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Advance Parole, Reentry Permits and Travel Documents (Form I-131)

What is a Refugee Travel Document?

Home » What is a Refugee Travel Document?

July 5, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues Refugee Travel Documents to persons with refugee or asylum status (and in some cases to lawful permanent residents who obtained their permanent residence through refugee or asylum status).

Who Needs a Refugee Travel Document

You must have a Refugee Travel Document to return to the United States if you:

Have refugee or asylum status but are not a lawful permanent resident (green card holder); or
Are a derivative asylee or refugee.

If you do not obtain a travel document before you leave the U.S., you may be unable to re-enter the United States or you may be placed in removal proceedings before an immigration judge.

Lawful permanent residents who obtained their status through refugee or asylum status may also apply for a travel document. Although permanent residents can generally enter the United States with the green card (after an absence of less than one year), a travel document may be needed to enter other countries. In this way, the travel document is much like a passport.

An asylum “applicant” cannot obtain a Refugee Travel Document. Instead, asylum applicants may apply for an Advance Parole Document . Advance Parole allows certain aliens to return to the United States without a visa after traveling abroad.

Form I-131, Application for Travel Document

To apply for a Refugee Travel Document, file Form I-131, Application for Travel Document . You should file a Form I-131 before you leave the United States and expect processing times of approximately three months. However, it may take longer. Expedited processing may be available for your situation.

Should you need to leave the United States before USCIS grants the travel document or you want to apply outside the United States, please consult with an immigration attorney .

Mistakes on your Form I-131 can cause costly delays or a denial.

Period of validity.

A Refugee Travel Document is valid for up to one year. During this time you can use the document multiple times.

USCIS will not renew your travel document. Instead, you’ll need to apply for a new one with Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.

Traveling to the Country of Persecution

Traveling back to the country where you experienced past persecution or claim a fear of future persecution is highly discouraged.

RECOMMENDED: Dangers of Refugee/Asylee Travel to Home Country

Immigration Form Guides Form I-90 Form I-129F Form I-130 Form I-131 Form I-131A Form I-134 Form I-485 Form I-751 Form I-765 Form I-821D Form I-864 Form N-400 Form N-565 Form N-600

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Follow-to-Join Refugees and Asylees

Important notice about presidential proclamation 9645, important announcement: follow-to-join refugee case processing now centralized.

Due to processing changes, follow-to-join refugee cases processed by Department of State embassies and consulates will only be processed at embassies or consulates offering immigrant visa services, or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) international field offices. This will mean that cases currently being processed at posts that only adjudicate nonimmigrant visa applications will be transferred and follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries may need to travel to another country in order to be interviewed. If your case is being transferred, you will be notified by the Department of State.

The list of U.S. embassies and consulates below reflect some of the processing locations that will no longer process follow-to-join refugee cases, along with the newly designated embassy, consulate , or USCIS international field office to which the cases will be transferred. For example, a follow-to-join refugee case arising in the consular district of the U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali, will now be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal.

For a more complete list, you can visit Visa Issuing Posts in order to confirm whether an embassy or consulate nearest to your residence will process your follow-to-join refugee case. If the location provides “All” visa services, then your follow-to-join refugee case can be processed there, unless there is a USCIS international field office in that country. Locations marked only as “NIV” will no longer process follow-to-join refugee cases. Embassies or consulates that only offer nonimmigrant visa (NIV) services will note the designated processing post for immigrant visas (and follow-to-join refugees) on their websites https://www.usembassy.gov/ .

Please note that the change only impacts follow-to-join refugees. Follow-to-join asylees can still be processed at locations offering just NIV services.

Is there a process for beneficiaries located in a country without a Dept. of State presence (e.g., Afghanistan)?

USCIS is working closely with the Department of State (DOS) to identify how to process Form I-730 petitions in locations abroad where there is not a U.S. government presence. In situations where the Form I-730 beneficiary has departed a country without the U.S. government presence, we ask that Form I-730 petitioners and beneficiaries provide updated information on the beneficiary's location so either USCIS or DOS can process them in a third country. USCIS has revised the Form I-730 webpage with information on contacting USCIS or DOS if the beneficiary’s address has changed. To update your or your spouse or child’s address in the United States, submit a Form AR-11 online . If the beneficiary is located outside of the United States, you should also contact the National Visa Center (NVC) and the U.S. embassy or consulate or USCIS international field office processing the case. Find contact information for USCIS international field oﬀices at the International Immigration Offices webpage. Find contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate at the DOS US Embassy webpage, which includes details on whether the U.S. embassy or consulate is open for interviews and additional processing.

What if I was already interviewed?

If you have not been issued a boarding foil, then your case file will be transferred to the regional processing location noted above or on the Visa Issuing Posts page.

How will I know if my case has been transferred?

The Department of State will notify you if your case is transferred to another location.

What if I choose to have my case transferred to another location, since I am unable to travel to this NEW designated location?

Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries may request to process their cases at another immigrant visa processing U.S. embassy or consulate that is different than the one designated. If you would like to have your case transferred to a different embassy, consulate, or USCIS international field office, then you must provide justification for the case transfer and show that you can legally be present in the country while your case is being processed. You will first need to submit a request directly with the National Visa Center (NVC) through the Ask NVC online submission form. You should select the “How can I request to have my interview scheduled at a different U.S. Embassy overseas?” in the question dropdown list. In the box entitled “Additional comments or questions not in the above list”, you should include a justification for requesting the different location and note that it is in regards to “follow-to-join refugee centralization.”

Can I use my still valid medical exam at a new processing location?

Yes, the results of a still valid medical exam completed in another location can be transferred to another embassy, consulate, or USCIS international field office.

Spouse and Unmarried Minor Children Abroad Following to Join a Refugee or Asylee in the United States

Welcome to the webpage dedicated to follow-to-join refugee and asylee processing. You have come to this webpage if you have a USCIS approved I-730 petition, and you received an email or letter from the National Visa Center (NVC) telling you that your petition was sent overseas for processing. Find the subject in the list below and click to visit that section of the page.

Overview – Follow-to-Join Refugees and Asylees

Follow-to-join overseas processing steps, overseas interview appointment scheduling, documentation needed for the overseas interview, medical examination and vaccination requirements, how long will it take to process a case overseas.

Ineligibilities - What if a Beneficiary is Ineligible?

