not? As you said, “This political election is not just for American people”. And, as I understand, it’s not against the current law. Problem solved?

        Reply
        • It seems clear to me now that if you indeed applied for asylum you did so as a matter of convenience. If it works for you then all is good otherwise you will move along to your next destination. You are not bothered by trump because you do not really care, Asylum was not the only option for you and you chose it as a matter of convenience betting if it works or not. Unfortunately for many of us that is not the case. If i could move anywhere else I would gladly do so. Believe me after waiting all these fucking years i will choose any country that accepts me. It seems to me that you are not aware of the extreme hardships that Asylees go through before arriving here in the U.S. I am from a middle eastern country neighboring to Iran as you mentioned. I don’t believe you have gone through the hardships of war and persecution to completely understand the hateful ideology and racism that the trump government has adopted towards asylum seekers.

          For you Asylum was a good bet/option that may or may not work but it seems you would not be bothered even if you got rejected. For the rest of us it is a matter of life and death. It’s people like you who think that other peoples lives are a joke.

          Just because a multitude of racists elected trump it does not mean we have to keep supporting his racist and hateful agenda towards asylees and asylum seekers….

          Reply
          • Ok, so, according to John, asylum seeker, at least 63 million of Americans are evil and racist.

          • And you are right – I don’t care if I ultimately got rejected. I sacrificed a lot and won’t forgive it. But escaped the mess of my country and that’s the only what matters. I will never return there and I will always be free. People like you, who want others to think and act the way they want, are not a threat to me anymore. I can raise my son in a free society. And backlog, asylum, etc – the last thing I care about.

        • I really hope your good buddy Trump gets reelected once again so that he can put you inside a GOD forsaken ICE prison for a couple of years because that’s the only way you will get any common sense in your head.

          Reply
          • I have been waiting for these words ))) You want me to go to jail for my opinion. That’s funny to hear from asylum seeker )

          • To be fair, I don’t think Nick is saying he likes Trump. He is saying he thinks American elections should be left to US citizens. I think his point is well-taken, but I happen to disagree. We are all here now, and we all have a choice to make in terms of how to make our country better. A person could volunteer at a soup kitchen or work as a teacher or first responder. They can also participate in helping to preserve our democracy by getting involved with the election campaign – not just for asylum seekers, but for everyone who lives here. I view it as another way to help the country where we live. Take care, Jason

          • To Nick,

            1-> Of course you don’t care about the Asylum backlog

            2-> Of course you don’t care about the asylum case outcome

            3-> Of course you don’t care about the current asylum law, policy or executive actions or how they affect the lives of Asylees and Refugees. You don’t care about how the current government or any new government chooses to enforce these laws and policies. You don’t care how many years it takes.

            4-> You would rather remain a silent spectator and casually let other people decide the policy and laws that affect Asylees lives directly and just amusingly see how that turns out. It seems it wont affect your life much either way.

            Thank you for clarifying all the above points. Base on the information that you have provided it seems to me that you lack a real intent to settle down as a permanent Refugee/Asylee in the U.S. You seem to be confusing Asylum with a temporary/transitional benefit. You already seem to have a clear and convenient intent of moving elsewhere if the asylum case does not work out here. If you do have those options available to you now, I would suggest you use them. Unfortunately I and many other Asylees don’t have any other alternate options. America is our home now for better or for worse and we will keep fighting for a better life here.

          • Jason,
            From Nick’s posts, I think it is fair for us to infer that he is fine with this administration.

            Your post was calling for people who desire change to participate in whatever capacity the law allows to bring change.
            Perhaps, if Nick had said that he( Nick), will prefer not to participate, because he is so complacent that he does not mind if this administration gets 4 more years, takes his EAD altogether, throw all of us in detention until our cases are decided, rewrite the law for more draconian measures by executive orders, etc, because the privilege to live in uncertainty is enough for him, we would probably not have made the inference that he is fine with the administration.
            BUT instead, he said that it is unethical for you to have outlined how we can legally participate for a change that may give us a little flicker of light(not guaranteed). An administration that may see our sufferings, and not govern based on racist agendas to punish asylum seekers, and other immigrants from countries he does not like.
            If he perhaps has a family of teenagers who are depressed, and contemplated suicide just like their parent, he would not be using a word he hardly knows the meaning(unethical). If he perhaps depends on anti-depressants, and sleeping pills to survive daily, he would desire change like all of us to begin healing and closure, or looked up the word ‘unethical ‘ before typing his arrant nonsense.

