VIA FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about immigration processes, resources, and support available through VIA. Our goal is to provide clear and accessible information to help you navigate your journey. Use the search bar below to find specific topics or browse through the most frequently asked questions.
CAUTION! Not everyone can help you legally.
If you seek legal representation, keep the following guidelines in mind. An authorized legal representative must be an attorney who:
– Is a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or District of Columbia court;
– Is not restricted or otherwise disqualified from practicing law; and
– Is eligible to practice law in the United States.
There are official websites where you can find attorneys accredited in the U.S. to help you with your immigration case.
Some offer free (pro bono) services, while others charge a fee. Ask before proceeding.
However, not all attorneys are specialists in humanitarian programs such as Asylum, U Visas, T Visas, SIJ, or VAWA.
Ask if they have experience with these types of programs/visas and can represent you throughout your case before hiring them!
Do you have a case in Immigration Court (EOIR)?
Then, it’s key that the attorney has experience in court and deportation cases. Confirm this from the start!
Avoid scams!
Don’t pay anyone who offers you legal help if they aren’t licensed to practice in the U.S.
Don’t trust people who offer to “fix paperwork” without being lawyers or representatives accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Always check official sites like these:
📎 DOJ (pro-bono attorneys):
👉 https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers
📎 AILA (immigration attorneys):
👉 https://www.ailalawyer.com/
📎 IAN (nonprofit legal organizations):
👉 https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/
Looking for an immigration attorney? You’ll find videos and tutorials on our YouTube channel that can serve as legal guidance and advice.
Asylum is a humanitarian protection granted to people physically present in the U.S. who can demonstrate that they have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution in their country of origin.
The person requesting asylum must demonstrate that they fear persecution for specific reasons, such as race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a social group.
You do not have to pay to obtain the Form I-589 to apply for asylum. You can download the form to fill out when applying for asylum in the United States completely free of charge from the U.S. Department of Immigration website.
https://www.uscis.gov/es/i-589
How do I fill out the asylum application or Form I-589?
At VIA, we’ve created a comprehensive tutorial that explains, page by page, question by question, how to fill out the application yourself. It’s a masterclass and has guided thousands of immigrants through this critical first step toward asylum.
https://www.youtube.com/vianycorg
No, applying for asylum in the United States is completely free. However, if you wish to pay an attorney to assist you in the process or represent you, the fees may vary depending on your particular case and the attorney’s fees.
Here are lists where you can search for attorneys: https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers
Our YouTube channel also provides guidance and instruction in audiovisual format: https://www.youtube.com/vianycorg
If you are the victim of a crime in the U.S., the U Visa protects you and allows you to stay in the country while you assist justice.
The U Visa is designed for victims of certain crimes who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse and who have cooperated, are cooperating, or are likely to cooperate with law enforcement or government authorities in the investigation or prosecution of such criminal activities.
On our YouTube channel (@vianycorg), we have a video explaining everything about the U, T, and VAWA visas in detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSN7H7QOzUQ
• If I have a supervision appointment with ICE, what should I bring?
Always carry documentation that proves your immigration status:
✔️ Work permit.
✔️ Immigration Court notification (if you have a scheduled hearing).
✔️ Proof of asylum or TPS status.
If you meet the immigration requirements and have open cases, you can go without fear.
Not attending your appointment can have serious consequences, such as detention orders.
If you have any questions, consult with an attorney before your appointment.
Attention!
Inform yourself about your immigration case; always carry copies of your documents.
If ICE detains you, remain calm and ask to speak to an attorney.
Avoid scams!
Don’t pay anyone who offers legal help if they aren’t licensed to practice in the U.S.
Don’t trust people who offer to “fix paperwork” without being lawyers or representatives accredited by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Always check official sites like these:
📎 DOJ (pro-bono attorneys):
👉 https://www.justice.gov/eoir/list-pro-bono-legal-service-providers
📎 AILA (immigration attorneys):
👉https://www.ailalawyer.com/
📎 IAN (nonprofit legal organizations):
👉 https://www.immigrationadvocates.org/legaldirectory/
Although you can file your forms, many seek legal representation. If you seek legal representation, keep the following guidelines in mind. An authorized legal representative must:
Be an attorney who:
Is a member in good standing of the bar of a state, territory, or District of Columbia court;
Is not restricted or otherwise disqualified from practicing law; and
Is eligible to practice law in the United States.
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.
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.
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.
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:
We also suggest you visit the following websites of VIA partners with whom we have worked collaboratively over the past 2 years:
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.
