Forced migration, also known as displaced persons, is the movement of people who are forced to leave their homes by force or coercion. It can occur within a country or across borders. People are expelled by force, threat, or order.

Asylum seekers or applicants have left their home country and seek international protection from persecution or human rights violations. In the United States, a Form I-589 must be filed to apply for asylum, and the refugee or asylee status request will be legally determined.

The official website of the United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides information about asylum, eligibility, protected categories, processing times, and even where to download the I-589 form for free to apply.

Visit www.uscis.gov/en/humanitarian/asylum

USCIS is the only official source on immigration matters in the U.S.

At VIA, we have created a complete video tutorial that explains in great detail how to fill out the I-589 form to apply for asylum, and you can find it on our YouTube channel.

Visit www.youtube.com/@vianycorg

Reliable information validated by lawyers about:

• How to fill out the asylum form
• How to represent yourself
• About the defensive asylum process
• About preliminary hearings

We are sure that these videos will serve as a guide for you to complete the initial step on your own.

You can check the status of your case with USCIS in several ways:

Use the «Case Status» tool online at www.uscis.gov/es/estatuscaso and then enter your 13-character receipt number.

You can reach the USCIS National Customer Service Center by phone at 800-375-5283. Press 2 for Spanish. If you are calling from outside the country, call +1-212-620-3418 and press 2 for Spanish.

The Automated Court Case System website is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. acis.eoir.justice.gov/es/

For information about your case, you can also call the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) toll-free number at 1-800-898-7180.

Go to the court website where you filed your case. Most courts have a section called «online services» or something similar. There, you will find information about whether you can look up a court case online and what kind of records you can view.

To check if you have a court date or hearing scheduled, go to acis.eoir.justice.gov/es/ and have your A number or alien number handy.

The «ICE Portal» is the official website for any migrant who has been placed in removal proceedings and contains essential information for you to complete necessary tasks related to the immigration process, such as:

Update address with ICE – expedite address changes for non-citizens and online information to comply with immigration obligations.

Court hearing details – view details of your current court hearing. Your court hearing is your opportunity to explain why you believe you are eligible for relief or protection from removal.

Schedule or change appointments – report to your local ICE office.

Have your A number or «Alien number» handy. Visit: portal.ice.gov

The Alien Number, also known as the «A Number,» is a unique 7-, 8-, or 9-digit identifier assigned by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to foreigners with an open immigration process. It is a fundamental element for managing documents and requesting immigration benefits.

You can apply for a work permit.

• If you are granted parole and the parole is still valid.
• If you applied for asylum and said asylum application has been pending for at least five months or 150 days.
• If you are a national of Venezuela eligible to apply for TPS.

You can find more information about the work permit (EAD) on the official website of the United States Department of Immigration Services www.uscis.gov/i-765

Our tutorial, available on our YouTube channel, provides a complete and detailed explanation of how to fill out the I-765 form to apply for a work permit, where to download it for free, where to send it, and more.

www.youtube.com/@vianycorg

Our tutorial explains question by question and page by page how to complete the work permit application based on pending asylum, TPS, or parole.

At VIA, we do not provide attorney services, personalized advice, or legal representation. Our mission is to provide information, guidance, and direction to forced migrants seeking humanitarian protection in the United States, helping them better understand their options and immigration process. We do this through verified information through videos, infographics, and other content created in collaboration with accredited attorneys in the United States to discuss immigration issues. 

We publish all related information on our social media, including VIA’s Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X, and TikTok accounts, and alternatively offer virtual and in-person orientations and conversations where we share essential resources to support those facing legal and integration challenges.

Without a doubt, the official website of the United States Department of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a mandatory reference as a source of updated and reliable information.

We highly suggest that you consult this website whenever you have a question about immigration processes:

www.uscis.gov/es/programas-humanitarios

Another source of responsible guidance and orientation is the videos and tutorials on our YouTube channel created by accredited attorneys in the United States and specialists in humanitarian programs such as Asylum, TPS, Parole, Juvenile Visa, etc. Visit:

 www.youtube.com/@vianycorg

We also suggest you visit the following websites of VIA partners with whom we have worked collaboratively over the past 2 years:

www.cocounsel.org

www.proseplusnyc.org/

www.rifnyc.org

A «pro bono» lawyer in the United States offers legal services for free or voluntarily without expecting compensation. Most states in the U.S. offer free legal assistance to immigrants who cannot afford a lawyer.

The websites below offer state-by-state lists of attorneys accredited in the United States to provide legal advice and representation:

Department of Justice (DOJ): www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers

American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA): www.ailalawyer.com

National Immigration Legal Services Directory (IAN):

www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/

Attention! This is very important! Please note that not all of the lawyers listed on these websites are specialists in humanitarian programs such as Asylum, TPS, U Visa, Youth Visa, etc. We recommend that you make sure to ask when contacting them.

To register for any of our activities, orientations, virtual or in-person conversations, click on the link in our bio on Instagram or the following link: linktr.ee/vianycorg

VIA’s virtual and in-person programs, services, and activities are free. You only need to register through a simple online form.