Skip to main content
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government    Here's how you know
Español
Multilingual Resources
Official Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure Website

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
 
Sign In  
Access USCIS online services.
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
Sign In
Create Account
Horizontal Menu
  • Topics
  • Forms
  • Newsroom
  • Citizenship
  • Green Card
  • Laws
  • Tools
  • Contact us
  • Multilingual Resources
  • Ask Emma
Main navigation
Skip to main content
  • Humanitarian
    • Abused Spouses, Children and Parents
      • Questions and Answers
    • Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans
      • Frequently Asked Questions About the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans
    • Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
      • DACA Litigation Information and Frequently Asked Questions
      • Filing Tips for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Deferred Enforced Departure
      • DED Covered Country - Liberia
      • DED Covered Country – Certain Hong Kong Residents
      • DED Covered Country – Venezuela
    • Information for Afghan Nationals
    • Uniting for Ukraine
      • Frequently Asked Questions About Uniting for Ukraine
    • Humanitarian Parole
      • Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole
        • Frequently Asked Questions About Urgent Humanitarian and Significant Public Benefit Parole for Afghans
      • Parole Processing
      • Haitian Family Reunification
      • Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program
      • Cuban Medical Professional Parole (CMPP) Program
      • Cuban Family Reunification
    • Refugees and Asylum
      • Refugees
        • Refugee Eligibility Determination
        • Refugee Adjudications: Policy and Procedures
        • Refugee Processing and Security Screening
      • Asylum
        • Affirmative Asylum Frequently Asked Questions
        • Affirmative Asylum Interview Scheduling
        • Asylum Merits Interview with USCIS: Processing After a Positive Credible Fear Determination
        • Establishing Good Cause or Exceptional Circumstances for Rescheduling Affirmative Asylum Interviews
        • The 180-Day Asylum EAD Clock Notice
        • FACT SHEET: Implementation of the Credible Fear and Asylum Processing Interim Final Rule
        • Types of Affirmative Asylum Decisions
        • The Affirmative Asylum Process
        • Preparing for Your Affirmative Asylum Interview
        • Obtaining Asylum in the United States
    • Temporary Protected Status
      • Afghanistan
      • Burma (Myanmar)
      • Cameroon
      • El Salvador
      • Ethiopia
      • Haiti
      • Honduras
      • Nepal
      • Nicaragua
      • Syria
      • Somalia
      • Sudan
      • South Sudan
      • Ukraine
      • Venezuela
      • Yemen
    • Victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes
      • Victims of Criminal Activity: U Nonimmigrant Status
      • Victims of Human Trafficking: T Nonimmigrant Status
      • Resources for Victims of Human Trafficking and Other Crimes
    • Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting (FGM/C)
    • Forced Marriage
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Humanitarian
  3. Refugees and Asylum
  4. Asylum
  5. Asylum Bars

Asylum Bars

You can be barred from both applying for and receiving asylum for certain actions.

Bars to Applying for Asylum

You may not be eligible to apply for asylum if you:

  • Did not comply with the 1-year filing deadline for filing an application for asylum within 1 year of your last arrival in the United States or April 1, 1997, whichever is later;
  • Had a previous asylum application denied by an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals; or
  • Can be removed to a safe third country under a 2-party or multi-party agreement between the United States and other countries.

There are exceptions to these bars for “changed circumstances” or “extraordinary circumstances.” Both are defined in 8 CFR 208.4. For more information on the bars and the exceptions, see our Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations page.

Bars from a Grant of Asylum

You could be barred from a grant of asylum if we find that you:

  • Ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion
  • Were convicted of a “particularly serious crime” such that you are a danger to the United States
  • Committed a “serious nonpolitical crime” outside the United States
  • Pose a danger to the security of the United States
  • Have been firmly resettled in another country before arriving in the United States

You will also be barred from receiving asylum if you are inadmissible because you:

  • Have engaged in terrorist activity·
  • Are engaged in or are likely to engage after entry in any terrorist activity·
  • Have incited terrorist activity
  • Are a representative of a foreign terrorist organization
  • Are a member of a terrorist organization
  • Have persuaded others to support terrorist activity or a terrorist organization
  • Have received military-type training from or on behalf of any organization that, at the time the training was received, was a terrorist organization
  • Are the spouse or child of an individual who is inadmissible for any of the above within the last 5 years

For more information terrorist and national security bars, see our Bars to Asylum and Inadmissibility Grounds Related to Terrorist Activity page.

Last Reviewed/Updated:
05/31/2022
Was this page helpful?
0 / 2000
To protect your privacy, please do not include any personal information in your feedback. Review our Privacy Policy.
Return to top
  • Topics
  • Forms
  • Newsroom
  • Citizenship
  • Green Card
  • Laws
  • Tools
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn
Email
Contact USCIS
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal

USCIS.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Important links
  • About USCIS
  • Accessibility
  • Budget and Performance
  • DHS Components
  • Freedom of Information Act
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Privacy and Legal Disclaimers
  • Site Map
  • Office of the Inspector General
  • The White House
  • USA.gov
Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov