If you’re seeking asylum in California or another state in the U.S., you’ll need to attend an asylum interview. The interview will be held with USCIS and be scheduled after the submission of Form I-589. If you filed for asylum, it’s likely you have a lot of questions regarding this interview.
Why undergo an asylum interview?
The first question you may have about an asylum interview is why USCIS requires them. An asylum interview is a chance for you to tell USCIS your story and show your credibility. The decision of whether or not you’ll qualify for asylum in the United States is highly dependent on this interview.
During the interview, you’ll be asked an abundance of questions regarding your application and life in your home country. If you’ve submitted documentation alongside your asylum application, these documents will be examined and open for discussion with the interviewer. As a general rule of thumb, the more documentation that you can bring to the table, the better your application will be.
What if you miss the interview?
In the event that you miss your scheduled asylum interview, you’ll receive a Failure to Appear warning letter from the Asylum Office. This letter will explain the consequences of missing your interview and how to reschedule it. You’ll be given 45 days after the date of your missed interview to reschedule.
Rescheduling will only be accepted if you can prove good cause for failing to appear at your scheduled interview. You may want to consult an immigration attorney to assist you with proving a good cause for missing the interview and getting it rescheduled. If you wait more than 45 days to reschedule your interview, your case will be referred to an immigration judge, or the Asylum Office will close the case and send you a Dismissal of Asylum Application notice.
An asylum interview is an important part of becoming a legal immigrant in the United States. You should always aim to make it to your asylum interview on time. However, sometimes unforeseeable events may come up, and you may need to reschedule your interview. You only have a short amount of time to do so before your application is denied, so it’s important to get help if you need it.