Key Points
- USCIS is experiencing Form I-589 intake and processing delays
- Individuals who filed a timely Form I-589 may not receive a timely receipt notice
- USCIS will consider the filing date to be the date it received a properly filed Form I-589
- Improperly filed applications will be rejected
- Applicants should not file multiple Forms I-589 if they don’t receive a receipt notice on time
- USCIS notes that the Vermont Service Center (VSC) is not currently accepting Form I-589 applications
Overview
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it is experiencing Form I-589 processing delays.
Due to the processing delays, individuals who submitted Form I-589, Application for Asylum, and for Withholding of Removal, may not receive a timely receipt notice, even if they properly file Form I-589. Recognizing the associated time-sensitive aspects of a pending application, including Employment Authorization Document eligibility, a one-year asylum filing deadline, and affirmative asylum interview scheduling priorities, USCIS will consider the filing date to be the date that it received a properly filed Form I-589, not the date that it processed the application.
As a reminder, USCIS has tips on its website to help applicants file their Form I-589 on time.
Looking Ahead
If USCIS receives an application that was not filed correctly, it will reject the application and note deficiencies in the filing. The agency also reminds applicants to refrain from submitting multiple Forms I-589 if they do not receive a receipt notice on time, as numerous application submissions may cause additional delays. Additionally, USCIS notes that Forms I-589 should not be submitted to the Vermont Service Center (VSC), as the VSC is not processing Form I-589 applications at this time.
Written by: Lucy Halse, Content Marketing Associate, Envoy Global
Edited by: Dmitri Pikman, Supervising Attorney, Corporate Immigration Partners
Source: US Citizenship and Immigration Services