            To be fair to everyone that has responded to Nick, he doesn’t desire change like most of us, therefore, he likes this administration, and how it treats immigrants.
            We pay taxes like every US citizen, but we have no right. We are okay with that, because we are no longer in the situation that made us run here. It is definitely a PRIVILEGE(caps for emphasis)!
            I totally agree with him that it is a privilege to be allowed to be here, and pursue a fresh beginning.
            If however that privilege adds to the emotional, and psychological distress we came here to overcome, it takes away from what this great country is known for.
            This is the USA! I am not a citizen, but I honestly desire a break from the chaos of the last 3.5 years. Oh my goodness!

          • I did not take take his comment negatively. I think his point is reasonable (that people should not participate in an election if they are not citizens), but I also think it does not reflect our nation’s history or the current reality. I hope people will participate, as we need all hands on deck if we hope to get a new Administration. I also think that whoever lives here, whether with or without papers, has a responsibility to work to make our country better. There are plenty of ways to do that that have nothing to do with politics, but the situation is so bad that everything else seems secondary at this time. Anyway, whether he participates or not, I hope some people will. Take care, Jason

          • Thank you, Jason! It’s always a pleasure to speak to a person who admits that people may have different points of view.

          • The only way to achieve progress or growth is to listen to others. Take care, Jason

          • To John
            1. I wanted to escape my country to be safe and free. I did it and I’m happy. You wanted to become a US citizen. You didn’t get it and you are angry.
            2. I consider myself a guest here (at least until I got asylum) and respect all Americans. You declared that the USA is your home and you call 1/2 Americans evil and racist.
            3. I believe that Americans have an an undisputed right to decide their future. You think that you can interfere they choice.
            Question: who is a fraud here?

          • Nick,
            And how is it okay for you to use a word that you do not know the meaning to express your so called opinion or POV.
            If I were you, I would have retreated by now, because if you are truly an asylum seeker, and knew the meaning of the word ‘unethical’, your ignorance, and complacency is pitiable.

          • To Nick,

            1-> I am angry because I have been waiting for 5 years just to get an Asylum interview so Yes I have every right to be angry. 5 years is a long time in a person’s life. It will drive any sane person mental. And then I see people like you who live in an alternate reality. Most of the Asylees int the U.S are angry and miserable and that’s understandable and justifiable. No body who has been persecuting and fled their homes would be happy in their right minds.

            2-> I did not call half Americans evil or racist, you did, I called the trump government racist and evil which it is. Trump himself comes out every day and spills out racist and hateful agenda from his mouth towards asylees/immigrants. What part of that did you not understand. Were you living under a rock some where for the last 4 years. Are you living in some alternate reality that we are not part of??????

            3-> Nobody is disputing American people’s right to decide their future. I am talking about our right as Asylees to have a say in our future. You keep making false assumptions. Did you loose your brain somewhere???????

            4-> I did not call you a fraud. I came to a logical conclusion which any sane person would agree with given the information you gave me. I apologize if that was the conclusion that I deduced.

          • Interesting – legal alien thinking that the USA is his home is telling me that I’m living in altered reality…

            I wanted to ask Americans, Jason: if a person believes that tens of millions of Americans are evil racists, if a person wants to jail people for their different opinion, if a person comes to your home, claims that from now on this home is his home too and demands the same rights as you have, how does it correspond to American values?
            For me, that sounds like the possible beginning of a new tsarnaev brothers story.

          • I don’t think that was the suggestion, and reading your own interpretation into it doesn’t really get you anywhere. Take care, Jason

          • To Nick,

            I am done with you. Keep spilling as much nonsense here as you can. I don’t care anymore. Nothing gets through your head. I am not taking the bait any more. Have a good rest of your day.

          • To Nick,

            Yesterday I did not read int to your comment much. I did not know what you were referring to when you mentioned tsarnev brothers. I did not realize who they were. Today I googled it. Did you just use that reference against me. Shame on you. You are a useless bottom feeder and a complete Moron. How can you use that reference against me. Have you lost all shame and dignity. I was only advocating for the rights of Asylees and you are using such a shameless and disgusting reference against me.

            What exactly did I say here that made you use such a disgusting reference??????

            Take your trolling on some other forum/platform. Idiots like you are not welcome here………..

          • To Nick,

            I wished good blessings for you and your family, you shameless moron and you associate such a disgusting incident against me. I can say a lot of things to you but I will stop right here out of respect for Jason and other community members.

