Affirmative Asylum (Form I-589)
We prepare your I-589, your detailed declaration, and the evidence package, and file it correctly and on time with USCIS.
Founding Partners
Matthew Khoury, Esq. & Fernando Santos, Esq.
Immigrant-founded. Asylum and immigration court defense nationwide.
Nationwide Asylum Lawyers · Affirmative & Defensive Asylum
Afraid to Return Home?You May Qualify for Asylum.
Asylum attorneys who win hard cases: I-589 applications, asylum interviews, immigration court, missed one-year deadline exceptions, and appeals. Free case review with a real attorney, in 5 languages, in all 50 states.
Talk to an asylum lawyer today. Free and 100% confidential.
No obligation · Available 24/7 · Se habla español · Falamos português · نتكلم العربية
- 4.9★ Google rating
- 1,200+ families helped
- All 50 states
- 5 languages
Licensed & admitted to practice
Verified results
Real Client Wins. Real Approval Documents.
Redacted approval notices and court orders from recent asylum cases won by our attorneys, at the USCIS asylum office and in immigration court. Tap any document to read it.
- 1,200+
- Families helped
- 4.9
- Google rating
- 50
- States served
- 5
- Languages spoken
Affirmative asylum · USCIS
Asylum Granted by USCIS
Arlington Asylum Office · Decision September 17, 2025
Approval notice granting asylum to the applicant and derivative family members on an I-589 first received in 2019.
Defensive asylum · Immigration court
Asylum Granted by Immigration Judge
Chelmsford Immigration Court · March 10, 2025
Order of the immigration judge granting asylum in removal proceedings initiated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Defensive asylum · Immigration court
Asylum Granted by Immigration Judge
San Francisco Immigration Court · November 19, 2024
Asylum granted after the government placed the respondent in removal proceedings.
Client information has been redacted for privacy. Case outcomes depend on individual facts and do not guarantee future results.
Start here
Which situation best describes your case?
Tap the option that sounds most like you. Each one has a path forward, and most people qualify for more than they expect.
01
I am afraid to go back to my country
Threatened, attacked, or persecuted because of your religion, politics, nationality, race, or a group you belong to.
Check if you qualify02
I have been in the U.S. more than one year
The one-year deadline has exceptions for changed and extraordinary circumstances. We evaluate them every week.
See if an exception applies03
USCIS denied or referred my case to court
A referral is not the end. Your case continues before an immigration judge, where new evidence and testimony count.
Review my options04
I have no documents or evidence
Most people do not arrive with a perfect file. We build cases with declarations, country reports, witnesses, and experts.
Find out what evidence helps05
I already have an immigration case or court date
You can still request asylum as a defense in removal proceedings, even with another matter pending.
Talk to an attorney06
I want to protect my spouse and children
Family in the U.S. can be included in your case, and family abroad can follow once you are granted asylum.
Learn how family qualifiesFree eligibility screener
Do You Qualify for Asylum? Find Out in Two Minutes.
Five questions that mirror what an asylum officer or immigration judge has to decide. You get a screening score, the factors that help or hurt, and what to do next. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
- Past persecution or a well-founded fear of future harm
- A protected ground: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group
- Who the persecutor is, and whether your government would protect you
- The one-year filing deadline and its exceptions
- Common bars: convictions, prior denials, firm resettlement
A low score is not a no. Many of our granted cases started with a story the client thought was too weak. Grounds like imputed political opinion or a family-based social group are found on review, not in a questionnaire.
Prefer to talk? Call usFree tool · Santos Khoury Law
Asylum Eligibility Screener
Five confidential questions covering the core requirements, the one-year deadline, and the common bars.
100% confidential. Runs in your browser, nothing is stored or sent.
Question 1 of 50%
Have you been harmed or threatened in your home country, or do you fear serious harm if you return?
Think You May Qualify?
The one-year deadline and the details of your story can make or break an asylum case. Get a professional assessment before you file Form I-589, in your language.