Case Inquiries

Using a Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, a person who has been granted asylum or refugee status in the United States (the petitioner) may petition to have his or her spouse and/or unmarried children, who are called beneficiaries, join him or her in the United States. Overseas, the beneficiaries of Forms I-730 filed by asylees in the United States are known as follow-to-join asylees . Beneficiaries of Forms I-730 filed by refugees are known as follow-to-join refugees .

1. Petition Filing: An individual (petitioner) who was granted asylum in the United States as a principal asylee or who was resettled to the United States as a principal refugee can file an I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, within the first two years of arrival, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on behalf of his or her spouse and unmarried child(ren) (beneficiary). Further details on petition filing are available on the USCIS website under Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition .

2. National Visa Center (NVC) Pre-Processing Case Assignment: If the beneficiary of an approved petition is located overseas, USCIS sends the approved Form I-730 petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) . NVC then forwards the case file to the overseas location where the beneficiary will interview. NVC sends the petitioner a letter or email telling him/her which office will interview the beneficiary, how to get in touch with that office, and what steps to take next.

3. Beneficiary Interview: The beneficiary will be interviewed by either a Department of State consular officer or USCIS officer at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas. This interview will confirm the beneficiary’s identity, claimed relationship to the petitioner, and eligibility to travel to the United States. During the interview process, the beneficiary must provide ink-free, digital fingerprint scans. The beneficiary interview requires careful preparation, including having all required original documents available for the interview. Some beneficiaries also must complete a medical examination prior to interview. See the “Documentation Needed for the Overseas Interview” section below for details on what to bring to the interview.

4. Approval to Travel as a Follow-to-Join Refugee or Follow-to-Join Asylee: The interviewing officer will tell the beneficiary if he or she has been found eligible to travel to the United States.

5. After Interview Processing: Some cases require further administrative processing , which takes additional time after the beneficiary’s interview. Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries, for example, undergo post-approval processing to arrange for sponsorship by a voluntary resettlement agency in the United States upon arrival. (NOTE: All follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries are required to have a sponsorship assurance from a resettlement agency before travel to the United States in order to receive refugee benefits.)

6. Issuance of Boarding Foil and Travel Packet: An officer will place a boarding foil in the approved beneficiary’s passport or other travel document. The beneficiary also will receive a sealed envelope – called a "travel packet" – containing the documents for review by a DHS immigration official when the beneficiary enters the United States.

7. Travel Arrangements : The beneficiary must enter the United States before the expiration date printed on the boarding foil. The officer who conducted the interview will advise the beneficiary about travel arrangements to the United States. Typically, follow-to-join asylee beneficiaries are instructed to make their own travel arrangements. Travel arrangements for follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries, on the other hand, are required to be arranged and managed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries who arrive in the United States without IOM coordination will not receive the reception and placement benefits to which they are entitled.

8. Entering the United States : The boarding foil issued to the beneficiary allows him or her to travel to the U.S. port of entry to request permission to enter the United States. However, the boarding foil does not guarantee entry into the United States. The DHS Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the U.S. port-of-entry have the authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. Upon arrival at the port-of-entry, the beneficiary must give the CBP officer his or her passport (or other travel document) with boarding foil and the unopened/sealed travel packet envelope. Beneficiaries should review important information about admission and entry requirements on the CBP website under Travel .

All follow-to-join refugee and asylee beneficiaries must be interviewed by a USCIS officer or Department of State consular officer at a U.S. Embassy. When a case is ready for interview, the embassy will send the applicant or petitioner a letter with instructions explaining how to schedule an interview appointment.

Failure by a beneficiary to schedule an interview appointment will result in processing delays. It is critical that the overseas office conducting the beneficiary interview has the current contact information – including physical and mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses – for the petitioner, beneficiary, and if applicable, the representative of record on the case.

For interviews conducted by the Consular Section: Please follow the instructions the U.S. Embassy sends you and the guidance in the below section titled “Documentation Needed for the Overseas Interview.” You can also visit Interview Preparation – Interview Guidelines for general information on how to prepare for an interview at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Important: Not all of the documents required for immigrant visa applicants are necessary for beneficiaries of I-730 petitions. The information on this link should be used as a general outline of what an interview is like.

For interviews conducted by an overseas USCIS office: After the interview is scheduled, the USCIS office will send the beneficiary a confirmation notice, which will outline the requirements that the beneficiary must fulfill before his or her interview.

1. The original and a photocopy of the following civil documents for each beneficiary, as applicable. These documents confirm the beneficiary’s identity and relationship to the petitioner in the United States:

a. Birth certificate;

b. Marriage certificate;

c. Certified adoption decree;

d. Divorce certificate (if needed to prove the legal termination of previous marriages);

e. Death certificate (if needed to prove the legal termination of previous marriages); and

f. Documentation of any legal name change.

g. Six photographs of the beneficiary (see the photograph requirements); and

h. A photocopy of the biographical data page of the beneficiary’s passport, if available.

Note: Documents written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified English translation. When the beneficiary is interviewed overseas, the interviewing officer may ask for additional information, such as photographs and other proof that the relationship with the U.S. petitioner is genuine.

2. One or more travel document(s) , such as a passport, with a validity date at least six months beyond the beneficiary’s intended date of entry into the United States and/or picture identity card (for example, a refugee travel document).

3. Other evidence of relationship between the beneficiary and petitioner, such as photographs, available school records, family correspondence, phone bills, documentation demonstrating financial support, and other proof that the relationship is genuine.

4. Completed Medical Examination Report , which will be provided by an embassy-approved panel physician after the beneficiary has successfully completed a medical examination and vaccinations (see below).

Important Notice : Follow-to-join asylee beneficiaries must complete their medical exam before their interviews with a USCIS officer or Department of State consular officer, and they are responsible for paying the cost of the medical examination. Follow-to-join refugee beneficiaries typically are instructed to complete their medical exams after their interviews, and the U.S. Government pays all costs associated with the medical examination.

Before the issuance of a follow-to-join refugee or asylee boarding foil, every beneficiary, regardless of age, must undergo a medical examination, which must be performed by an authorized panel physician. See Medical Examination for more information. You can find a list of approved panel physicians by country on our Interview Preparation – Interview Guidelines web page.

Follow-to-join refugee and asylee beneficiaries are encouraged to get certain vaccinations. Although vaccinations are not required prior to travel to the United States, they will be required when adjusting status to that of lawful permanent resident. Beneficiaries are therefore encouraged to fulfill these vaccination requirements at the time of the medical examination. See Vaccination Requirements for IV Applicants for the list of vaccinations.

