South Carolina — USCIS Asylum Office Coverage
1 USCIS asylum office has jurisdiction over South Carolina.
Offices serving South Carolina
USCIS Asylum Offices Serving South Carolina
Affirmative asylum applications from people living in South Carolina are handled by USCIS asylum offices. These are specialized offices within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that interview applicants who file Form I-589 on their own initiative — that is, people who are not already in removal proceedings. Asylum office jurisdiction is assigned by the applicant's address, but a single office typically covers a wide multi-state region, so the office responsible for South Carolina may be located in another state.
The offices shown above are the USCIS asylum offices with jurisdiction over South Carolina. This is separate from defensive asylum, which is decided by an immigration judge in EOIR court when someone is already facing removal. If you filed Form I-589 affirmatively, your interview will be scheduled at one of these offices or a nearby asylum sub-office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which USCIS asylum office covers South Carolina?
1 USCIS asylum office has jurisdiction over South Carolina, listed above with its address and the areas it serves.
What does a USCIS asylum office do?
It adjudicates affirmative asylum applications (Form I-589) and conducts credible-fear and reasonable-fear screenings. An asylum officer interviews the applicant and decides whether to grant asylum or refer the case to immigration court.
What is the difference between affirmative and defensive asylum?
Affirmative asylum is filed with USCIS by someone not in removal proceedings, and the interview happens at a USCIS asylum office. Defensive asylum is raised as a defense before an immigration judge (EOIR) when the person is already in removal proceedings.
How do I check my affirmative asylum case status?
Use your receipt number in the myUSCIS Case Status tool at egov.uscis.gov, or sign in to a myUSCIS online account. Interview scheduling is handled by the asylum office with jurisdiction over your address.
Is there a fee to apply for asylum?
Filing Form I-589 for asylum itself has historically carried no fee, though rules can change — always confirm the current fee schedule on the USCIS website before filing. Applicants may also become eligible to apply for a work permit while the case is pending.