Disclaimer: Asylum eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case, current case law in your circuit, and how your claim is documented and argued. This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Santos Khoury Law.
How we help
Asylum Lawyers for Every Stage of Your Case
From the first conversation to the interview or hearing, and any appeal after it. Affirmative or defensive, our asylum attorneys know what the officer and the judge need to see, and we build the case around it.
Defensive Asylum in Immigration Court
Asylum as a defense to deportation. We present your testimony, witnesses, and country-conditions evidence before the immigration judge.
One-Year Deadline Exceptions
Changed or extraordinary circumstances can excuse a late filing. We build the record that proves the exception applies.
Asylum Interview Preparation
Mock interviews, a consistent timeline, and an attorney beside you at the USCIS asylum office.
Withholding of Removal & CAT
Protection with no filing deadline for people who face persecution or torture if returned.
Spouse & Children Included
Derivative asylum for family in the U.S., and follow-to-join petitions (I-730) for family abroad.
Work Permit While You Wait
We file your employment authorization as soon as the asylum clock allows, so you can work legally.
Appeals & Motions to Reopen
Denied or referred? We appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals and reopen cases with new evidence.
Time matters
Missed the One-Year Filing Deadline? Do Not Assume You Are Disqualified.
One of the biggest myths in asylum is that a late filing automatically ends the case. Federal law allows exceptions for changed and extraordinary circumstances, and we have helped clients qualify years after arrival. Withholding of removal and CAT protection have no deadline at all.
Exceptions we evaluate every week
- Changed country conditions or a new danger at home
- Changes in your personal circumstances or immigration status
- Serious medical or mental-health conditions
- You were a minor, or you relied on a lawyer who failed you
- Other extraordinary circumstances that delayed the filing
Asylum is still the law. Despite the headlines, asylum has not been eliminated. Courts have blocked attempts to restrict it, and it remains available to people who qualify under federal law. The only way to know is an individual review.
Why families choose our asylum attorneys
Immigrant-Founded. Five Languages. We Win Hard Asylum Cases.
Our founders come from immigrant families. That shapes how we practice: careful preparation of every declaration and exhibit, and relentless advocacy at the asylum office and in immigration court.
A real attorney, not a call center
Your free case review is with a lawyer who handles asylum every day, and the same team stays with you through the interview or hearing.
Five languages, one team
English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and French. Your story is told accurately, and your declaration reads the way you meant it.
Evidence that wins
Detailed declarations, country-conditions reports, witness statements, medical and expert evidence. Asylum cases are won on preparation.
Nationwide, with payment plans
Asylum is federal law. We represent clients in all 50 states, in person and by video, with monthly payment plans and no hidden fees.
Watch: our attorneys on the three things that increase your chances of winning asylum.
How it works
From Your Story to a Granted Case
A clear, guided process for affirmative and defensive asylum, so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
- 01
Free Case Review
You tell your story to a real attorney, in your language. We screen eligibility, grounds, and the one-year deadline the same day.
- 02
Evidence & Declaration
We draft your detailed declaration and gather country reports, witness statements, medical and expert evidence.
- 03
Filing & Preparation
I-589 filed correctly and on time, work permit requested when eligible, mock interview or hearing preparation.
- 04
Interview or Hearing
Your attorney is at your side at the asylum office or in immigration court, and handles any appeal if needed.
Client reviews
Real Clients. Real Reviews.
AAlima September 2025 · Google
★★★★★
“Santos Khoury filed a mandamus petition that finally forced USCIS to act. When I was referred to Immigration Court, Attorney Jad Essayli represented me and my daughter, and we were granted asylum. This completely changed our lives.”
Asylum granted in immigration court
KKhalid Khan December 2025 · Google
★★★★★
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Attorney Fernando and Jad Essayli. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout. I felt supported and confident, and ultimately we achieved a positive outcome.”
Positive outcome
HHatim Yousif May 2026 · Google
★★★★★
“I cannot thank Daniella at Santos Khoury enough for her professional and compassionate support. She was incredibly quick to respond, kept me fully informed, and showed genuine care for my case.”
