I-589 Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
The asylum application. It asks for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture on the basis of past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution. It must normally be filed within one year of arrival. Where it goes depends on whether the person is in immigration court: USCIS if not, the immigration court if so.
- Fee
- $0 USCIS filing fee, plus the $100 Public Law 119-21 asylum application fee due at filing from the principal applicant only, plus a $102 Annual Asylum Fee for each year the application stays pending. Neither Public Law 119-21 fee can be waived. Filing with the immigration court carries the same $100 initial fee and $102 annual fee, paid through the EOIR Payment Portal.
- Fee waiver
- Not available
- Who files
- Anyone physically present in the United States who is not a U.S. citizen, including people who entered without inspection.
- Where to file
- Online through a USCIS account or by mail to the Chicago or Dallas lockbox if you are not in EOIR proceedings; with the immigration court that has your case if you are. Nunc pro tunc and refiling cases go to the USCIS Asylum Intake Unit in Minneapolis.
- Processing time
- unverified - USCIS publishes an affirmative asylum scheduling bulletin rather than a median for the I-589
Usually filed with
Part of these processes
What changed in 2025 and 2026
- The 07/28/26 edition is current. As of February 5, 2026, USCIS paused collection of the asylum application fee and the Annual Asylum Fee from Ms. L. v. ICE settlement class members and their qualifying additional family members; those applicants must write 'Ms. L Settlement Class Member' on the first page and file on paper, not online. The Annual Asylum Fee amount is adjusted every year by statute, and an unpaid Annual Asylum Fee blocks approval.
Official page. https://www.uscis.gov/i-589. Download the form there, never from a third-party site; check the edition date and fee before filing.