          • I hope Jason blocks you on this platform for using that disgusting reference.

          • ))
            1. You said that tens of millions of Americans are racists.
            2. You want to jail people for their different opinion.
            3. You claim that from now on the USA is your home and you demand the same rights as all Americans have.
            4. Obviously you are opposing the freedom of the speech.
            5. You are rude and aggressive.
            It looks like conclusions suggest themselves…

        • I think its not right to portray USA as 1/2 evil for 2 reasons. 1. Trump lost the majority vote so only a minority voted for him. 2. Those who voted for him did so for various reasons other than immigration. Being a non-politician and business executive gave some people hope that he will do a good job. He also ran on over 30 issues including economy, repealing and replacing obamacare, some were as general as “taking care of women” Some immigrants who are citizens also voted for him because at one point during his campaign he said he will only go after criminal illegal immigrants. Those who view anti-immigration as the central issue are very few. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, that is one policy he seem passionate about. Even though an overwhelming number of studies have concluded that immigration is good for the country.

          Reply
        • What is your real name, IGNORAMUS or Nick?
          Oh my goodness!

          Reply
          • Jason, I respectfully disagree with you about Nick’s position. Nick’s position is not that America’s election should be left to US citizens. His/her position is that you, Jason, explaining how non-citizens (including people who hold Lawful Permanent Resident (“LPR”) status, and who, for all intents and purposes, enjoy the same benefits as U.S. citizens, except that they can’t vote or apply for a U.S. passport) can participate in the election process is unethical. In other words, s/he believes that you lack morality because you are explaining to asylees, LPRs, refugees, and other non-citizens how to participate- not vote- in America’s democratic process. I would certainly take offense to such an absurd and ignorant comment.

            There is nothing in the law that prohibits non-citizens from volunteering, or participating in certain capacities that don’t require compensation, like you rightly say in your article. So, why is Nick bothered when clearly the U.S. government doesn’t? If the government did, I am sure it would have explicitly stated that non-citizens can’t volunteer, in any way, shape or form. As well, from your article, I gather that you obviously did your research.

            Aside from calling people unethical who believe they have an interest in the upcoming election (which quite frankly blows my mind), s/he went into supercharged mode with strawman and red herring arguments- one such argument is claiming that we believe that 1/2 of the American population is evil/racist. Like really?

          • I can’t get too excited about that. I am saving my anger for the Trump Administration – they have power and they are using it to harm others and to help themselves. I hope people will volunteer to help Joe Biden, as I think the damage to our country if Trump wins re-election will be even worse than what we’ve seen so far. And not just with immigration, but with the pandemic, the environment, attacks against minorities, divisiveness, corruption, etc., etc. Take care, Jason

          • Thank you Jamie.
            I have previously said on this plarform that Jason never gets offended by anything anyone says, or he just excuses most of what some insensitive people say, because most of us are not native English speakers! That is a wonderful thing, but some of us cannot just keep quiet.
            How on planet earth do you accuse someone of advising the public to do unethical things, when you yourself have very little knowledge of the law.
            That is absurd!
            Not to sound like an instigator, but Jason, some of us speak up here, and call disrespect, what it is.
            I was hoping that he would realize that his use of the word ‘unethical ‘ to describe your call for lawful participation was disrespectful to say the least, but he continued to spew his B.S, spinning everything John said to fan his ignorance.
            Oh well!

          • I did not take his comments that way, and so I was not offended. The type of comments I don’t like (which have been pretty rare on this forum so far) are people who lie about immigrants and use those lies to justify harming immigrants. It’s not just the President who does this, there is a whole industry that makes money by distorting the truth and persecuting people who have little power. That, I do find insulting and disgraceful. Take care, Jason

          • I apologize to Jason and the other community members here for my harsh comments. In fact I should have stopped earlier instead of keep replying back to Nick. After going through such a hard time for the last few years I just could not bear to ignore Nick’s comments. May be Nick has a much happier and better life than me. I am glad for him. I wish Nick and his family a happy and blessed life for future.

            But just keep this in mind, ignoring the problems that Asylees are facing now will not fix anything. We have to actively engage with congressmen, Senators and U.S presidential nominees to carve out our stake in this political process. For many of us there is nothing left and nowhere left to go. Some of us don’t even have legal papers/passports to leave the U.S to another country if we even wished to do so. We are already living here, paying thousands of dollars in taxes to state and federal authorities. By definition of asylum we are claiming that we do not have any other home or country to associate with.