Once a case has been transferred by NVC to the appropriate USCIS office or U.S. Embassy Consular Section, the length of time needed to complete the case varies according to its circumstances, and cannot be predicted with any accuracy. (It is important to provide correct postal addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses for both the petitioner and the beneficiary to the U.S. Embassy or USCIS office processing the case. See Case Inquiries below). Some cases require further administrative processing , which takes additional time after the beneficiary’s interview.

Please visit My Case Status on the USCIS website to obtain a status on an I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. If the case has been transferred overseas by NVC, the petitioner or beneficiary may contact the USCIS office or U.S. embassy processing the case for information.

Ineligibilities

Certain conditions and activities may make the beneficiary ineligible for admission to the United States. If a beneficiary is ineligible, he or she will be informed by the USCIS officer or Department of State consular officer at the time of interview, and advised whether there is a waiver of ineligibility and what the waiver process is. Ineligible cases are returned to the USCIS Service Centers that initially approved them for further action.

There is no cost to file a Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. There is no cost to schedule a Form I-730 beneficiary interview.

If petitioners, beneficiaries, or representatives have a question concerning a follow-to-join refugee or asylee case in progress at a USCIS office or U.S. Embassy, first contact the appropriate USCIS office or U.S. Embassy for status information. Case status information also is available on the USCIS website under My Case Status .

Before making an inquiry, petitioners and representatives should carefully review this website for answers to questions. Because of the volume of inquiries received, USCIS and the Department of State cannot promise an immediate reply to an inquiry.

Department of State contact information is available at Contact Us . USCIS contact information is available at Contact Us .

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Refugee Travel Document Guide: How to Get a Refugee Travel Document

If you are in the United States in refugee or asylum status, you will need to apply for a refugee travel document if you wish to travel outside of the United States. A refugee travel document is a small booklet, similar to a passport, and is used by refugees and asylees to reenter the United States after traveling abroad. If you are in the U.S. on refugee or asylum status and you leave without a refugee travel document, you may be unable to reenter the U.S., or you may be placed in removal proceedings .

In this guide, I’ll explain how to apply for a refugee travel document. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at [email protected] .

What is a Refugee Travel Document and Why Do You Need One?
Who is Eligible to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document?
What are the Requirements to Get a Refugee Travel Document?
How to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document (Step-by-Step)
How Long is a Refugee Travel Document Valid For?
Refugee Travel Document Processing Time
Is There Any Way to Speed-Up the Refugee Travel Document Processing Time?
What Documents to Submit with Your Refugee Travel Document Application
What is the Refugee Travel Document Fee?
Traveling Back to the Country of Claimed Persecution

1. What is a Refugee Travel Document and Why Do You Need One?

A refugee travel document is a small booklet, similar to a passport. It has multiple pages and in certain situations, can be used instead of a passport. If you are lawfully present in the United States in refugee of asylum status, and you plan to travel abroad, you need a refugee travel document to reenter the United States. Without a refugee travel document, you may be unable to reenter the country and you may even face removal proceedings.

Please keep in mind that a refugee travel document does not guarantee that you will be readmitted to the United States. You still must undergo inspection by a Customs and Border Patrol officer.

2. Who is Eligible to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document?

Individuals in refugee or asylum status
Lawful permanent residents who obtained their permanent resident status as a refugee or asylee in the U.S.

3. What are the Requirements to Get a Refugee Travel Document?

1. must be a refugee or asylee or lawful permanent resident.

To apply for a refugee travel document, you must either be in the U.S. in refugee or asylum status . Alternatively, you must be a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder) who obtained their lawful permanent resident status as a refugee or alysee.

If you have applied for refugee or asylum status and it is not yet approved, you are not eligible for a refugee travel document. If you are in any other status, you are ineligible for a refugee travel document.

2. Must be physically present in the U.S. when your refugee travel document application is filed

To qualify for a refugee travel document, you should be in the United States when your refugee travel document is filed, received, and accepted by USCIS. Additionally, you should remain in the U.S. until your biometrics (fingerprinting) appointment is completed. Leaving the U.S. before your biometrics appointment may result in a denial of your case.

In some cases, you may be eligible to apply for a refugee travel document if you are outside of the United States. To do this, your application must be filed within 1 year of your last departure from the United States. If you are applying from outside of the United States, you will have to include with your application an explanation of why you left the U.S. without first applying for a refugee travel document. The USCIS Overseas District Director with jurisdiction over your region will have discretion regarding whether to approve or deny your application. For this reason, it is best practice to apply for a refugee travel document before you leave the U.S.

3. Must file Form I-131, submit the required supporting documents, and attend a biometrics appointment

To be eligible for a refugee travel document you must submit a Form I-131 to USCIS and include the required documentation with your case. We will discuss this in more detail later in this guide.

To qualify for a refugee travel document, you must also attend a mandatory biometrics appointment. The biometrics appointment is where your digital fingerprints are taken.

4. How Long is a Refugee Travel Document Valid For?

A refugee travel document is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued.

5. How to Apply for a Refugee Travel Document (Step-by-Step)

Step 1. file form i-131 along with supporting documents.

To apply for a refugee travel document, you must file a Form I-131 with USCIS. The Form I-131 is Application for Travel Document. As mentioned earlier, it is best practice to be physically present in the U.S. when this form is filed. Otherwise, there is greater potential for the application to be denied.

Step 2. Attend Biometrics Appointment

After the I-131 is filed, USCIS will send you a notice requiring you to attend a mandatory biometrics appointment. The biometrics appointment I where your digital fingerprints are recorded. This is a mandatory step to get a refugee travel document.

6. Refugee Travel Document Processing Time

This answer is best divided into 4 separate segments:

1. Issuance of USCIS Receipt Notice (1 to 3 Weeks from Filing)

Once you file the Form I-131 with USCIS, you are issued a receipt notice. The receipt notice is the confirmation from USCIS that your application was received and accepted. In addition, the receipt notice contains a unique receipt number. You can use your receipt number to track the progress of your application through the USCIS case status checker . You should receive the receipt notice within 1 to 3 weeks of filing the refugee travel document application.

2. Issuance of Biometrics Appointment Notice (6 Weeks from Filing)

About 6 weeks after filing your refugee travel document application, you will receive a biometrics appointment notice from USCIS. The biometrics appointment notice contains the time, date, and location of the biometrics appointment. This notice also contains instructions regarding what you must bring with you to the biometrics appointment. If needed, you may reschedule the biometrics appointment by following the instructions on the appointment notice.

