Skip to main content
U.S. flag
An official website of the United States government    Here's how you know
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.

Español
Multilingual Resources
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
  • Topics

    • Family

      • Family of Green Card Holders (Permanent Residents)
      • Family of Refugees and Asylees
      • Family of U.S. Citizens
    • Adoption

      • Before You Start
      • Immigration through Adoption
    • Military

      • Citizenship for Military Family Members
      • Naturalization Through Military Service
    • Humanitarian

      • Humanitarian Parole
      • Refugees and Asylum
      • Temporary Protected Status
    • Visit the U.S.

      • Change My Nonimmigrant Status
      • Extend Your Stay
    • Working in the United States

      • Permanent Workers
      • Temporary (Nonimmigrant) Workers
      • E-Verify
      • I-9 Central
    • Avoid Scams

      • Common Scams
      • Find Legal Services
      • Report Immigration Scams
    • Careers at USCIS

      • Career Opportunities
      • Special Hiring Programs
  • Forms

    • Most Accessed Forms

      • I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification
      • I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
      • I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
      • I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
      • N-400, Application for Naturalization
    • Family Based Forms

      • I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e)
      • I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
      • I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant
      • I-600, Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative
      • I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence
    • All Forms

    • File Online

    • Employment Based Forms

      • I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
      • I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
      • I-526, Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor
      • I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
    • Humanitarian Based Forms

      • I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
      • I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition
      • I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status
  • Newsroom

    • All News

      • Alerts
      • Fact Sheets
      • News Releases
    • Media Contacts

    • Multimedia Gallery

    • Social Media Directory

    • Speeches, Statements, Testimony

  • Citizenship

    • Learners

      • Apply for Citizenship
      • Learn About Citizenship
      • Naturalization Test and Study Resources
    • Educators

      • Educational Products for Educators
      • Resources for Educational Programs
      • Teacher Training Sessions
    • Organizations

      • Outreach Tools
      • Naturalization-Related Data and Statistics
    • Grants

      • Success Stories from Grant Recipients
  • Green Card

    • Green Card Processes and Procedures

      • Adjustment of Status
      • After We Grant Your Green Card
      • Employment Authorization Document
      • Visa Availability and Priority Dates
    • Green Card Eligibility Categories

    • How to Apply for a Green Card

    • Replace Your Green Card

    • While Your Green Card Application Is Pending with USCIS

  • Laws

    • Legislation

      • Immigration and Nationality Act
    • Class Action, Settlement Notices and Agreements

    • Unlawful Presence and Inadmissibility

    • Policy Manual

    • Regulations

    • Administrative Appeals

  • Tools

    • Alien Registration Requirement

    • Self-Help Tools

      • Check Case Processing Times
      • Case Status Online
      • Change of Address
      • E-Request
      • Password Resets and Technical Support
    • Website Resources

      • Archive
      • A-Z Index
      • Website Policies
    • Additional Resources

      • Explore my Options
      • Immigration and Citizenship Data
      • Multilingual Resource Center
      • USCIS Tools and Resources
  • Contact us
  • Multilingual Resources
Main navigation
Skip to main content
  • Humanitarian
    • Abused Spouses, Children and Parents
      • Questions and Answers
    • 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 – Lebanon
      • DED Covered Population – Palestinians
    • Information for Afghan Nationals
      • A Quick Guide to Support The Afghan Workforce
      • Re-Parole Process for Certain Afghans Nationals
      • Afghan Re-Parole FAQs
    • Employment Resources for Parolees in the United States
    • Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole for Aliens Outside the United States
      • Information for Afghan Nationals on Requests to USCIS for Humanitarian Parole
        • Frequently Asked Questions About Parole Requests for Afghans Based on Urgent Humanitarian Reasons and or Significant Public Benefit Parole for Afghans
      • Parole Processing
      • Haitian Family Reunification
    • Refugees and Asylum
      • Refugees
        • Refugee Eligibility Determination
        • 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
      • Lebanon
      • Nepal
      • Nicaragua
      • Somalia
      • South Sudan
      • Sudan
      • Syria
      • 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. Minor Children Applying for Asylum By Themselves

Minor Children Applying for Asylum By Themselves

Minor and Unaccompanied Child Asylum Applicants

You may apply for asylum with USCIS as a minor if you:

  • Are under 18 years old;
  • Want to have your own case separate from your parents;
  • Are not in immigration court proceedings.

You may apply for asylum with USCIS as an unaccompanied child, even if you are in immigration court proceedings, if you:

  • Are under 18 years old;
  • Have no lawful immigration status in the United States; and
  • Have no parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide care and physical custody.

Asylum officers will consider your asylum claim if you filed your application with an asylum office and you meet the criteria above. If you are in immigration court proceedings, you must attend your immigration court hearings and should follow the Immigration Judge’s instructions, even if you have filed for asylum with an asylum office.

Interviewing Procedures for Minor Applicants

Asylum officers conduct child appropriate interviews taking into account age, stage of language development, background, and level of sophistication. These interview techniques are outlined in the “Guidelines for Children’s Asylum Claims”.

For cases involving a minor applicant, asylum officers may ask questions about:

  • If you have a guardian or parent;
  • If your guardian or parent allowed you to apply for asylum.

If more information is needed about your guardian or parents, the asylum officer may delay your case.

If needed and with your permission, asylum officers may interview your parent or trusted adult about information you may not be able to provide. It is not required that a witness or trusted adult be present at your interview.

Related Links
  • Asylum Eligibility and Applications FAQ
  • EAD Clock Procedures for UACs
  • Memo - JOP UAC Procedures (1-30-25)
  • Memo - Updated Procedures for I-589s Filed by UACs (5-31-2019)
  • Questions and Answers: Updated Procedures for Determination of Initial Jurisdiction over Asylum Applications Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children
  • USCIS Service Center Operations Memo: Updated Service Center Operations Guidance for Accepting Forms I-589 Filed by Applicants Who May Be Unaccompanied Alien Children, May 7, 2021
  • USCIS Service Center Operations Memo: Updated Service Center Operations Procedures for Accepting Forms I-589 Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children, June 4, 2013
  • USCIS Service Center Operations Memo: Statutory Change Affecting Service Center Operations Procedures for Accepting Forms I-589 Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children, April 9, 2009
  • USCIS Asylum Division Memo: Updated Procedures for Determination of Initial Jurisdiction over Asylum Applications Filed by Unaccompanied Alien Children, May 28, 2013
  • USCIS Asylum Division Memo: Implementation of the Initial Jurisdiction Provision of the TVPRA for Unaccompanied Alien Children; March 25, 2009
  • USCIS Asylum Division Memo: Updated Procedures for Minor Principal Applicant Claims, Including Changes to RAPS August 14, 2007 Screen shots of systems have been blacked out for the purpose of making this document publicly available.
  • INS Office of General Counsel Memo: Elian Gonzalez January 3, 2000
  • EAD Clock Procedures for UACs
Last Reviewed/Updated:
02/24/2025
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
X, formerly known as Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
LinkedIn
Email
Contact USCIS
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal
Agency description

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