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Asylum Lawyers in New York · Free Case Review
Affirmative asylum interviews for New York residents are scheduled through the New York Asylum Office in Bethpage, where waits of several years are common. Cases referred to court land at 26 Federal Plaza or Varick Street, with among the longest dockets in the nation. Both paths reward early, complete preparation.
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Free eligibility screener
Five questions that mirror what an asylum officer or immigration judge has to decide. You get a screening score, the factors that help or hurt, and what to do next. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
A low score is not a no. Many granted cases started with a story the client thought was too weak. Grounds like imputed political opinion or a family-based social group are found on review, not in a questionnaire.
Free tool · Santos Khoury Law
Five confidential questions covering the core requirements, the one-year deadline, and the common bars.
100% confidential. Runs in your browser, nothing is stored or sent.
The one-year deadline and the details of your story can make or break an asylum case. Get a professional assessment before you file Form I-589, in your language.
Disclaimer: Asylum eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case, current case law in your circuit, and how your claim is documented and argued. This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Santos Khoury Law.
Asylum in New York, step by step
Interviews for New York residents run through the New York Asylum Office; referred and defensive cases are heard at the New York City (Broadway), New York City (Varick) immigration courts.
Not in proceedings? You file Form I-589 with USCIS and interview at the asylum office. Already in immigration court? The judge decides the asylum claim as a defense to removal.
File within one year of your last arrival, or document a changed or extraordinary circumstance that excuses the delay. Withholding and CAT protection have no deadline.
Your story in your words, consistent and detailed, backed by identity documents, medical and police records, witness statements, and country-conditions reports.
Asylum officers and immigration judges test credibility and the legal elements: persecution, a protected ground, and government involvement or failure to protect. Preparation decides outcomes.
You can apply for a work permit after the application has been pending 150 days, subject to the 180-day clock that stops for applicant-caused delays.
A referral from the asylum office sends the case to the judge for a fresh decision. A denial in court can be appealed to the BIA within 30 days, and other protections may still apply.
New York immigration facts
New York City (Broadway) Immigration Court
26 Federal Plaza, Room 1237, New York, NY 10278
Est. wait 4.5 yrs · 35 judges · Pending 130,000
New York City (Varick) Immigration Court
201 Varick St, Suite 1130, New York, NY 10014
Est. wait 4.2 yrs · 18 judges · Pending 65,000
Wait times and pending-case figures are estimates; confirm your hearing with your A-number through EOIR.
People arrested by ICE in New York City are often processed at 26 Federal Plaza and moved within days to Delaney Hall or Elizabeth in New Jersey, to Batavia in western New York, or out of state. Locating them quickly is the first job.
Affirmative asylum interviews for New York residents are generally scheduled through the New York Asylum Office (Bethpage, NY).
USCIS field offices serving New York: New York City (Manhattan), Queens, Brooklyn, Long Island (Holtsville), Buffalo, Albany.
Our attorneys are admitted in New York and appear at the New York City immigration courts at 26 Federal Plaza and Varick Street, in person and by video.
Languages: English · Español · Português · العربية · Français · Hours: 24/7
Watch: our attorneys explain
Will Anyone Find Out If You Apply for Asylum?
The truth about confidentiality when you file an asylum application.
How to Prepare for an Affirmative Asylum Interview
What to expect and how to prepare before your affirmative asylum interview.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning Your Asylum Case
Practical factors that strengthen an asylum case.
Why Silence Can Hurt Your Asylum Case
How to tell your story clearly and completely to strengthen your asylum claim.
Asylum Denied? It May Not Be the End
Options that may still be available after an asylum denial.
Missed Your Asylum Deadline?
What options may still exist if a filing deadline has passed.
More on the video center or call (866) 369-0220.
Client reviews
A client we represented tells the story in their own words. Every review on this page comes from our verified Google Business profile, and we share client stories only with permission.
★★★★★
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Attorney Fernando and Jad Essayli. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout. I felt supported and confident, and ultimately we achieved a positive outcome.”
Positive outcome
★★★★★
“I cannot thank Daniella at Santos Khoury enough for her professional and compassionate support. She was incredibly quick to respond, kept me fully informed, and showed genuine care for my case.”
Responsive, caring team
★★★★★
“Santos Khoury filed a mandamus petition that finally forced USCIS to act. When I was referred to Immigration Court, Attorney Jad Essayli represented me and my daughter, and we were granted asylum. This completely changed our lives.”
Asylum granted in immigration court
Reviews describe individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Common questions
Affirmative asylum interviews for New York residents are generally scheduled through the New York Asylum Office in Bethpage, NY. If your case is referred, or if you are already in proceedings, it is heard at the New York City (Broadway), New York City (Varick) immigration courts.
You generally must file Form I-589 within one year of your last arrival in the United States. Exceptions exist for changed circumstances (new danger, a new law, a change in status) and extraordinary circumstances (serious illness, being a minor, ineffective counsel). Withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture have no deadline.
You can apply for a work permit once your application has been pending 150 days, subject to the 180-day asylum clock. Delays you cause stop the clock, so file a complete case.
Harm by a group the government cannot or will not control can qualify if it is tied to a protected ground and you can show the state failed to protect you. These cases are won on how the claim is framed and documented.
Interview waits at the New York Asylum Office are commonly measured in years, and the New York City (Broadway), New York City (Varick) courts carry an estimated 195,000 pending cases. Filing a complete application early and requesting an expedite where the criteria fit are the levers we use.
You can file alone, but represented applicants win far more often. The declaration, the country-conditions evidence, and the legal theory of the claim are where cases are won or lost.
Have a different question? Call (866) 369-0220
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Tell us what happened and when you arrived. We tell you whether asylum fits, what the deadline means for you, and what a strong case would take. Free, confidential, five languages.
