Eu posso solicitar autorização de trabalho enquanto meu pedido de asilo estiver pendente?
Angelica Rice • May 4, 2022
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Todos os anos, muitas pessoas vêm para os Estados Unidos buscando refúgio de danos ou perseguição que eles sofreram nos seus países de origem. Essas pessoas pedem Asilo (Formulário I-589) seja diante do USCIS ou em procedimentos de remoção diante de uma Corte de imigração.
Uma questão comum entre todos os aplicantes de asilo, não importa onde eles estão requerendo, é eu posso obter autorização de trabalho enquanto meu pedido de asilo está pendente?
Como resultado de uma mudança na lei em 25 de agosto de 2020, para muitos peticionários de asilo, a resposta para essa pergunta é NÃO.
Entretanto, há algumas exceções e circunstâncias para as quais um requerente de Asilo pode ser elegível e podem receber autorização de trabalho enquanto seus casos estiverem pendentes. Leia para saber mais.
Você não pode solicitar permissão de trabalho (autorização de emprego) nos Estados Unidos ao mesmo tempo que você solicita asilo. Você pode solicitar autorização de trabalho 365 dias corridos após apresentar seu pedido de asilo.
Devido a uma alteração recente nas políticas de adjudicação de casos nas Cortes de Imigração, os tribunais estão priorizando a adjudicação rápida de casos de imigração, especialmente para os réus que entraram nos Estados Unidos ilegalmente em ou após 1º de novembro de 2020. Muitos desses casos estão sendo adjudicados dentro de um ano do NTA. Isso significa que para a maior parte dos requerentes de asilo em Corte, seus casos não ficarão pendentes por 365 dias e assim eles não se tornarão elegíveis para autorização de trabalho.
Se houver um atraso na adjudicação do caso na Corte, que não tenha sido causado por você, ou se o Requerente está pedindo Asilo diante do USCIS, então você pode ser elegível para receber autorização de trabalho baseado no pedido de asilo se:
- Você entrou nos Estados Unidos legalmente em ou após 25 de agosto de 2020 (em limitadas exceções, você pode ainda ser elegível se você entrou nos Estados Unidos ilegalmente em ou após 25 de agosto de 2020);
- Para pedidos de Asilo feitos em ou após 25 de agosto de 2020, você deu entrada no seu pedido de asilo dentro de um ano da data da sua última entrada nos Estados Unidos (alternativamente, um oficial de imigração ou um juiz de imigração determinaram que você se qualifica para uma exceção de um ano de prazo, ou você era uma criança estrangeira desacompanhada na data em que o pedido de asilo foi feito);
- Você compareceu a quaisquer serviços agendados de biometria relacionados ao seu pedido de asilo ou autorização de trabalho;
- Você compareceu à sua entrevista junto ao oficial de USCIS, ou sua audiência diante do juiz de imigração, se requisitado ou agendado;
- Você não está descrito no 8 CFR 208.7(1)(1)(iii);
- Você não tem um atraso causado pelo aplicante, relacionado ao seu pedido de asilo quando você deu entrada na sua petição inicial para autorização de emprego; e
- Nenhuma decisão final foi feita no seu pedido de asilo (note que uma referência a um juiz de imigração após uma entrevista com o USCIS não é uma decisão final).
Se na data que o seu pedido inicial de autorização de emprego (EAD) for feito houver um atraso não resolvido na adjudicação do seu caso de asilo causado por você, seu pedido de EAD pode ser negado. Exemplos desses atrasos causados pelo peticionário incluem, mas não estão limitados a:
- Pedido de alteração ou suplemento de um pedido de asilo. Causando um atraso na sua adjudicação ou procedimentos;
- Não comparecimento para receber e acusar o recebimento da decisão;
- Pedido para fornecimento de evidência adicional para uma entrevista, ou pedido de extensão para submeter evidência adicional a menos de 14 dias antes da data de entrevista, e causando um atraso na adjudicação do pedido de asilo;
- Não comparecimento a uma entrevista de asilo, a menos que o USCIS o dispense;
- Não comparecimento para a coleta de biometria agendada para o pedido de asilo, a não ser que USCIS o dispense;
- Pedido para reagendamento de uma entrevista para uma data posterior;
- Pedido para a transferência de um caso para um novo escritório de asilo ou local de entrevista, incluindo quando a transferência for para um novo endereço;
- Não usar um intérprete contratado do USCIS ou de fornecer um intérprete competente para uma entrevista; ou
- O não cumprimento de qualquer outra solicitação necessária para determinar a elegibilidade para asilo.
* Certas ofensas criminais ou condenações vão torná-lo inelegível para um EAD.
Se você tem perguntas sobre elegibilidade para autorização de trabalho por meio de um pedido de asilo pendente, entre em contato com um dos nossos experientes advogados de imigração.
Este blog não tem o propósito de ser um aconselhamento jurídico e nada aqui deve ser construído como o estabelecimento de um relacionamento advogado-cliente. Por favor, agende uma consulta com um advogado de imigração antes de agir sobre qualquer informação lida aqui.
