# Fingerprints, the interview and the asylum decision

Source: https://www.qaravan.org/resources/immigration/asylum-interview/

What happens after you file form I-589: fingerprints, the wait, the interview, rescheduling and the decision.

This is general information, not legal advice: QARAVAN has no lawyers. QARAVAN does not help anyone enter the US and cannot arrange visas, invitations, sponsorship or evacuation. For your own case, talk to a licensed immigration attorney or a representative accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.

After you file with USCIS, the application goes through several stages: fingerprints and photo (biometrics), waiting for the interview notice, the interview with an asylum officer, and the decision.

These steps are for people who filed with USCIS. If your application is in court, the judge decides at the individual hearing; USCIS still takes your fingerprints.

## Start here

- If you missed the fingerprint appointment or the interview, ask for a new date within 10 calendar days.
- Bring your own interpreter to the interview: USCIS provides one only for deaf and hard of hearing people.
- Send all evidence to the asylum office at least 14 calendar days before the interview.

## Step 1. Fingerprints and photo (biometrics)

1. Do not send anything in advance Don't send fingerprint cards or a fee. After you file, USCIS sends two notices: the receipt and the fingerprint appointment.
2. Go to the center you were given Fingerprints and photo are taken at an Application Support Center (ASC). Bring the notice.
3. Remember your family members Every family member in your application gets their own appointment, whatever their age.
4. If you cannot come, reschedule beforehand You can reschedule before the date online in your [my.uscis.gov](https://my.uscis.gov) account (or through the USCIS Contact Center).
5. If you missed it, act within 10 days Within 10 calendar days, ask to reschedule at [my.uscis.gov/accounts](https://my.uscis.gov/accounts) and attach proof of exceptional circumstances. Otherwise USCIS will close the case (if you have another lawful basis to stay) or refer it to a judge (if you don't).

## Step 2. Waiting for the interview notice

The USCIS asylum office sets the date, and it depends on the queue.

1. Understand the queue Interviews follow “last in, first out”: first rescheduled interviews, then applications pending 21 days or less, then the rest, newest first. Some officers work through the oldest cases in parallel. So a new application is sometimes heard before an old one.
2. If the case is urgent, write to the asylum office Send an urgent request, for example because of illness, in writing to the asylum office that has your case.
3. Look at where the interview is The notice names the asylum office or another place, often a USCIS field office used for circuit ride interviews.
4. Find your asylum office Your office is named in USCIS letters. Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island are served by the New York Asylum Office (1065 Stewart Avenue, Suite 200, Bethpage, NY 11714; email NewYork.Asylum@uscis.dhs.gov); Manhattan and the Bronx by the Newark Asylum Office (Manhattan sub-office: 201 Varick Street, 6th Floor, Suite 629, New York, NY 10014; mail: 100 Mulberry Street, Suite 199, Newark, NJ 07102; email NewarkAsylumOfficeMailbox@uscis.dhs.gov). Since April 20, 2026 the offices give no information in person, and the USCIS Contact Center's phone line answers only in English and Spanish. So write to your office by email; if you can't write in English, ask a lawyer for help.
5. Send your evidence early All evidence must reach the asylum office at least 14 calendar days before the interview. Late evidence may be refused or the interview moved, which delays your work permit.

## Step 3. What to bring to the interview

- Identity documents Asylum applicants Passports, travel documents and your Form I-94 (the arrival record). [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- Originals of documents you submitted Asylum applicants For example birth and marriage certificates: the officer may ask to see the originals. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- A copy of Form I-589 and everything attached Asylum applicants Everything you filed with USCIS, to check your answers against. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- Family members in your application Asylum applicants Your spouse and children under 21 who are included in the application must come with you and bring their own documents. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- Certified English translations Asylum applicants Documents not in English need a translation in which the translator certifies it is complete and accurate and that they know both languages. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- Your lawyer or accredited representative Asylum applicants You can bring a representative at your own cost; you both file form G-28. You can also bring witnesses. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)

## Interpreter rules

USCIS does not provide interpreters except for deaf and hard of hearing people. If you can't do the interview in English, bring your own.

- Who may interpret Asylum applicants The interpreter must be fluent in English and in your language and at least 18 years old. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- Who may not interpret Asylum applicants Your lawyer or representative, a witness for you, and anyone representing or working for your country's government cannot interpret. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- If you have no competent interpreter Asylum applicants The interview is rescheduled and the delay counts as yours: the work permit clock stops until the new interview, and a pending work permit application may be denied. The interpreter takes an oath like you, and USCIS interpreters monitor accuracy by phone. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)
- Deaf and hard of hearing Asylum applicants USCIS provides an interpreter on request: submit the online disability accommodation request. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)

## Step 4. The interview day

1. Come with your documents and interpreter Check that you have everything, and bring an interpreter if you don't speak English.
2. Take the oath You and the interpreter swear to tell the truth. Everything you say is confidential under 8 CFR 208.6.
3. Answer the officer's questions The officer asks about your identity and background, why you are asking for asylum, and any bars to asylum. It usually takes about an hour.
4. Use the time at the end At the end you get time to add anything you want to say.
5. Do not expect a decision at the interview No decision is announced at the interview.

## If you must reschedule or you missed the date

Rescheduling and missing

|  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |
|  |  |  |

## If your lawyer cannot come to the interview

- What to do if the reschedule is refused Asylum applicants If your lawyer can't come and USCIS refuses to reschedule, you can waive your lawyer's presence in writing and do the interview without them, or accept referral to court, which counts as a no-show. [uscis.gov](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)

## Step 5. The decision

1. Pick up the decision at the office Usually you pick up the decision at the asylum office 2 weeks after the interview. It may come by mail if you have valid status, the interview was at a field office, security checks are not finished or the case is at headquarters.
2. Do not miss the pickup If you must pick up the decision in person and don't, the work permit clock stops and restarts no earlier than your first hearing before a judge.
3. Check your case online You can check the status in [Case Status Online on the USCIS website](https://egov.uscis.gov/) with your receipt number.

## What can happen after the interview

Possible USCIS decisions on an asylum application

|  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |
|  |  |  |  |

## Glossary: definitions of special terms and abbreviations

- ****: 
- ****: 
- ****: 
- ****: 
- ****: 
- ****: 
- ****: 
- ****: 

[All pages: Immigration and asylum](https://www.qaravan.org/resources/immigration/)

**Sources, checked November 2026**

- [uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum)
- [uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-fo…](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/preparing-for-your-affirmative-asylum-interview)