3. Biometrics Appointment Date (8 Weeks from Filing)

Your actual biometrics appointment will take place about 8 weeks after filing your refugee travel document application. Make sure to bring a valid I.D. along with the actual biometrics appointment notice with you to the appointment (along with any other documents specified on the appointment notice).

4. Issuance of Refugee Travel Document (2 to 5 Months from Filing)

Your actual refugee travel document will be issued about 2 to 5 months from the date you file the Form I-131. You may choose to have the travel document delivered to your U.S. address, to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad, or to your immigration lawyers office (if you are working with an immigration lawyer).

You are not required to remain in the U.S. until you receive the physical travel document. If necessary, you may leave after completing your biometrics appointment. You can then have the travel document sent to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad as mentioned above.

7. Is There Any Way to Speed-Up the Refugee Travel Document Processing Time?

Yes, in certain situations, USCIS may grant expedited processing of a refugee travel document application. Here is a link that goes over the situations in which USICS may grant expedited processing of a case . It is at the discretion of USCIS whether or not to expedite a case.

Here are some reasons USCIS may expedite a case:

Severe financial loss to a company or individual
USCIS error
Compelling USCIS interest
Humanitarian reasons

8. What Documents to Submit with Your Refugee Travel Document Application

The specific documents you should submit with your refugee travel document application will depend on your particular case. With that disclaimer, here are some general document you should include:

Copy of valid government issued photo I.D. (such as passport, lawful permanent resident card, driver’s license)
Copy of USCIS document showing your status as a refugee or asylee and the date the status expires.
2 passport photos

9. What is the Refugee Travel Document Fee?

There are 2 fees associated with applying for a refugee travel document:

I-131 Filing Fee: ($135 for people age 16 and older and $105 for people under 16 years old)
Biometrics Fee: $85 (the biometrics fee is only required for people from the ages of 14 to 79 years old)

10. Traveling Back to the Country of Claimed Persecution

Traveling back to your country of claimed persecution can have severe consequences to your refugee or asylum status in the United States.

If you have asylum status in the United States and you travel back to your country of claimed persecution, your asylum status may be terminated. Traveling back to your country of claimed persecution could be seen as a change of circumstances surrounding your grant of asylum. Alternatively, it could be seen as a demonstration that your fear of persecution is not genuine. In addition, it may be seen that you have voluntarily availed yourself of the protection of your country of nationality.

Due to these potential consequences, it is best practice to avoid travel back to your country of claimed persecution.

11. Conclusion

A refugee travel document is necessary if you are in refugee or asylum status in the U.S. and you plan to leave the country. Without a refugee travel document, travel outside of the U.S. could result in an inability to return to the U.S. and may also result in being placed in removal proceedings. For these reasons, a refugee travel document is highly important. If you need assistance applying for your refugee travel document, feel free to email me directly at [email protected] . I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer, and I would be happy to help you.

USCIS Expedite Criteria
INA Act 208 - Asylum
USCIS Case Status Tracker
USCIS – Form I-131
USCIS Fact Sheet Re: Traveling Outside the United States as an Asylum Applicant, an Asylee, or a Lawful Permanent Resident Who Obtained Such Status Based on Asylum Status
I-131 Instructions

Michael Ashoori, Esq.

President of ashoori law.

I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer and I help families, professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs get visas, green cards, and citizenship to the United States.

Since starting my law firm, I’ve helped thousands of people from all over the world with their immigration needs. I’m very passionate, hard-working, and committed to my clients.

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ICE and ISAP Check Ins

There are many different immigration agencies within the United States government. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the name of the immigration agency that enforces immigration laws, and Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP) is the name for ICE’s program to monitor certain immigrants.

Some people have to go to regular check-in appointments with ICE or ISAP as part of their immigration case, and other people do not. If you entered the United States with a visa and you have never been detained by the U.S. government before, you most likely do not have ICE or ISAP check ins. If you entered the United States by crossing the border and you were detained, or if you were detained some time after entering the United States, you may have ICE or ISAP check ins.

Scroll down or click on the links below to read questions and answers from the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP).

What is ICE? What is ISAP?

How do i know if i have an ice check in, when it is, and where it will be, what can i do if my ice check-in appointment is scheduled very far in the future, what should i do if i cannot attend my ice check in, what should i do if no one answers when i call the ice office, ice took my passport. can i get a new one, i have an ankle monitor. how can i get it removed, a government official told me to report to ice after arriving in the united states. what can i do, i cannot get an ice appointment by the deadline a government official gave me. what can i do.

See other questions.
Find legal help.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a U.S. government agency that enforces immigration laws. They act like immigration “police.”

Often when ICE releases a person from immigration detention, they decide to continue to monitor the person through a program called the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). This monitoring can happen in different ways, including through ankle monitors, in-person check-in appointments, visits at home, or check-ins by phone. Some private companies work for ICE to administer the ISAP program.

First, even if you were released from detention, you may not have to check in with ICE. Some people have to check in regularly as part of their case, and other people do not.

You probably have ICE check-in appointments if any of the following situations apply to you:

The document may tell you when and where your first ICE appointment will be.
This document does not tell you when and where your first ICE appointment will be. Read about what you can do after receiving a Notice to Report . You can also schedule an appointment at this ICE website .
Usually, border officials do not tell you when and where your first ICE appointment will be. Read about what you can do in this situation . You can also schedule an appointment at this ICE website .

If you think you are supposed to check in with ICE but you are not sure , you can try calling ICE’s national phone numbers at 1-833-383-1465 or 1-888-351-4024. Or you can also try contacting your local ICE office .

As of spring 2023, some ICE offices are scheduling first appointments or follow-up appointments many years in the future. While you are waiting for your appointment with ICE, you can still continue with your immigration case!

You should check the immigration court system every week to see if you have been scheduled for a hearing in immigration court. It is important to attend all of your immigration court hearings if you want to pursue your case.
You can also decide whether to apply for asylum . You generally have to apply for asylum within 1 year of arriving in the United States.

If you were told that you have to report to ICE within a certain time (for example, 60 days), but the earliest available ICE appointment you can find is later than that, it should be okay. According to ICE , you will still meet the reporting requirement by scheduling the earliest available appointment. You should keep a copy of the appointment confirmation page in case you need to show it to the government later.

If you cannot attend the time of your ICE check-in appointment, you can try to reschedule:

You can go to checkin.ice.gov to try to reschedule your check-in appointment.
You can try calling your ICE officer to let them know and ask to reschedule your appointment for another date when you are able to attend.
If you do not have your ICE officer’s phone number, you can try calling ICE’s national phone number at 1-833-383-1465 or your local ICE office .

