Next Steps
1. Obtain your I-94
If you received a grant of asylum from an Immigration Judge, you probably did not automatically receive an I-94. It is important to have one as a proof of asylum document and for accessing certain benefits.
Please go to our Documents section below to learn how to obtain your I-94.
2. Apply for Benefits
Because you have received asylum, you can receive benefits and services including health insurance, cash assistance, English classes, help finding a job, and more through your local resettlement agency. Applying for these benefits will not affect your status as an asylee. You have a limited time to apply for these benefits. Visit the “About the Benefits” section below to learn more and to find a resettlement agency near you.
3. Apply for an Unrestricted Social Security Card
You may apply immediately for an unrestricted Social Security card at a Social Security office near you. For more information, or to find a Social Security office near you, visit ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
Please visit our Documents section below to learn more about getting an unrestricted social security card.
4. Follow the Rules
Are you planning on moving?
If you move, you must notify USCIS within 10 days using the Form AR-11 and notify the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) within 30 days to update your mail delivery address. To notify USCIS, visit this USCIS webpage. To notify USPS either visit this USPS webpage or your local post office to file a change of address form.
Are you, your son, or your husband with asylum status, a man between the ages of 18 and 25?
In the United States, all men aged 18-25 are required by law to register for the military’s selective service, though they will most likely never have to serve. It is very important to do so: if you do not register, you may not be able to receive U.S. citizenship in the future. You can register online at sss.gov.
Are you planning on traveling internationally?
If you travel, do not use your home country passport. Instead, you will need to apply for a Refugee Travel Document. Please visit our Documents section below to learn more. And remember— traveling to your home country could result in you losing your asylum status.
Be sure to follow the law and to pay your taxes.
The government may attempt to take away your asylum status if you commit a serious crime.
Also, remember to pay your taxes. If you need help filing your taxes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the U.S. agency responsible for collecting taxes, offers free tax help for taxpayers who qualify. You can learn more here.
5. If possible, apply for asylum for your family members.
To request derivative asylum status for your spouse and children, you must have been married prior to the date you received asylum and your child/children must have been less than 21 years of age when you submitted your asylum application. You have two years from the date you received a grant of asylum to apply for your family members to join you as asylees. For more information, visit this page.
6. Apply for Permanent Residency
After you have been physically present in the United States for one year following the date you received asylum, you may apply for Legal Permanent Residency (a Green Card). Five years after the residency start date listed on your Green Card, you may apply for U.S. citizenship. To learn more, speak with an immigration attorney or visit this page.
About Benefits
As an asylee, you may be eligible for a variety of benefits and services through your local resettlement agency.
What benefits can asylees access?
 | Employment Services You can learn new skills, practice for job interviews, learn about different careers, and get help finding a job that is right for you. You may also be able to receive a certification in a new field. |
 | Medical Insurance You can see a doctor for a free check-up, receive health insurance, and speak with someone about your mental health. The check-ups, known as health screenings, are available for three months after the date you receive a grant of asylum. |
 | English Classes You may enroll in free or low-cost English classes at a community college in your area. Learning English will help you find a job and prepare to become a citizen in the future. |
 | Cash Assistance You may receive cash every month to help you pay your bills for eight months after the date you receive a grant of asylum. The amount you could receive depends on the size of your family and how much money you make. |
Resettlement agencies can also help you apply for federal benefits, such as food stamps, and help you get your social security card. They also may be able to provide limited legal services to help you file for family reunification, work permits, and permanent residency.
Contact a Resettlement Agency near you
If you are an asylee in Maryland, please contact the Asylee Outreach Project to get connected to a resettlement agency.
If you are in another state, use the map below to find a resettlement office near you:
Maryland |
Washington, D.C. |
Virginia |
Alabama |
West Virginia |
Georgia |
North Carolina |
South Carolina |
Pennsylvania |
Other State
If you live in Maryland, please contact the Asylee Outreach Project directly at (240) 284-3306 or asyleeoutreach@hias.org for help connecting to a service provider.
If you live in Washington, D.C., please call Catholic Charities’ Refugee Services Center: (202) 266-3062. Their address is 1018 Monroe St. NE, Washington, D.C. 20017.
If you live in Virginia, please review the table below. Call a service provider near you for more information.
Important Documents
I-94
If you received a grant of asylum from an Immigration Judge, you probably did not automatically receive an I-94. It is important to get one in order to apply for certain benefits.
The I-94 is a small, paper card that shows you have your asylum approved.
If you have an attorney, your attorney may be able to help you with this appointment. If you don’t have an attorney, or if your attorney suggests that you should call directly, please follow the steps in our I-94 Guide.
