USCIS Processing of Asylum Cases
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USCIS is taking numerous steps to respond to increasing humanitarian caseloads, including increasing staffing levels and re-prioritizing applications for interview scheduling.
The USCIS Asylum Division is hiring an additional 175 asylum officers, increasing the number of authorized asylum officer positions to 448. This represents a 65% increase since July 2013. As of January 2015, the Asylum Division has 350 officers on board and continues to hire and train new personnel. During 2014, USCIS also trained and temporarily detailed officers to the Asylum Division to assist with the increasing workload.
On December 26th, 2014, the USCIS Asylum Division began prioritizing asylum applications for interview scheduling as follows:
- First, applications that were scheduled for an interview, but the applicant requested a new interview date;
- Second, applications filed by children; and
- Third, all other pending affirmative asylum applications will be scheduled for interviews in the order they were received, with oldest cases scheduled first.
For more information about USCIS’ asylum programs please visit our Asylum or Resources for Asylum Applicants Web pages on USCIS.gov.