If you cannot attend the location of your ICE check-in appointment because you moved far away, you do not need to reschedule.

Instead, you can go to a different ICE office near you on that day.
You can also call ICE’s national phone number at 1-833-383-1465 to update your address.
You may also need to change your address with other immigration agencies.

If no one answers at the ICE office , you can try leaving a voicemail message with your name, phone number, and A number . It is often very difficult to get someone to answer when you call an ICE office and you may not be able to leave a voicemail message. You can try to keep calling until they answer.

You can also try calling the ICE’s national number at 1-833-383-1465.

You can also try emailing your local ICE office .

It is helpful to keep a record of how you tried to contact ICE. You can write down the date and time you called, what phone number you called, and what answer was provided. Keep a copy of any emails you send to ICE.

If ICE took your passport, they usually keep it until the end of your immigration court case. At the end of your case, ICE should return your passport when you ask for it.

If you need your passport while your immigration court case is still pending, there are two possible options: (1) you can ask ICE to return your passport temporarily, and (2) you can request a new passport from the consulate of your country of origin. There is more detail on these options below to help you decide whether they make sense for you.

First, you can ask your ICE office to return your passport to you temporarily for a specific reason , such as to apply for a driver’s license. But you will have to return your passport by the date ICE specifies. If they do not agree to give you the passport itself, you can also ask them for a photocopy of the pages with your name, biographic information, and photo. You can use that photocopy to prove your identity when you send immigration applications, like for a work permit.

Second, some people may be able to request a new passport from the consulate of your country of origin . Whether this option makes sense for you may depend on the reasons why you are requesting asylum.

If you are requesting asylum based on threat or danger from the government of your country of origin , then we generally do NOT recommend contacting your country’s consulate in the United States to request a new passport. It could put you at risk. Also, the U.S. government could decide that because you are not afraid to contact your country of origin’s government for a new passport, you do not need the protection of asylum in the United States.
If you are not in danger directly from the government in your country of origin , but instead from other people or groups, it may be safe to request a new passport from your country’s consulate in the United States. You know best the reasons why you may be seeking asylum in the United States, and whether contacting the government of your country of origin is a risk. You can learn more about asylum in this video . If you are not sure what to do, we recommend talking to an immigration attorney first.
If you are not seeking asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) , but instead you have a different type of immigration case , it is generally fine to request a new passport from your country.

The length of time it takes to remove the ankle monitor varies and each case is different. Sometimes a lawyer can advocate to have it removed. If you would like to find a lawyer, visit this find help page .

Also, this guide has information on how to ask your ICE officer to remove the electronic monitor. The guide was created by the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Stanford Law School and is specifically for people with cases in San Francisco, California. However, the general information may be useful for asylum seekers with monitors in other locations as well. This guide was created in 2016, so the information may have changed since then.

If you arrived in the United States through the Mexico-U.S. border after March 2021, you may have been told by a U.S. government official that you must report to ICE within a certain amount of time.

From March to November of 2021, some people who arrived at the Mexico-U.S. border received a document called a Notice to Report (Form I-385) . With this notice, they were told to report to a local ICE office within 60 days.
Other people did not receive a specific document, but an immigration official told them to report to ICE by a certain time (for example, within 15 days or 60 days).

If this happened to you, below are some possible next steps you can take.

1. You can report to ICE by scheduling an ICE check-in appointment. You can schedule an appointment on this ICE website . If you were told that you have to report to ICE within a certain time (for example, 60 days), but the earliest available ICE appointment you can find is later than that, it should be okay. Read more below.

2. You should check the immigration court system every week to see if you have been scheduled for a hearing in immigration court. You can call the immigration court hotline at 1-800-898-7180 or go to this immigration court website . You will need to enter your A Number . It is important to attend all of your immigration court hearings if you want to pursue your case.

Note: If you have not yet received a Notice to Appear , the government has said you will probably receive one in the future. A Notice to Appear is a document that says you have a case in immigration court. You could receive the Notice to Appear at a check-in appointment with ICE. Or you could receive it in the mail at the address you provided to the U.S. government.

3. You can apply for asylum. Applying for asylum is a personal choice, and it can be a complicated decision depending on your circumstances. You generally have to apply for asylum within 1 year of entering the United States, but you may want to apply more quickly. 150 days after submitting an asylum application, you can usually apply for a work permit. Learn more about asylum here .

How to apply for asylum depends on whether your information appears when you check the immigration court system.

If your case information does not appear in the immigration court system after you enter your A Number, you can apply for asylum with USCIS by following these steps .
If your case information does appear in the immigration court system and you have been assigned to an immigration court, you can apply for asylum with the immigration court by following these steps .

4. If you have moved , you can call ICE’s national phone number at 1-833-383-1465 to update your address. You may also need to change your address with other immigration agencies.

5. For advice specific to your case , you can also look for an attorney .

If you were told that you have to report to ICE within a certain time (for example, 60 days), but the earliest available ICE appointment you can find is later than that, it should be okay.

According to ICE , you will still meet the reporting requirement by scheduling the earliest available appointment. You should keep a copy of the appointment confirmation page in case you need to show it to the government later. As of spring 2023, some ICE offices are scheduling appointments many years in the future.

If you are having difficulty scheduling an appointment, you can keep trying, and write down everything you have done to try to schedule an appointment. If you have problems with the ICE website, you can try calling ICE’s national phone number at 1-833-383-1465. You can also keep records, like taking a screenshot of the website scheduler with your phone. Later, you may have to show that you tried your best to schedule an appointment.

Note: This page is for adults who are interested in seeking asylum in the United States. Our hope is that you will use the information to better understand the asylum process and take control of your case. However, this information is not a substitute for legal advice about your particular case. To look for legal assistance, visit ASAP’s find help page .

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How to seek asylum in the U.S.

To seek asylum, you must already be in the U.S. and believe you will be in danger of persecution if you return to your country. Learn how to seek asylum and sponsor someone else.

Learn if you are eligible and how to apply for asylum

To be eligible for asylum, you must be:

Inside the United States
Nationality
Social group
Political opinion

In most cases, a decision will be made on your asylum application within 180 days after you file. Learn more about the process of seeking asylum in the U.S. , including:

Filing asylum application Form I-589 within 1 year of arriving in the U.S.
Working in the U.S.
Helping family members seek asylum
Filing for permanent residence (Green Card)

How to sponsor an asylum seeker

If you came to the U.S. in the last 2 years as an asylee, you may be able to sponsor your spouse and qualifying children to join you.

