Minor Children Applying for Asylum By Themselves

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.

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.

• 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