Beginning October 13, 2026, affirmative asylum applicants who reside in North Carolina or South Carolina will fall under the jurisdiction of the new Charlotte Asylum Office. The change affects where some applicants may be scheduled for interviews. It does not change asylum eligibility requirements or filing deadlines.
The USCIS announcement identifies the office address as:
Charlotte Asylum Office
128 South Tryon Street, Suite 600
Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
Interviews and other services are by appointment only. USCIS does not accept walk-ins at asylum offices. Applicants should follow the location and time listed on their own interview notice.
Which asylum cases are covered by the change?
The new jurisdiction applies to people residing in North Carolina or South Carolina who have filed or are filing an affirmative asylum application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The application is made on Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal.
This article addresses affirmative applications handled by USCIS. It does not describe cases pending in immigration court. Applicants in court proceedings should follow court instructions and obtain case-specific advice before taking action.
The new office may schedule applicants in either state for interviews in Charlotte. Applicants with pending cases should not assume a previously expected office remains the interview location. USCIS directs applicants to carefully review their interview notice for where to appear.
Check your interview notice before traveling
The interview notice controls the appointment’s time and location. An applicant who goes to a different office may miss the scheduled interview. Do not rely on an old notice, informal information, or an assumption that an appointment remains at a former location.
Use the USCIS Asylum Office Locator to review current office information. The locator is a resource; your interview notice provides the specific appointment details. Do not visit the Charlotte office without an appointment.
Prepare for the affirmative asylum interview
USCIS describes the affirmative asylum interview as an interview under oath. It is not an adversarial court hearing, but the applicant must answer questions truthfully and provide a clear account of the claim. The officer documents the interview in the case record. Applicants should not assume that every affirmative interview is electronically recorded.
USCIS’s interview preparation guidance identifies materials applicants should bring. Depending on the case, these may include:
- Government-issued identity documents, passports, travel documents, and Form I-94, if issued.
- Original civil documents previously submitted, such as birth or marriage certificates.
- A copy of Form I-589 and copies of materials previously filed.
- Updated supporting evidence and relevant country-conditions documentation.
- Certified English translations of documents in another language.
- A qualified interpreter, if needed. USCIS generally requires applicants who cannot proceed in English to bring their own interpreter. Review the USCIS rules for who may serve in that role.
- A spouse or children under 21 included as derivatives on the application, along with their available identity and supporting documents.
USCIS’s current asylum guidance states that supporting evidence must generally be submitted to the asylum office at least 14 calendar days before the scheduled interview. Evidence submitted later may not be included or may result in rescheduling, which can affect the asylum EAD clock. Confirm current instructions and deadlines in your notice and on USCIS’s asylum pages.
Applicants may bring an attorney or accredited representative. USCIS requires a properly filed Form G-28 for the representative to appear with the applicant. An immigration lawyer can help assess whether the application, testimony, and supporting evidence are consistent and adequately prepared.
If you need to reschedule
Contact the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 if you need to reschedule. Make the request before the scheduled appointment whenever possible, provide the reason and any supporting evidence, and follow USCIS’s instructions. A request is not an approval; wait for USCIS to confirm a new appointment.
USCIS’s current guidance requires applicants to establish exceptional circumstances for rescheduling. A failure to appear without an accepted rescheduling request may lead to dismissal of the application if the applicant has another lawful basis to remain in the United States, or referral to immigration court if the applicant does not. A missed interview can also affect employment-authorization eligibility and the asylum EAD clock.
For a disability-related accommodation, review USCIS’s Disability Accommodations for the Public page and request assistance in advance.
Filing deadlines, dependents, and work authorization
The Charlotte opening does not restart or extend asylum deadlines. In general, an applicant must file Form I-589 within one year after the applicant’s last arrival in the United States. Limited exceptions may apply based on changed or extraordinary circumstances. Applicants should get legal advice promptly if the one-year deadline may be an issue.
A spouse and qualifying unmarried children under 21 who are physically present in the United States may generally be included as dependents on Form I-589, subject to applicable requirements.
A pending asylum application does not, by itself, grant lawful immigration status or permission to work. Under the general rules currently described by USCIS, an applicant may file Form I-765 for employment authorization in category (c)(8) after 150 days of counted asylum-pendency time. USCIS generally cannot grant the EAD before 180 days of counted time have elapsed. This is commonly called the 180-day asylum EAD clock. Applicant-requested or applicant-caused delays may stop or pause that clock.
These are general rules, not a calculation of any individual’s eligibility. Confirm the current USCIS requirements, the case’s clock history, and any applicable exceptions before filing Form I-765 or making employment plans.
Practical checklist for applicants
- Confirm the case type. Determine whether Form I-589 is pending with USCIS or in immigration court.
- Check your address and mail. Keep USCIS address records current and review all notices promptly.
- Read the full interview notice. Verify the date, time, office address, and instructions.
- Plan your travel to the location shown. Do not attend without an appointment or substitute the locator for your individual notice.
- Prepare documents and evidence. Review USCIS’s interview guidance and submit evidence by the applicable deadline.
- Arrange language and accessibility support. Confirm interpreter requirements and request accommodations early.
- If you cannot attend, contact USCIS. Call 1-800-375-5283 and follow the rescheduling process; do not simply miss the appointment.
- Check employment authorization separately. A pending I-589 is not proof of work authorization. Track the asylum clock and any EAD expiration dates.
What employers and HR teams should know
An employee’s interview location change does not alter Form I-9 requirements. Employers should handle requests for interview-related time off under their applicable policies and avoid asking employees to disclose asylum details unnecessarily.
For I-9 compliance and workforce compliance:
- A pending asylum application or interview notice is not, by itself, proof of employment authorization.
- Employers must not request specific documents based on an employee’s citizenship, immigration status, or national origin.
- At reverification, employees choose which acceptable List A or List C document(s) to present. Employers must not direct them to provide a particular document.
- If an employee presents an EAD, review it and any renewal documentation under current USCIS rules. Do not assume an extension applies without verifying the applicable requirements.
- Keep I-9 records separate from assumptions about an employee’s asylum case.
USCIS explains employee rights during the I-9 process. Employers managing an asylum applicant’s EAD renewal should verify current rules before reverifying. A business immigration attorney can help HR teams apply consistent procedures across immigration matters, including H-1B visa 2026 planning, without requesting impermissible documents or status information.
Get advice on your specific case
The Charlotte office opening changes the location that may appear on an interview notice; it does not resolve individual questions about eligibility, deadlines, rescheduling, or work authorization. Review USCIS notices and current guidance, and obtain legal advice where case-specific facts may affect your options.
Blasingame Law LLC brings more than thirty years of experience in corporate and private practice and provides personalized guidance on U.S. immigration law. Contact Blasingame Law LLC to discuss an asylum matter or your organization’s immigration and I-9 compliance needs.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice.
