Document background
The Asylum Application Form (Form I-589) is a fundamental document in U.S. immigration law used by individuals seeking protection from persecution in their home countries. It must be filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or the Immigration Court, depending on whether the applicant is in removal proceedings. The form collects comprehensive information about the applicant's identity, background, and the basis for their asylum claim, including specific details about past persecution or well-founded fear of future persecution. This document is crucial for individuals seeking either affirmative asylum (applying while legally in the U.S.) or defensive asylum (applying as a defense against removal). The application must be filed within one year of arriving in the United States unless the applicant can demonstrate changed circumstances or extraordinary conditions affecting eligibility.
