Green card after asylum in the US: after one year

Asylum in the US isn't the end of the road: a year later the asylee can become a permanent resident. No employer or sponsor is needed; the status itself is the basis.

When you can apply

The law requires at least a year of physical presence in the US as an asylee. The clock starts on the day you were granted asylum.

Since 2 February 2023 USCIS checks this year on the date it decides the I-485, not on the filing date. You can file earlier, but USCIS may then ask for more evidence, and the process will take longer.

Documents

• Form I-485 with the fee or a fee waiver request on Form I-912;
• proof of asylum: a USCIS letter, an immigration judge's decision or an I-94 with the date;
• evidence of a year of physical presence in the US after asylum was granted.

The I-485 fee under the USCIS schedule of 9 September 2026 is $1,440 on paper or $1,390 online.

Family

A spouse and children granted asylum together with the principal applicant, or later through an I-730 petition, file their own I-485s with proof of the relationship: marriage, birth or adoption certificates. The principal applicant must still meet the definition of a refugee, and each family member also needs a year of physical presence in the status.

Travel

Since 13 August 2026, leaving on advance parole can trigger a 3- or 10-year entry bar if you have more than 180 days of unlawful presence. More in the article on advance parole risks.

How the asylum procedure itself works in 2026 is covered in a separate article. A specialist in US asylum can help with the documents.