INS Processing Time Information on Asylee Adjustments
Adjustment of Status for Asylees
By law, only 10,000 asylees can adjust status to Lawful Permanent Resident
per year; however the Service is receiving 15,700-28,200 applications per
year. As a result, as of May 10, 2002, approximately 96,600 asylee
adjustment applications were pending. Through September 30, 2002, we are
processing applications received on or before June 9, 1998. We anticipate
that we will process the remaining pending applications according to the
following schedule:
| Date Received | Timeframe to be Processed |
| June 10, 1998-Feb. 1, 1999 | Oct. 1, 2002-Sept. 30, 2003 |
| Feb. 2, 1999-Sept. 14, 1999 | Oct. 1, 2003-Sept. 30, 2004 |
| Sept. 15, 1999-Mar. 13, 2000 | Oct. 1, 2004-Sept. 30, 2005 |
| Mar. 14, 2000-Aug. 3, 2000 | Oct. 1, 2005-Sept. 30, 2006 |
| Aug. 4, 2000-Dec. 27, 2000 | Oct. 1, 2006-Sept. 30, 2007 |
| Dec. 28, 2000-Apr. 30, 2001 | Oct. 1, 2007-Sept. 30, 2008 |
| May 1, 2001-Aug. 16, 2001 | Oct. 1, 2008-Sept. 30, 2009 |
| Aug. 17, 2001-Nov. 26, 2001 | Oct. 1, 2009-Sept. 30, 2010 |
| Nov. 27, 2001-Feb. 20, 2002 | Oct. 1, 2010-Sept. 30, 2011 |
| Feb. 21, 2002-undetermined | Oct. 1, 2011-Sept. 30, 2012 |
We emphasize that these dates are APPROXIMATIONS; unforeseen occurrences may delay processing. In September 2002, we will determine and publish the received dates to be processed between October 1, 2002 and September 30, 2003 more precisely.
If you move, please notify us by sending a letter or Form AR-11 to PO Box 87865, Lincoln, NE 68508-7865. Be sure to include your case receipt number or A-number. Please note that only address changes will be processed at this address. For all other inquiries, call the National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283. Non-address-change inquiries received at the PO Box cannot be answered. Also be aware that notifying the Center of an address change for a pending application DOES NOT satisfy the requirement to notify the Service of your whereabouts. Instructions for that notification can be found at http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm
While your I-485 is pending, you are permitted to travel outside the US; however you must have a valid Refugee Travel Document to reenter the country. You can apply for a refugee travel document by filing Form I-131. Due to new security procedures, allow for 90 to 120 days prior to beginning travel to obtain a travel document.
As an asylee, you are authorized to work in the United States incident to your status. If you wish to receive a document from the INS that can serve as evidence of both your work authorization and identity, file Form I-765 with the Nebraska Service Center. Allow for a 90-day processing time.