Documents to Gather While Your Asylum Case Is on Hold at USCIS

When a pending asylum case at USCIS goes on hold, many people feel stuck and powerless. You may not know why there is a delay, how long it will last, or what you should be doing during this time. Even if USCIS is not moving your case forward right now, your life is still moving, and things in your home country may be changing fast.

During this pause, one of the most important things you can do is keep building and updating your evidence file. USCIS can later ask for new documents, updated records, or proof of what has happened to you and your family since you first filed. If you prepare while you wait, you will be ready to respond quickly when your case starts moving again, instead of trying to rush everything at the last minute.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, officers often pay close attention to recent evidence that shows ongoing risk, current country conditions, and your life in the United States. That means what you collect during this waiting period can strongly support your claim when USCIS finally reviews it.

The steps below walk through what to gather, how to keep it in order, and what to expect at each stage while your case is on hold.

Step 1: Keep identity and travel documents current and organized

Even while your asylum case is on hold, USCIS still needs to know who you are and how you entered the United States 🇺🇸. Identity and travel records are the base of almost every asylum file.

You should keep:

• Passports
  • If you renew your passport or receive a new one, scan or copy every page, not only the photo page.
  • Keep both old and new passports, since they may show travel history, visas, and exit/entry stamps.
• Form I-94
  • This is the Arrival/Departure Record issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection when you enter the country.
  • If you travel and get a new I‑94, print and save a copy.
  • Make sure names, dates, and passport numbers are correct. If there is an error, talk to a lawyer or legal aid group right away.
• Civil documents
  • Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption papers, or any other documents that prove your identity or family relationships.
  • If you receive updated versions or new translations, file them by date.

Authorities may later compare what is in your asylum file with your passport and Form I-94 details. Keeping these records clean and current helps avoid confusion and questions about your entry or identity.

Step 2: Track country conditions and ongoing fear of return

An asylum case is not only about what happened in the past. USCIS also looks at current danger and the risk you would face if you had to return to your country today.

While your case is on hold, keep gathering:

• News articles
  • Save stories about political unrest, attacks on people like you, discrimination against your group, or new laws that harm your community.
  • Try to keep sources from different outlets, not just one local newspaper or website.
• Country reports
  • Look for updated reports from:
  • U.S. Department of State
  • UNHCR (United Nations refugee agency)
  • Recognized human rights groups
  • These reports often describe patterns of abuse, which can support your own story.
• Updated personal statements or affidavits
  • If you face new threats, if family members are harmed, or if police in your country ask about you, write everything down with dates, names, and locations.
  • You can later add this to your main statement or submit it as a supplement when USCIS asks for more evidence.

USCIS officers may give special weight to recent reports that confirm your fear is still real, not only based on old events. Keeping this part of your file up to date shows that your fear of return is ongoing.

Step 3: Record medical, mental health, and legal impacts

Persecution and trauma often leave deep physical and emotional marks. These effects can strongly support your asylum case if they are properly documented.

Collect:

• Medical records
  • Reports from hospitals, clinics, or doctors who treated you for injuries linked to violence, abuse, or mistreatment.
  • Records of long-term pain, disability, or scarring related to what happened.
• Mental health evaluations
  • Reports from therapists, counselors, psychologists, or psychiatrists about PTSD, depression, anxiety, or sleep problems tied to your fear or past harm.
  • Treatment notes, diagnosis letters, and therapy summaries can all help explain why your reactions are normal for trauma survivors.
• Police reports and court records
  • If you report any threats or attacks to police (here or abroad), keep copies of the reports, case numbers, and any follow‑up letters.
  • If you have court orders, restraining orders, or other legal documents linked to your asylum claim, add them to your file.

These documents help USCIS see that persecution was not just a story, but something that left a clear trace in medical and legal systems.

Step 4: Prove family ties and life in the United States

If you include family members in your asylum case, or hope to bring them later, proof of family relationships is key. At the same time, USCIS often looks at your life in the United States to confirm you have stayed here and followed the rules.

Keep:

• Family relationship documents
  • Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and any other proof of parent‑child or spousal relationships.
  • Passports and I‑94 records for family members who are part of your case.
• Proof of continuous presence in the United States 🇺🇸
  • Lease agreements, rent receipts, utility bills, bank statements, pay stubs, school records, medical appointment letters, and similar items.
  • Try to keep at least one or two documents for each month you have been here.

These records can help if USCIS later questions how long you have been in the country or whether certain family members qualify as dependents on your asylum case.

Step 5: Translations, witness statements, and community support

Many asylum files fail not because the story is weak, but because the paperwork is messy. During the hold period, you can clean up this part of your case.

Focus on:

• Certified English translations
  • Any document not in English must be translated.
  • The translator should provide a certificate of translation stating they are competent in both languages and that the translation is complete and accurate.
  • Keep copies of both the original document and the translation.
• Certificates of interpretation
  • If someone reads a document to you in your language, ask for a short signed note saying what they read, in which language, and on what date.
  • This is especially helpful for people who cannot read their own language or who rely on spoken explanations.
• Affidavits from witnesses and experts
  • Statements from friends, family, neighbors, co‑workers, or community leaders who know what happened to you or why you are afraid to return.
  • Reports from experts, such as doctors, psychologists, or country‑conditions specialists, who can explain why your account fits common patterns.
• Community and support letters
  • Letters from religious leaders, local groups, schools, or non‑profits showing your good character, volunteer work, or regular attendance.
  • These can build trust and show that people who know you here take your story seriously.

All of this helps USCIS see that others support your claim and that your documents are complete and clear.

Step 6: Stay ready for USCIS action and keep your file in order

While your asylum case sits on hold, USCIS may still send notices or requests. You should:

• Check mail and email often for any Request for Evidence (RFE), interview notice, or other letter.
• Make sure your address is correct with USCIS; you can update it through your USCIS online account or Form AR‑11.

For general asylum information and official updates, you can review the USCIS asylum page at uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum.

To keep your growing file under control:

• Use labeled folders (physical or digital) for each category: identity, country conditions, medical, legal, family, community, and translations.
• Keep a simple timeline listing important events, such as threats, moves, medical visits, or legal steps, with dates and short notes.
• Always make copies of anything you send to USCIS and note when and how you sent it.

Important: When USCIS finally restarts your case—whether that means an interview, a transfer, or a request for more proof—you will already have the records they are likely to ask for. Careful work now can reduce stress later and give you a stronger, clearer asylum case when your turn finally comes.