            We need to start engaging for our rights. Jason is kind enough to help us continuously by providing valuable information and resources to guide us in the right direction. Before I knew of this platform I was so depressed and lost and had no idea how to live my life. I thought I was the only person going trough the horrors of depression and anxiety.

            Usually immigration attorneys charge you at least 100$ for 15 minutes of their time. I have taken appointments with many immigration attorneys and know this for a fact but somehow Jason has a kind heart that he is willing to help strangers for free and without any apparent benefit.

            I really could not understand the logic behind Nick’s comments. It made absolutely no sense to me. But I wish him the best.

          • I think he is incorrect about his conclusion, but he is entitled to his opinion. It is up to the people who want to participate to do so, and I hope many people will, as it is easy and it can help. Also, sometimes, taking action at least lets you feel that you have some control over the situation, which perhaps provides some comfort. I think Joe Biden said it well when he talked about how having a purpose in life helped him overcome his tragedies. Take care, Jason

          • John yesterday: “I really hope your good buddy Trump gets reelected once again so that he can put you inside a GOD forsaken ICE prison for a couple of years because that’s the only way you will get any common sense in your head.”

          • When I made this comment I assumed you possessed minimum required intelligence to make a correlation between this comment and my previous comment that if Trump got another 4 years he could possibly detain all Asylum seekers with pending asylum including me but apparently my comment went above your head and you starting playing the victim role pretty quickly… This is just a clarification. Not inviting you to start spilling your nonsense again. No need for a reply here. Thank you. Have a great day……

    • Nick, if you read Jason’s post, he listed the Do’s and the Do Not’s. The Do not’s are unethical. But the Do’s are lawful and 100% ethical. And it’s voluntary. You don’t have to do it if you dont like but it’s ethical. The difference between USA and where we come from is that their law is written to treat us fairly and give us certain previlleges, like what Jason is pointing out. To Jason and other citizens who sympathise with us I say thank you for your support and dedication.

      Reply
    • Actually, you have a right to seek protection in the US. To get asylum is a privilege (because it is discretionary), but to seek asylum is a right under the law. Also, you have a right to Torture Convention relief and Withholding of Removal, assuming you qualify. That said, I see your point, but I disagree. I think we should all do our best to make our country a better place, and when the President is acting in ways that are contrary to the rule of law, all of us should try to make the situation better. Take care, Jason

      Reply
    • Nick, Jason & Aleksandr are citizens and they are ok with it. Are you saying there is someone who is more citizen than them. Some citizens have dedicated their lives to fighting for your rights as an immigrant, and you show your gratitude by saying we should fold our arms and let them fight their battles alone. Do you prefer those citizens to stay out of your business so that you decide “your own destiny” as an immigrant? You are on this blog seeking help from Jason, a US citizen; not a citizen of your country. Yet you’re sitting there contradicting yourself trying to be a smart-as% mouth. If you don’t want foreigners to be involved in the politics of your country why then are you involving a foreigner (USA) in your politics by seeking asylum from her. Taking advantage of Jason’s humility and trying to school him on ethics. Jason didn’t take offense because he is magnanimous, but you are out of line. He even tried to give you benefit of doubt by reconstructing your narrative into a meaningful argument. But still you went ahead and messed it up again. Maybe you have reason to fear the interview, therefore you want to stay in the backlog for the rest of your life. Some people are not only separated from their families, but their families are in danger back home. When they present such evidence to expedite their cases they are met with boilerplate responses to update their address when they move.

      Reply
      • * this is directed to Nick.

        Reply
      • Thank you Daniel!
        Nick is disrespectul, ignorant, and TOXIC! We have had a lot of arguments, and disagreements on this platform that Jason set up to assist us, but never have I read anyone evoke an evil incident of the past to support an ignorant argument. That was it for me!
        John even went ahead to apologize to Jason, and everyone, wished Nick himself luck, but he still found a way to spin that.
        At that point, I knew this must be a nut case.

        And yes, I got the same letter in response to my third expedite request😊

        Reply
        • Thank you Tina,

          I did not even realize what he was referring to until I just googled it. This Nick person is a shameless guy who used such a disgusting reference against me. I ignored his comment yesterday. Since most of the things coming out of his mouth were nonsense and bullshit anyways. I would request Jason to block this guy on this platform so that he can stop his disgusting references to evil incidents.

          Reply
          • Funny thing is that I was actually wishing him good blessings for him and his family and he went ahead and used such a disgusting reference. I was busy with work yesterday so I just ignored his comments without reading too much into it. I did not realize what he was referring to until you (Tina) mentioned it today.