Find out how to sponsor your family member for asylum. Learn:

How to qualify as a sponsor
Who is eligible to be sponsored to come to the U.S.
How to download and fill out Form I-730 to request asylum for your family member

LAST UPDATED: December 12, 2023

Have a question?

Ask a real person any government-related question for free. They will get you the answer or let you know where to find it.

Asylum Information Database | European Council on Refugees and Exiles

Travel documents

United Kingdom

Refugees and their dependants, including those who are united through the refugee family reunion process, can apply for a ‘Refugee Travel Document’. The cost is the same as a UK national passport. An adult’s travel document will expire after 10 years if they have indefinite leave to remain, or at the same time as the refugee’s limited leave (if during the first 5 years of leave) if that is earlier. A child’s travel document will expire after 5 years or at the expiry of their leave. [1]

Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and other forms of leave, including their dependants, are expected to apply to their national authorities for a passport, unless the humanitarian protection is granted following a refusal of asylum and it is accepted that the beneficiary has a fear of their national authorities. [2] This includes those resettled under the Syrian Resettlement Scheme who are granted humanitarian protection. Other than these individuals, including dependants, those with leave following a refusal of asylum, including beneficiaries of subsidiary protection where it is not accepted that the person is in fear of the national authority, are expected to show evidence of refusal to issue a document following contact with their national embassy. [3]

All those who are not entitled to a Refugee Travel Document, including all beneficiaries of subsidiary protection, can apply for a certificate of travel, which costs £280 (€ 326), [4] more than three times that of a Refugee Travel Document which is £82 (€ 96), [5] and a maximum validity of 5 years. It will only be issued when the individual has more than 6 months leave remaining. [6]

The procedure for all travel documents is via an online application. [7] Travel documents that are not CTD, issued by other countries, would often need to be accompanied by a visa.

In 2023, 55,494 travel documents were issued to third country nationals without a passport (this is not exclusively beneficiaries of international protection). [8] There are no specific obstacles to people obtaining these documents.

[1] Government website, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, available at: https://bit.ly/4bH7hOp .

[2] Home Office, ‘Home Office travel documents: caseworker guidance’, published 29 August 2013, available at: https://bit.ly/48sdZok .

[3] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, available at: https://bit.ly/48tMFX9 .

[4] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, available at: https://bit.ly/48tMFX9 .

[5] Home Office, ‘Apply for a Home Office travel document’, available at: https://bit.ly/48tMFX9 .

[6] Home Office, ‘Home Office travel documents: caseworker guidance’, published 29 August 2013, available at: https://bit.ly/48sdZok , 13.

[7] Home Office, Apply for a Home Office travel document , available at: https://bit.ly/42RDuOJ .

[8] Resettlement, Asylum Support and Integration Transparency data, Q1 2023.

Overview of the legal framework
Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
Types of procedures
List of authorities intervening in each stage of the procedure
Number of staff and nature of the first instance authority
Short overview of the asylum procedure
Access to the territory and push backs
Registration of the asylum application
Regular procedure
Admissibility procedure
Border procedure (border and transit zones)
Accelerated procedure
Identification
Special procedural guarantees
Use of medical reports
Legal representation of unaccompanied children
Subsequent applications
Safe country of origin
Safe third country
First country of asylum
Information for asylum seekers and access to NGOs and UNHCR
Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure
Short overview of the reception system
Criteria and restrictions to access reception conditions
Forms and levels of material reception conditions
Reduction or withdrawal of reception conditions
Freedom of movement
Types of accommodation
Conditions in reception facilities
Access to the labour market
Access to education
Health care
Special reception needs of vulnerable groups
Provision of information on reception
Access to reception centres by third parties
Differential treatment of specific nationalities in reception
Grounds of detention
Alternatives to detention
Detention of vulnerable applicants
Duration of detention
Place of detention
Conditions in detention facilities
Access to detention facilities
Judicial review of the detention order
Legal assistance for review of detention
Differential treatment of specific nationalities in detention
Residence permit
Civil registration
Long-term residence
Naturalisation
Cessation and review of protection status
Withdrawal of protection status
Criteria and conditions
Status and rights of family members
Social welfare

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Travel documents for refugees

Introduction, who can get a travel document, travelling to ireland with a ‘convention’ travel document, how to apply for a travel document, further information.

A travel document allows people living in Ireland who cannot get a passport to travel outside Ireland. People who have been declared a refugee are entitled to a 1951 Convention Travel Document.

You may also be able to get a travel document if you have subsidiary protection status or leave to remain, and you cannot get a national passport from your country of nationality.

Travel documents are valid for a maximum of 3 years.

You may be eligible for a travel document if you:

Have been declared a refugee
Have been granted Subsidiary Protection status
Have been granted permission to live in Ireland following a request by the United National High Commissioner for Refugees (a programme refugee )
Have been declared stateless under the New York Convention of 1954
You are the family member of any of the above
Have permission to remain and need to travel because of an emergency

If you have been declared a refugee following an application for international protection, or you came to Ireland as a programme refugee, you can get a travel document.

If you were declared a refugee following an application for international protection, you can get a refugee travel document. It says “Convention of 28 July 1951” on the front cover. It is sometimes called a ‘1951 Convention Travel Document’. You can travel to most countries in the EU without a visa, and stay for up to 90 days using this travel document. You should check with the embassy of the country where you plan to travel.

Programme refugees cannot get a 1951 Convention Travel Document. Instead, you can apply for a regular travel document.

People with subsidiary protection status

If you were granted subsidiary protection following an application for international protection, ISD may give you a travel document if you cannot get a passport from your country of nationality.

This travel document is valid for up to 3 years (or until your residency is due for renewal). You generally need a visa to enter other countries. You should check with the embassy of the country where you to plan to travel.

Family members

You may get a travel document if you are a family member of someone with refugee or subsidiary protection status. You must show that you have tried to get a passport or travel document from your country of nationality.

Your children need their own travel documents.

People with leave to remain or other residency status

ISD can issue a travel document to other residents, but only in exceptional circumstances, and where you cannot get a passport from your country of nationality. For example, if you have to travel abroad for urgent medical treatment and you are unable to get a passport, ISD may issue a travel document.

You should note that travel documents take 16 weeks or more to process.

Since 19 July 2022 , if you have a refugee travel document issued by a country outside Ireland , you must apply for a visa to enter Ireland.

