Fill Form I-589 online
Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
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Form I-589 in short
Form I-589 is the application for asylum and for withholding of removal in the United States. It is filed with USCIS (affirmative asylum) or with the immigration court if you are in removal proceedings (defensive asylum). The same form is used for both, and it must be completed in English.
| Issued by | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Edition 07/28/26 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | People who are physically present in the United States and are not U.S. citizens. You may list your spouse and unmarried children under 21 as dependents on your application. |
| Who receives it | USCIS if you are not in proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), or if you are or were an unaccompanied alien child. The immigration court (EOIR) if you are currently in proceedings there. |
| Where to send it | With USCIS, file online or by mail depending on your situation; use the USCIS Filing Instructions Tool. Some cases must be mailed, for example unaccompanied children and people whose removal proceedings were dismissed or terminated. Mailed filings go to the USCIS Dallas or Chicago lockbox based on where you live, and certain nunc pro tunc cases go to the USCIS Asylum Intake Unit. If you are in EOIR proceedings, file with the immigration court that the EOIR hotline or online system shows. |
| Deadline | USCIS says that if you do not file Form I-589 within 1 year of your arrival in the United States, you may not be eligible to apply for asylum, unless you show changed circumstances that affect your eligibility or extraordinary circumstances that prevented you from filing on time. Withholding of removal may still be considered even if you cannot apply for asylum. |
| Fee | Checked 2026-10-25 on Form G-1055 Fee Schedule (edition 10/16/26): the general filing fee is $0, plus fees under Pub. L. 119-21: $100 due at filing for the principal applicant only, and an Annual Asylum Fee of $105 for each year the application is pending, due as stated in the USCIS notice (USCIS FY 2027 inflation alert, effective Oct. 16, 2026). These fees cannot be waived. USCIS says Ms. L. Settlement Class members and their qualifying family members do not pay these fees as of Feb. 5, 2026. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
Current edition is 07/28/26. Since Sept. 15, 2026, people filing again after a final USCIS action on an earlier I-589 file at the Dallas or Chicago lockbox instead of the Asylum Intake Unit. The Annual Asylum Fee rose from $102 to $105 for filings on or after Oct. 16, 2026.
How to fill out Form I-589, line by line
| Part A.I | Information about you A-Number if any, full name, U.S. residence address, date and country of birth, nationality, entry details, and Form I-94 number if you have one. USCIS may reject the form if last name, U.S. residence, date of birth, or country of birth is blank. |
| Part A.II | Information about your spouse and children Details on your spouse and each child, and whether each is included in your application. Use Supplement A if you have more than four children. |
| Part A.III | Information about your background Your last addresses, residences in the past 5 years, education, employment, and parents and siblings. |
| Part B | Information about your application The grounds you are applying on and your answers to questions about past harm and fear of return. Answer every question and give details; use Supplement B or extra sheets if you need more space. |
| Part C | Additional information about your application Questions about earlier applications, travel through other countries, harm to others, and the 1-year filing rule. Explain each Yes answer. |
| Part D | Your signature Sign after you complete and review the application, and answer the questions about any help you received. You must sign Part D before filing. |
| Part E | Declaration of person preparing the form Anyone other than your spouse, parent, or child who helped prepare the form must sign here and give the requested details. If the preparer does not sign, the application is returned as incomplete. |
| Parts F and G | Signatures at interview or hearing Do not sign these before filing. You sign them at the asylum interview or the immigration court hearing. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Completing the form in a language other than English. USCIS only accepts the English form, completed in English.
- Leaving required fields blank, such as last name, U.S. residence, date or country of birth, or the explanation of why you are applying.
- Referencing an addendum or attachment and not including it. USCIS rejects those applications.
- Not signing Part D, or signing Parts F or G before the interview or hearing.
- Filing with USCIS while in proceedings before an immigration court, or filing at the wrong court.
- Sending passport-style photos or extra copies of the form. The USCIS page says not to.
- Filing a second I-589 while one is pending, including to add a dependent. Send the request to the asylum office instead.
- Getting help from someone outside your immediate family who does not sign Part E. The application is returned as incomplete.
Questions about Form I-589
Is there a deadline to apply for asylum?
USCIS says that if you do not file within 1 year of your arrival you may not be eligible to apply for asylum, unless an exception for changed or extraordinary circumstances applies.
Is there a fee for Form I-589?
The base filing fee is $0, but the principal applicant pays a $100 fee at filing and an Annual Asylum Fee ($105 as of Oct. 16, 2026) for each year the case is pending. These cannot be waived.
Can I file Form I-589 online?
Some applicants filing with USCIS can file online. Use the USCIS Filing Instructions Tool. Others, such as unaccompanied children, must file by mail.
Can I fill it out in my language?
USCIS offers translations in 12 languages for reference only. You must submit the English form completed in English.
When can I apply for a work permit?
Filing a complete I-589 starts a 150-day waiting period before you can apply for employment authorization.
Where do I file if I am in immigration court?
With the immigration court shown by the EOIR hotline or online case system, not with USCIS, unless you are or were an unaccompanied child.
Related forms
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-589
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-589.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-589instr.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-announces-fy-2027-inflation-increase-for-certain-immigration-related-fees
- https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online