    • To Nick,

      Jason & Aleksandr are citizens and they are ok with it. Are you saying there is someone who is more citizen than them. Some citizens have dedicated their lives to fighting for your rights as an immigrant, using their own resources to sue Trump on our behalf. And you show your gratitude by saying we should fold our arms and let them fight their battles alone. Do you prefer those citizens to stay out of your business so that you decide “your own destiny” alone as an immigrant? You are on this blog seeking help from Jason, a US citizen; not a citizen of your country. Yet you’re sitting there contradicting yourself trying to be a smart-as% mouth. If you don’t want foreigners to be involved in the politics of your country why then are you involving a foreigner (USA) in your politics by seeking asylum from her. Taking advantage of Jason’s humility and trying to school him on ethics. Jason didn’t take offense because he is magnanimous, but you are out of line. He even tried to give you benefit of doubt by reconstructing your narrative into a meaningful argument. But still you went ahead and messed it up again. Maybe you have reason to fear the interview, therefore you want to stay in the backlog for the rest of your life. Some people are not only separated from their families, but their families are in danger back home. When they present such evidence to expedite their cases they are met with boilerplate responses to update their address when they move.

      Reply
    • Nick,
      If you have a pending asylum case, I created a petition at change.org here it is

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
  31. Jason I have a question I was discharged / fired my job . I’m about to apply for green card . They asked about previous employment. Does being discharged disqualify me for the card ?

    Reply
    • Hi Loriiena,

      I am not Jason;I just find your question interesting and so giving my opinion (Jason will respond to you).

      In order for someone to reasonably proffer an opinion, or even advice for that matter, on whether being discharged, fired or sacked can have a negative impact on an I-485 application, or any application for immigration benefit, that person would need to know what exactly caused the employee to be fired.

      There are myriad reasons- stealing from the company, for example- people get fired! Some reasons for getting fired, believe it or not, can amount to criminal offenses or acts. To put if differently, it completely depends on what you got fired for.

      Obviously, if you were fired for extenuating circumstances, or circumstances beyond your control, this wouldn’t- or shouldn’t- be used against you. Likewise, if the company has decided to let you go because of poor performance or financial constraints, for example, your application for adjustment of status shouldn’t be affected.

      Reply
    • If you have asylum and are applying based on that, losing your job would have no effect. If you are applying some other way, you may need to complete form I-944 (public charge) and then not having a job is a factor. Take care, Jason

      Reply
    • Loriiena,

      Please help fellow asylum seekers get an interview with asylum officer.

      http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

      Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
      Thanks,

      Jawid

      Reply
  32. Beloved Jason,

    Thank you for the information. Your last paragraph is chillingly on point. Every single item you noted there is what destroyed most countries in Africa. I personally witnessed it in 2 countries that I lived. I hope more citizens take off Democrat/Republican blinders and patriotically review the direction USA is heading before it reaches a point of no return. Take Care.

    Reply
    • Sadly, many people enthusiastically support this agenda. We’ll see what happens in November, but until then, we all have some ability to try to influence the outcome. Take care, Jason

      Reply
  33. Biden won’t fix the asylum system. He’s the one who is responsible for that backlog. And they did nothing to solve the issue.

    Reply
    • Don’t cheat. It was Trump who contributed to the destruction of the US immigration system.

      Reply
      • Don’t cheat. I wrote about the backlog. And it appeared a long time before Trump.

        Reply
      • Alex,
        Please help fellow asylum seekers get an interview with asylum officer.

        http://chng.it/T4ms2FXppC

        Please do sign and ask all those whom you know and have a pending case to sign it.
        Thanks,

        Jawid

        Reply
    • Most of Obama-Biden immigration policies were blocked by Congress. Thats why he resorted to Executive Orders. They were pro-immigration that’s why Trump’s anti-immigration campaign against Clinton gained traction.

      Reply
      • I do not think they were all that pro-immigrant, but they did follow the law, which is more than we can say about the Trump Administration. Take care, Jason

        Reply
    • Please, tell us how Biden is responsible for the backlog which seems to be growing daily? State facts, please!

      Reply
    • He wasn’t in charge last time, and it seems the Democrats have a very immigrant-friendly platform this time around (I hope to post about both party’s policy proposals soon). Even if they do not fix the backlog, at least we can expect they will treat immigrants and asylum seekers much more respectfully. Take care, Jason

      Reply

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