You can apply for a travel document online for a fee of €55.

You can also apply by post. To get a paper form, you must email your request to [email protected]

If your application is successful your travel document will be sent to you by registered post. If your application is refused you will be informed in writing. You are advised not to make any travel arrangements until you receive your travel document.

You can find information about travel documents on the website of the Irish Immigration Service Delivery.

Travel Document Unit

Repatriation Division Immigration Services Delivery 13/14 Burgh Quay Dublin 2 Ireland

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We, the voters

Migrants claiming asylum can be allowed into the u.s. here's how it works.

Steve Inskeep

Ally Schweitzer

Lilly Quiroz

Yajaíra Peñaloza (left) and Marian Araujo pose with their children while waiting for their ride at the Casa Alitas shelter in Tucson, Ariz., on March 26. Ash Ponders for NPR hide caption

Yajaíra Peñaloza (left) and Marian Araujo pose with their children while waiting for their ride at the Casa Alitas shelter in Tucson, Ariz., on March 26.

The heart of the debate over the U.S.-Mexico border is illegal immigration.

Yet that decades-old issue is complicated by hundreds of thousands of asylum-seekers claiming, under a process allowed by U.S. law, that they fear returning to their home countries.

Near the border this spring, NPR met a recent arrival who insisted that her entry was legal. She was at Casa Alitas, a cavernous shelter in Tucson, Ariz.

Yajaíra Peñaloza told us she arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela on Christmas Day last year.

"It was baby Jesus' gift," she said.

Neither she nor her travel companions had come with a visa, but Peñaloza had secured a court date in 2026 to request asylum. In the meantime, she said, she would try to find a job to support herself financially as soon as she received a federal work permit to do so.

"We are doing everything to be here legally, while we wait," Peñaloza said.

What describes the legal status of people such as Peñaloza?

NPR asked Muzaffar Chishti with the Migration Policy Institute. Our conversation follows.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Interview highlights

Steve Inskeep: This is someone that most Americans would think of as an "illegal immigrant" since she came here without a visa. She says, "I'm here legally. I'm following the legal process." So let's begin right there. Does someone in this situation have legal status?

Muzaffar Chishti: The quick answer is no. What she and most people who are arriving at the border are doing is that they are arriving without authorization to enter the United States. She's certainly showing up at a port of entry, which makes it different than between ports of entry. But she has an appointment. At the appointment, she is basically telling a Customs and Border Protection official, "I have fear of returning to my country." So she's being placed in what we call removal proceedings and given a date with a notice to appear at her removal proceeding.

We, The Voters

How a u.s. customs and border protection veteran sees his agency's mission.

During that time, she doesn't have any real status, but she can't be removed because she is showing up for an appointment to contest her removability. At that hearing — when she will be asked, "Do you have a remedy against removal?" — she'll say, "Yes, I'm seeking asylum," and that's when the asylum application kicks in.

Inskeep: Was the United States obliged to let her in at the port of entry when she showed up without a visa?

Chishti: Yes. Anyone on U.S. soil who expresses a fear of returning to their country on the basis of five protected classifications of U.N. protocol, we have the obligation to let them in to pursue their asylum applications.

[The five protected classes are race, religion, nationality, political opinion and membership in a particular social group.]

Inskeep: I understand that people from different countries may claim different kinds of status when they get to the United States. Does this person get anything special for being from Venezuela?

Chishti: Well, she would have had a much better status if she had applied from abroad. Four countries — which include Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela — President Biden last year gave them an unusually special treatment that nationals of those countries can fly in directly to the U.S. under a provision called parole.

Parole is a status. Someone who arrives on parole has lawful status, and they're also authorized to work. She could have done that, [but] for that, you need a U.S. sponsor that will support you while you're here. She didn't do that, so she doesn't fall in that category. Therefore, she has no choice but to apply for asylum.

Is it easy for migrants to enter the U.S.? We went to the border to find out

Inskeep: Does she have an opportunity to work legally during the couple of years she'll be waiting for a hearing in the United States?

Chishti: Under the law, once you put in an asylum application, within six months of that, you get the right to work.

Inskeep: Alejandro Mayorkas, the secretary of homeland security, was impeached by House Republicans earlier this year for allegedly overusing the power of parole — actively letting people into the United States. What is the power of parole?

Chishti: The power of parole is as old as at least World War II, when we let in most refugees fleeing from Europe to enter the United States — mostly Jewish and some Pentecostals. And [the] idea is that, in the absence of any other provision of the law which will allow someone to enter — like you don't have a student visa, you don't have an employment visa, you don't have a family visa — but the administration thinks it's in the U.S. interest to let that person in, parole authority is one important authority given to the administration. It's used for humanitarian purposes or for exigent circumstances.

It's true that this administration has used the parole authority more extensively than any administration, and that is under challenge. And we'll see how the courts rule on that.

Inskeep: Has it become very simple to get years in the United States simply by showing up in any fashion and saying, "I want asylum?"

Chishti: Well, that's true. That's sort of why many people think that the border crisis is actually an asylum crisis. That just invoking the word "asylum" then lets you enter the U.S. Then you are sent for a hearing, which may [not take place for] years. And then at the end of that hearing, even if you're not granted asylum, the chances of being removed are very low. All of those factors have become pull factors. So therefore, getting the asylum processing and adjudication under control, which means efficient and timely decisions, is critical to send a message that just because you want to invoke the word "asylum" doesn't mean you will stay in the U.S. for years on end.

Inskeep: You're saying there is a legal process. It can be followed. It plausibly even could work. But the number of people arriving has overwhelmed it.

Chishti: That's right. The only thing I would add is we have rules, regulations, resources and staffing for a border challenge of the 2008 era.

That was an era when the border challenge was single Mexican males trying to sneak their way into the United States. No element of the definition is true today. More people are non-Mexicans, more people are family units, and almost all are not sneaking in but asking for asylum. That fundamentally changes the nature of the challenge.

But we don't have the resources or the laws or regulations to meet that. And I think one of the ways to reduce the backlog is not to send new cases to immigration judges. It's an overwhelmed system. To send more cases to an already backlogged system is the definition of insanity. We believe that all new asylum cases should be sent to asylum officers who are civil servants trained in country conditions, and they can finish a case in months as against years. Only then can we make a real dent in the processing of asylum cases.

Inskeep: Muzaffar Chishti, thank you so much.

Chishti: Thanks so much for talking to me.

The audio version of this story was produced by Lilly Quiroz. The digital version was edited by Obed Manuel.