Unrestricted Social Security Card
If you have a restricted social security card or if you do not have a social security card, you will need to make an appointment with the Social Security office nearest you to apply for an unrestricted social security card. You can search for the contact information of your local Social Security office here or call 1-800-772-1213.
When you go to the Social Security office to apply for your Social Security card, please bring your Form I-94, a form of photo identification, and your Asylum Approval Letter or Order of the Immigration Judge (OIJ).
Sometimes, people who work at the social security offices may be unaware that asylees qualify for a social security card and what documents they can provide to get one. For this reason, when you go in-person to the social security office, it may be helpful to take a copy of the information under “Refugees and Asylees” on the Social Security Administration’s website here.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)/Work Permit
An EAD (employment authorization document), also known as a work permit, is a document that demonstrates your right to work to employers.
As an asylee, you have automatic work authorization that does not expire, regardless of whether or not you have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). While you do not need an EAD to work lawfully, you may prefer to have one to show to your employer and to make obtaining other documents, such as a social security card or driver’s license, easier.
To apply for an EAD or to renew an EAD, talk to your attorney and/or visit here.
Some employers may not know that asylees have automatic work authorization without a work permit. You can share the following document with them that explains asylees’ right to work: https://www.justice.gov/crt/page/file/1132626/download.
If you do not currently have an EAD, you can show your employer:
1) your Form I-94
2) your Social Security Card
3) a valid photo ID to prove their eligibility to work.
If you do have an EAD, you only need to present your EAD document and social security card.
EAD Renewal
If you apply to renew your work authorization and you do not receive the new card before the expiration date of the old one, you are eligible for an automatic extension of your EAD. This automatic extension allows you to show employers that you still have the right to work while your application for a renewal is pending. To receive this extension, you need to file for a new EAD before your current EAD expires. You can use your receipt notice from USCIS and information about EAD extensions from the USCIS website here, in combination with your old EAD, to prove your employment authorization.
Refugee Travel Document
As an asylee, you should not travel with a passport issued by the country in which you were persecuted. You can, however, travel outside of the United States with a Refugee Travel Document. This document is valid for one year. For more information, please click here.
Not every country will accept the Refugee Travel Document as a valid travel document, so check with the embassy of the country you are planning to visit to ensure that your Refugee Travel Document will be accepted.
It is important to note that visiting your home country can risk your asylum status and hurt your chances of getting a green card or naturalizing.
Driver’s License and State Identification Cards
The process to obtain a Driver’s License or State ID card is different in each state. You will want to visit the website of your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to view the list of required documents and to make an appointment.
If you live in Maryland: visit this webpage from the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
In Washington, D.C.: visit this webpage from the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles.
In Virginia: visit this webpage from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an Employment Authorization Document, also known as a work permit, in order to legally work as an asylee?
No. As an asylee, you have automatic work authorization that does not expire, regardless of whether or not you have an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). However, some asylees prefer to have one to show to their employer and to make obtaining other documents easier.
How can I get free or low-cost medical care as an asylee?
If you received your asylum grant less than 8 months ago, you may qualify for Refugee Medical Assistance which provides health insurance for asylees that have been unable to access Medicaid. Contact your local resettlement agency to learn more.
If you need immediate medical care and have been unable to access medical coverage, you can search for “sliding scale” care near you, meaning the clinic will work with you to pay what you can afford. There also may be a limited number of free clinics near you run by non-profit organizations.
You also may qualify for Medicaid in your state, which helps low-income individuals and their families pay for medical care. You can search for additional affordable health care options here: https://www.healthcare.gov/. Children may also be eligible for Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) that provides no-cost or low-cost coverage.
For how long am I eligible for resettlement services?
Asylees are still eligible for some resettlement services up to 5 years after the date of asylum grant. While many benefits, such as cash assistance and medical insurance, will expire eight months after your asylum granted, other services like free English classes and job training may be available to you up to 5 years following an asylum grant.
Where can I find help with filing for family reunification, work permits, and/or permanent residency and citizenship applications?
Your resettlement agency may be able to provide these legal services. If not, please use this legal directory from the Immigration Advocates Network to find a reliable, free to low-cost legal service provider near you.
The government is appealing my case, what does this mean?
If you receive a grant of asylum in Immigration Court, the attorney from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may decide to appeal your case (to try to stop you from receiving asylum). That person has 30 days to file their appeal. You may check whether the government has filed an appeal by calling (800) 898-7180. If the government does not file an appeal, the Immigration Judge’s decision will become final after 30 days, and you may then schedule an appointment with USCIS to receive your immigration documents (your I-94 and employment authorization).