Responsive, caring team
Hear it from a family we represented
Every review on this page comes from our verified Google Business profile. We never edit or filter client feedback, and we share client stories only with permission.
Flexible options
Get Legal Help Without Paying Everything Upfront
Hiring an asylum lawyer can feel out of reach. It should not be. We keep pricing transparent and offer payment plans on most cases.
Monthly Payment Plans
Spread the cost of your case over time with monthly installments built around your situation.
Clear Pricing Upfront
You know exactly what your case will cost from day one. No surprises.
No Hidden Fees
What we quote is what you pay. Quality asylum representation should be within reach.
Meet the founders
The Asylum Attorneys Behind Every Case
Two founding partners, one nationwide practice, hands-on with every client from the first call to the decision.
Founding Partner
Matthew Khoury, Esq.
Leads the firm’s removal defense and immigration court practice, where defensive asylum cases are won. Comes from an immigrant family himself, which shapes his hands-on approach to every case.
- State Bar of California
- New York State Bar
Founding Partner
Fernando Santos, Esq.
Oversees asylum, humanitarian, and family-based cases nationwide, with a focus on building strong, well-documented petitions from day one.
- New York State Bar
- Massachusetts Bar Association
Common questions
Asylum Questions, Answered
Straight answers to the questions we hear most from people seeking asylum and their families.
Who qualifies for asylum in the United States?
You may qualify if you were persecuted in the past, or have a well-founded fear of persecution if you return, because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. The persecutor can be the government or a group the government cannot or will not control. An attorney can identify grounds people often miss, such as imputed political opinion or family-based social groups.
What is the one-year filing deadline, and what if I missed it?
In general, Form I-589 must be filed within one year of your last arrival in the U.S. Missing it does not automatically end your case. Federal law allows exceptions for changed circumstances (new danger, a new law, a change in your status) and extraordinary circumstances (serious illness, being a minor, ineffective prior representation). Withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture have no filing deadline at all.
What is the difference between affirmative and defensive asylum?
Affirmative asylum is filed directly with USCIS when you are not in removal proceedings, and is decided at an interview with an asylum officer. Defensive asylum is requested in immigration court as a defense to deportation, and is decided by an immigration judge after a hearing. We handle both, and we take over cases that USCIS referred to court.
Can my spouse and children be included in my asylum case?
Yes. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 who are in the U.S. can be included as derivatives on your I-589. If asylum is granted, they receive it too. Family members abroad can later be brought through a follow-to-join petition (Form I-730).
Can I work while my asylum application is pending?
You can apply for a work permit (Employment Authorization Document) once your asylum application has been pending for 150 days, and it can be approved after 180 days, as long as you have not caused delays in your case. We file the work permit application as part of the plan.
What happens at the asylum interview or the court hearing?
At a USCIS interview, an asylum officer asks you about your story in detail, with your attorney present. In court, you testify before an immigration judge and a government attorney can cross-examine you. Preparation is everything: a consistent, detailed declaration, supporting evidence, country-conditions reports, and practice sessions with your attorney.
My asylum was denied or referred to immigration court. Do I still have options?
Often, yes. A USCIS referral is not a final denial: your case continues in immigration court where new evidence and testimony can be presented. A court denial can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals within 30 days, and some cases can be reopened with new evidence or changed country conditions.
How much does an asylum lawyer cost? Do you offer payment plans?
Every case is different, and we quote the full cost before you hire us. We offer flexible monthly payment plans on most asylum cases and never add hidden fees. Your first case review is free.
Do you handle asylum cases in my state and in my language?
Yes. Asylum is federal law, so we represent clients in all 50 states, in person and by video. Our team assists clients in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and French.
Have a different question? Call 888-805-9065
Do not wait
Your Story Deserves a Real Defense.
Deadlines and details decide asylum cases. Every day you wait is a day without a strategy. Speak with an asylum attorney today, free and confidential, in your language.