Correction May 8, 2024

An earlier version of the photo caption in this story misspelled Marian Araujo's name as Marion Aroujo. It has been corrected.

Watch CBS News

U.S. to empower asylum officials to reject more migrants earlier in process

By Camilo Montoya-Galvez

Updated on: May 8, 2024 / 3:26 PM EDT / CBS News

The Biden administration is planning to announce a new regulation as early as Thursday that is designed to allow immigration officials to deport migrants who are ineligible for U.S. asylum earlier in the process, three sources familiar with the internal plans told CBS News.

The regulation by the Department of Homeland Security would apply to migrants who ask for asylum after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, according to the sources, who requested anonymity to talk about the rule before its formal announcement.

It would instruct government asylum officers to apply certain barriers to asylum that are already part of U.S. law during so-called credible fear interviews. This is the first step in the years-long asylum process. Those who pass these interviews are allowed to seek asylum before an immigration judge, while those who fail them can be deported expeditiously.

Migrants barred under U.S. law from asylum include those who may pose a danger to public safety or national security. The rule would allow officials to reject and deport migrants in these categories soon after they cross the border.

The regulation, which is relatively narrow in scope, is one of several actions the Biden administration has been considering to restrict access to the U.S. asylum system amid a spike in applications in recent years, mostly driven by migrants crossing the southern border illegally.

Migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. demonstrate on the Rio Grande river to ask for authorization to enter the country, as seen from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico on April 25, 2024.

Representatives for the Department of Homeland Security and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

President Biden is also considering invoking a sweeping presidential authority to enact a broader restriction on asylum ahead of the election in November, sources with knowledge of the deliberations told CBS News. The authority, known as 212(f), allows presidents to suspend the entry of migrants whose arrival is deemed to be detrimental to U.S. interests. Former President Donald Trump invoked the law to justify several immigration restrictions, including a travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries.

The president has not yet announced a final decision on the 212(f) order that has been considered for months.

While the upcoming regulation will not affect massive numbers of migrants, it still reinforces a policy shift by Mr. Biden, who earlier in his presidency promised to "restore" the U.S. asylum system.

But after record levels of migrant apprehensions along the southern border, including over 2 million in each of the past two years, and an accompanying political backlash, Mr. Biden's administration has enacted and floated more restrictive asylum rules.

Last year, the administration published a regulation that disqualifies migrants from asylum if they enter the U.S. illegally after failing to request humanitarian protection in a third country, like Mexico.

The administration has coupled that restriction with an unprecedented expansion in channels for would-be migrants to come to the U.S. legally. These include a phone app that lets migrants in Mexico schedule times to be processed at official border crossings and a program that allows some migrants to fly to the U.S. if they have American sponsors.

After spiking to record levels in December, migrant crossings along the southern border have plummeted by over 40% this year . In April, illegal crossings declined to approximately 129,000, the second consecutive monthly drop, according to internal Border Patrol data obtained by CBS News.

U.S. officials say the dramatic drop in migration stems from increased deportations and stepped-up efforts by Mexico to stop migrants from reaching the American border. Texas state officials have also attributed the decline in crossings to their actions, including the miles of razor wire they have set up along stretches of the border.

Camilo Montoya-Galvez is the immigration reporter at CBS News. Based in Washington, he covers immigration policy and politics.

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Biden administration will propose changes to the asylum process

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is proposing changes in the asylum process , which will allow immigration officials to reject migrants with criminal records sooner.

The Department of Homeland Security revealed details of the proposed new rule on Thursday.

Under current law, a migrant who arrives at the border and undergoes an initial "credible fear" screening is allowed to continue with the process even if they have a criminal background. They are detained in such cases.

"This is really intended to be a national security and public safety measure," the senior official said. "It’s intended to ensure that the people we are most concerned about can be removed as early as possible in the process."

Individuals "who pose a national security or public safety risk" would be subject to the new rule, "specifically those who have been convicted of a particularly serious crime, participated in the persecution of others, are inadmissible on national security or terrorism-related grounds, or for whom there are reasonable grounds to deem them a danger to the security of the United States," according to a DHS statement.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Compared to the vast majority of cases, "the number of migrants who are subject to these bars is small," DHS said. The Homeland Security official refused to quantify the potential asylum seekers it would affect.

Immigration experts say asylum eligibility is complicated and questioned whether migrants applying for asylum will have access to legal representation that early in the process.

“The main issue here – which we have found repeatedly – is that when cases move quickly, people can’t get attorneys,” said Austin Kocher, assistant professor at Syracuse University who studies federal immigration enforcement.

“An attorney might be able, on the client’s behalf, to make interventions and provide some balance. But the way the policy is being proposed, they want to move this part of the process so fast, it’s going to be almost impossible for people to get attorneys,” Kocher said.

In an election year, the president is under significant pressure to keep unlawful crossings down.

"Congress hasn’t done anything meaningful on immigration in the lifetimes of most migrants,” Kocher said. “I can completely understand why the Biden campaign and the president himself would want to show they’re doing things to make it tougher at the border to balance out what is an extremely hardline position from the other side.”

President Joe Biden had been considering new executive actions to crack down on record migration at the southern border after congressional Republicans in February blocked border legislation backed by the White House.

The legislation, which was killed in the Senate, would have given the Department of Homeland Security the power to shut down the border to migrants crossing illegally when daily crossings exceed a daily average of 4,000 in any one-week period.

And if migrant border encounters surpass an average of 5,000 a day − a threshold now met − DHS would have been required to close the border to migrants seeking to cross without prior authorization between ports of entry.

S wapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @SwapnaVenugopal

UK considered using Iraq to process asylum seekers in Rwanda-type deal, leaked documents show

Documents also show the UK and Iraq have a returns agreement which was made with a "request for discretion" and no publicity.

Political correspondent @serenabarksing

Monday 6 May 2024 05:17, UK

The government at one point considered using Iraq to process asylum seekers in a Rwanda-style scheme, according to documents seen by Sky News.

This could have seen people sent from the UK to a country the government advises against all travel to.

The two countries already have a returns agreement - but only for people who are from Iraq .

Politics live: Follow the latest updates here

According to leaked correspondence between high-ranking officials, the Iraqi returns commitments were made with a "request for discretion" and no publicity.

The country was willing to move forward but did not want a formal or public agreement.

The current travel advice to Iraq on the Foreign Office website simply advises against "all travel to parts of Iraq". However, according to the document, negotiations were fairly advanced and described in one table as "good recent progress with Iraq".

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