Asylees Need to Contact INS
Posted Jun 14, 2002

INS has requested that persons who filed Applications for Adjustment of Status (I-485) on or before June 9, 1998, based upon a grant of asylum status, contact them if they have not yet received decisions on their cases. Applicants should check the status of their cases and make sure that INS has their correct address information.

The phone number to call is 1-800-375-5283, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. According to the INS directions, callers must press #1 for information about pending applications and then press #2 for change of address. Note that this telephone number cannot be used for most address changes - only applicants for naturalization as well as and certain asylum adjustment applicants can change their address information using this phone number. However, status information on various types of cases at local INS offices (not Service Centers) can also be obtained by calling this number.

Persons who are granted asylum status through approval of applications filed with the INS or the Immigration Court are allowed to file the I-485 one year later. With limited exception, the INS can only approve 10,000 asylee adjustment cases per year. This annual quota creates a substantial backlog. According to a lawsuit filed against the INS, the INS does not actually grant even the allotted 10,000 per year, causing further delays and hardship to applicants. The MurthyBulletin reported on this lawsuit in our March 15, 2002 article, Government Sued Over Mishandling of Asylum Cases, available on MurthyDotCom. The new status check procedures appear to be an attempt to remedy the problems brought to light by the lawsuit, at least with respect to particular long-pending applications.

Certain Iraqi and Syrian asylee adjustment cases are not subject to the annual limit of 10,000. Specific information on this exception is available on the INS website; it does not pertain to all asylees from these countries, so we suggest first checking that information to determine whether one is eligible. These asylees should contact the INS if they believe that INS may be processing their applications as if they are subject to the 10,000 cap. The postal address to use is: Nebraska Service Center, Attn: 485 SYRIAN SUPERVISOR, P.O. Box 87333, Lincoln, NE  68501-7333.