USCIS Defines Asylum Grounds and New Interview Rules

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has specified five grounds under which foreigners in the United States can apply for asylum: race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Any non-US citizen physically present in the country may seek asylum if they have suffered persecution or have a genuine fear of future persecution based on these grounds.

Eligible applicants must file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, within one year of their arrival in the United States. The application can be submitted either affirmatively or defensively, depending on the circumstances.

Applicants may include their spouse and unmarried children under 21 as dependents, provided they are present at the time of filing. USCIS has also introduced stricter procedures for rescheduling asylum interviews, effective from 21 August 2026, requiring applicants to demonstrate exceptional circumstances for rescheduling.

Failure to appear at scheduled interviews without proper rescheduling may lead to dismissal of the asylum application.