For many of our clients, premium processing has long felt less like a luxury and more like a necessity. Whether it's an artist with a tour date, a startup founder with investors waiting, or an executive whose H-1B extension is tied to a project deadline, the ability to get a USCIS decision in fifteen business days has been a cornerstone of business and entertainment immigration planning. But 2026 has brought meaningful changes. On March 1, 2026, USCIS implemented a new round of premium processing fee increases under the biennial inflation adjustment authorized by the USCIS Stabilization Act. With fees now climbing across every eligible form, employers, foreign nationals, and their counsel are asking a fair question: at these prices, is premium processing still worth it? The short answer is: often yes but no longer always. Here is what has changed, what hasn't, and how to think strategically about your filings this year. What Premium Processing Actually Buys You Premium processing is an optional, fee-based service that obligates USCIS to take action on a qualifying petition or application within a defined window. "Action" does not necessarily mean approval USCIS may issue an approval, a denial, a Request for Evidence (RFE), a Notice of Intent to Deny, or open an investigation. But it must do something within the guaranteed timeframe, or refund the premium fee. The current adjudication windows are: 15 business days for most Form I-129 nonimmigrant petitions (including H-1B, L-1, O-1, P-1, TN, and E-3) and most Form I-140 employment-based immigrant petitions 45 business days for Form I-140 petitions in the EB-1C (multinational executive/manager) and EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) categories 30 business days for eligible Form I-539 change-of-status applications and Form I-765 applications for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT employment authorization When USCIS issues an RFE, the clock pauses and restarts only when the agency receives the response, a detail that surprises many petitioners and is worth planning around. The 2026 Fee Increases at a Glance The Department of Homeland Security's final rule, published in the Federal Register on January 12, 2026, raised premium processing fees by an average of roughly 5.7 percent based on inflation between June 2023 and June 2025. Any Form I-907 postmarked on or after March 1, 2026, must include the updated fee, or USCIS will reject the filing outright.
Navigating the immigration landscape as a professional athlete can feel as demanding as a championship final, but understanding the P-1A visa can help you to plan ahead and successfully petition USCIS when the time comes to apply. For individual athletes like surfers, Rodeo cowboys, or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters, the P-1A serves as the primary gateway to competing in the United States. While it is often compared to the O-1 visa, the P-1A has a distinct threshold that is more easily accessible than the O-1; rather than proving "extraordinary ability," you must demonstrate "international recognition". This means your achievements must be renowned or leading in more than one country, showcasing a level of skill that is substantially above the ordinary. For those competing in individual sports, the spotlight is entirely on your personal accolades and standing rather than a team or league’s reputation as in the case of a team sport athlete. You must show that you are personally well-known within your sport across multiple countries, and that the U.S. events you intend to enter typically draw other internationally recognized participants. One of the most significant advantages for the solo competitor is the duration of stay, as individual athletes can often secure a P-1 visa for an initial period of up to five years, which can eventually be extended to a total of ten. This stands in stark contrast to team athletes, who are generally limited to the duration of a specific season or contract with a team. If you are looking to be proactive about your future eligibility, you should treat your career milestones as a collection of evidence for the "Two-Out-of-Seven" rule used by USCIS. To qualify, you must provide evidence satisfying at least two of the following seven criteria: Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in a prior season with a major U.S. sports league. Evidence of participation in an international competition with a national team. Evidence of having participated to a significant extent in a prior season for a U.S. college or university in intercollegiate competition. A written statement from an official of a major U.S. sports league or the governing body of the sport detailing your international recognition. A written statement from a member of the sports media or a recognized expert. Evidence that you or your team is ranked, if the sport has international rankings. Evidence that you or your team has received a significant honor or award in the sport. Building your resume with these specific benchmarks in mind is essential. Here are some suggestions to help an individual sport athlete to meet these criteria and successfully qualify for a P-1A visa: First, you should actively seek opportunities to represent your national team or strive for high international rankings , as these are concrete proof of your standing. 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While every individual sport is different, USCIS will want to see that you have set up a structure that will pay you a living wage to perform your sport, and that you have planned out an itinerary of competitions or events in sufficient detail that covers the entire period of time for which you are requesting the P-1A visa. At Santos Lloyd Law Firm, P.C., we are experienced in helping talented individuals who are accomplished in many different sports to continue their careers here in the United States. If you are such an athlete interested in competing here, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss your case.
If you have a pending asylum application in the United States, you will now be required to pay an Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) in order to keep your application pending. Understanding this new fee and why it is important could be the difference between maintaining your pending asylum application and facing removal from the country . If your asylum application has been pending for more than one year, you will be required to pay an annual fee of $102 . The good news is that this fee is charged per asylum application, not per person. This means a family applying together on a single Form I-589 will only pay $102 total. However, it is important to know that there are no fee waivers available for this annual payment. It is crucial to take this fee seriously because the consequences for missing your payment are severe . If you receive a notification from USCIS that your fee is due, you will be given exactly 30 days to pay it. If you fail to pay by the deadline, the government may enforce the following penalties: Rejection of your Application: USCIS will reject your pending asylum application. Loss of Work Authorization: Any pending applications for employment authorization (Form I-765) based on your asylum case will be denied. Furthermore, if you already have an approved work permit, you will lose your work authorization immediately. Risk of Deportation: If you do not have an underlying legal status in the U.S., USCIS may initiate your removal (deportation) from the United States. Because of the severe consequences of failure to pay the fee within 30 days, it is vitally important to update your address with USCIS. This ensures you will actually receive the payment notice and can pay it on time without jeopardizing your case. How to Pay: Paying your fee promptly is the best way to protect your asylum status and work authorization. You can easily check if your fee is due and make your payment online by visiting: https://my.uscis.gov/accounts/annual-asylum-fee/start/overview To submit your payment, you will need two important pieces of information: Your A-Number (Alien Registration Number). The receipt number from your asylum application receipt notice. Once you enter this information, you will see a blue “Pay and submit” button. You can pay securely using a credit card, debit card, or a transfer from a U.S. bank account. Always make sure to save a copy of your receipt to ensure you have evidence of payment. Staying informed and keeping up with the Annual Asylum Fee is an essential part of the asylum process in 2026. Watch your mail for notifications, keep your address updated, and pay your fee as soon as it is due to ensure your case stays on track.
