Los Angeles Asylum Office Liaison Meeting - Q and A

The Los Angeles Asylum Office (ZLA) held a meeting on July 16, 2014 for Members of the Los Angeles County Bar and the American Immigration Lawyers Association. They freely answered many questions and issues of Asylum applicants and their Immigration Attorneys at their office at 1585 South Manchester Avenue, Anaheim 92802.

The well-attended 2 hour meeting included 15 officers of the Asylum office, including acting Director David Radel that replaced Director George Mihalko that retired in April 2014.

Interesting questions and answers, and information included:

• Filing Statistics:
• In FY14 (through June 30) ZLA has received 8,981 asylum applications and 195 NACARA applications. 5,750 asylum applications processed during this period. 
• In FY13. ZLA received 11,132 asylum applications and 358 NACARA applications. ZLA processed 6,941 asylum completions.

• Approval Rates:
• In FY14 (through June 30), the approval rate of adjudicated affirmative asylum cases is 64%, and the approvals rate of adjudicated NACARA cases is approximately 88%.
• In FY13, the approval rate of affirmative asylum cases was 65%, and the approval rate of NACARA case was approximately 94%.

• How many officers are on staff at the Los Angeles Asylum Office? How many are conducting interviews per day?
• 69 Asylum Officers are currently on staff at ZLA.
• There are currently up to 25 asylum officers (AOs) conducting affirmative asylum interviews on a regular basis.

• Information regarding the Los Angeles Asylum Office backlog:
• As of June 30, ZLA had over 10,000 backlog cases pending interview scheduling.
• If you have a backlog case that merits immediate interview due to exceptional circumstances or a case in which the asylum EAD Clock (KLOK) is stopped and at under 180 days, please reach out to the office directly.
• Cases that can be immediately scheduled are generally interviewed within 46 days of filing. Interview notices for these cases will generally be generated within approximately three weeks from the filing date.
• For local filings, if you have not received an interview notice within approximately three to four weeks of filing an asylum application, it is probably safe to assume that your case has not been scheduled for immediate interview.

• Out of status applicants.
• An applicant who is not in valid status and withdraws an asylum application pending with ZLA can be issued a NTA. ZLA generally does not issue "courtesy NTAs" to applicants with live, un-interviewed asylum applications pending before the office.
• If an applicant is not in valid immigration status and fails to appear for an asylum interview, their case will be referred to Immigration Court. Such referrals are generally issued only after 45 days have passed from the missed interview date. Once the NTA is served on the Immigration Court, ZLA no longer has jurisdiction over the asylum application, and the Director may seek termination of the proceedings only if exceptional circumstances have ben established for failing to appear for the asylum interview.

• Biometrics:
• All applicants are required to appear at an Application Support Center (ASC) for biometrics prior to their scheduled interviews. If the principle applicant, or any dependent, has not completed this requirement, the asylum interview should be rescheduled.
• Biometrics remain valid for 15 months, but interviews can happen if biometrics are taken more than 15 months before the interview date.

• Submission of Documents
• Always submit 3 copies of all documents.
• Identify all Aliases on Form before interview.
• Beginning August 1, 2014, ZLA will require that all supporting documents be submitted at least one week prior to the date of the interviews. Applicants who submit documentation on the day of the interview, either to the officer or at the window, risk having their cases rescheduled and their employment authorization clock stopped. 

• Use of electronics policy for lawyers:
• ZLA's policy on the use of electronics on office premises is among the most permissive in USCIS. Laptop computers are allowed so long as their use us for note-taking purposes only and is not disruptive to the interview process.
• Attorneys are reminded that the use of any audio or video recording devices or features on Asylum Office premises is strictly prohibited, and that cell phones must be completely powered-off during all interviews, and while being served by our staff at the information counters.

• Work Authorization:
• A change of address resulting in a change in the Asylum Office with jurisdiction over the claim stops the EAD KLOK. The EAD KLOK will remain stopped until the applicant appears for his or hew newly scheduled interview at the Asylum Office with jurisdiction over the claim.
• If any Asylum Officer requests more evidence during or at the end of the interview, the processing of the asylum application generally stops until the evidence is received and reviewed by the Officer to determine whether the processing can proceed. The EAD KLOK should be restarted once the required documents are submitted and the Asylum Office personal life the hold on the case.

• Interviews:
• Waiting delays over two months for a decision are unusual for cases that are not subject to any extended review, and attorneys are encouraged to inquire with the office.
• ZLA hopes to resume interviewing nunc pro tunc interviews in the next fiscal year. 
• Stand-by list: a voluntary short list that allows the office to schedule interviews from wait list when an interview window opens up. Applicants and/or their attorney must request to be on the list and be able to appear within a very short period of time for the interview.

For the contact list of the Los Angeles Asylum Click Here.

Getting to the Los Angeles Asylum Office:

• From Los Angeles: Exit Harbor Blvd. exit to Convention Center from the 5 South Freeway, keep right at the fork and follow the signs to Harbor Boulevard South and merge onto South Harbor Blvd. Turn Left on West Manchester Avenue, then turn right. Ample free parking is available.

• From Orange County: Take the exit toward Katella Avenue/Disney Way/Civic Center/Disneyland from the 5 North Freeway, merge onto South Anaheim Way, Slight left toward South Manchester Avenue, Continue onto South Manchester Avenue, Continue onto Disney Way, turn right onto South Clementine Street, Turn left on West Alro Way, take the 1st right, then turn right. Ample free parking is available.