difference between mailing out the interview decision vs pick up at INS office

[asylumseeker1]

Hi,

I just had my asylum interview today. I am a F1 student in America and showed my SEVIS (i-20) and passport to the officer. After the interview had finished, he told me to sign a paper stating that the decision will be mailed out to me. After that, he called a lady to verify my SEVIS whether I really go to school. When he gave the SEVIS number he gave the admission# instead. SEVIS# starts with N000XXXXXXX. But, he gave the admission# instead, which the lady couldn't find any data on it. I was telling him over and over again that I am attending that school. Then, he told me to sign another paper stating that I needed to pick up the decision in 2 weeks. And he added, if I can have the letter of confirmation from my school, he would let me know that i don't need to pick up the decision. It will be mailed out to my house.

He gave me 3 days to get the confirmation letter and gave me his fax#. I went to my school, and I will get the letter on Monday.

My question is if i pick up the decision, does it mean it's rejected? And if the decision will be mailed out that means i will be granted? I'm just confused of that because when he couldn't verify the SEVIS, he just changed the paper, telling me to pick up the decision there.


Thanks a lot!

 

[MGTgrl]

Hi,

I just had my asylum interview today. I am a F1 student in America and showed my SEVIS (i-20) and passport to the officer. After the interview had finished, he told me to sign a paper stating that the decision will be mailed out to me. After that, he called a lady to verify my SEVIS whether I really go to school. When he gave the SEVIS number he gave the admission# instead. SEVIS# starts with N000XXXXXXX. But, he gave the admission# instead, which the lady couldn't find any data on it. I was telling him over and over again that I am attending that school. Then, he told me to sign another paper stating that I needed to pick up the decision in 2 weeks. And he added, if I can have the letter of confirmation from my school, he would let me know that i don't need to pick up the decision. It will be mailed out to my house.

He gave me 3 days to get the confirmation letter and gave me his fax#. I went to my school, and I will get the letter on Monday.

My question is if i pick up the decision, does it mean it's rejected? And if the decision will be mailed out that means i will be granted? I'm just confused of that because when he couldn't verify the SEVIS, he just changed the paper, telling me to pick up the decision there.


Thanks a lot!

The difference is being in status versus being out of status. If you are in status, they mail you the decision. If you are out of status, they ask you to pick up the decision. In my opinion, he changed his mind and ask you to pick it up, because he assumed you didn't go to school and therefore you are out of status. If you prove that you are in school (therefore in status), he will be able to mail you the decision. Just get the confirmation from the school and fax it to him. And good luck...I hope and pray that they approve your case!

 

[faysal]

Hi,

I just had my asylum interview today. I am a F1 student in America and showed my SEVIS (i-20) and passport to the officer. After the interview had finished, he told me to sign a paper stating that the decision will be mailed out to me. After that, he called a lady to verify my SEVIS whether I really go to school. When he gave the SEVIS number he gave the admission# instead. SEVIS# starts with N000XXXXXXX. But, he gave the admission# instead, which the lady couldn't find any data on it. I was telling him over and over again that I am attending that school. Then, he told me to sign another paper stating that I needed to pick up the decision in 2 weeks. And he added, if I can have the letter of confirmation from my school, he would let me know that i don't need to pick up the decision. It will be mailed out to my house.

He gave me 3 days to get the confirmation letter and gave me his fax#. I went to my school, and I will get the letter on Monday.

My question is if i pick up the decision, does it mean it's rejected? And if the decision will be mailed out that means i will be granted? I'm just confused of that because when he couldn't verify the SEVIS, he just changed the paper, telling me to pick up the decision there.


Thanks a lot!

By law as it used to be, an applicant of asylum should have their decision finalized within 14 days. At the end of interview of asylum, it is formal the officer give you a letter instructing the asylum seeker to come back to that office and pick up the decision. Whether the decision would be approval, denial or forever delay has nothing to do with how one finds the decision. For example, an officer might give you a letter stating that you come back to that same office with 14 days even though the asylum officers would not come back to that office. Therefore, the asylum officer’s behavior is unpredictable.

Depending on how far you are from the asylum officer having jurisdiction over your case, you might get approval or denial through the mail, or you may have to wait the decision for a while…

For you the most important thing is that you have contact number. Fax the letter to the officer and wait until 14 day pass and see what happens. Asylum officers do not go by name; they go by number, so don’t lose his/her contact number. It is an asset for you. It is the best channel to communicate with them…Good luck

 

[lisa99]

l totally agree with Faysal. After the Interview, the officer will ask u to come back in 14 days to pick up the decision and the decision could be approve, denial or something else. It definetly has nothing to do with being in or out of status. pray and ask God for favor. good Luck.

 

[MGTgrl]

l totally agree with Faysal. After the Interview, the officer will ask u to come back in 14 days to pick up the decision and the decision could be approve, denial or something else. It definetly has nothing to do with being in or out of status. pray and ask God for favor. good Luck.

I disagree with the latter part of your post. Your current status matters on how you get the decision. If you are out of status, and your case is denied or approved, they will ask you to pick it up in person (see below)

http://www.maylawgroup.com/Asylum.shtml (read last paragraph)
".... If the applicant is in status, the decision will be mailed to the applicant within a few weeks of the interview. If the asylum applicant is out of status, the decision must be picked up at the asylum office by the applicant. ..."

"When Will I Be Notified About the Decision on My Asylum Claim?
In most cases, you will return to the asylum office where your interview was held two weeks after the interview to pick up your decision. However, there may be longer processing times if you were interviewed at a district office, are currently in valid status, or if your case will be reviewed by Asylum Division Headquarters staff. You will generally receive the decision by mail if any of these circumstances occur"
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/us...2411c9ee2f82b010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD#dec2


Also, read the third paragraph here: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/CISOmbudsman_RR_19_Asylum_Pickup_USCIS_Response-12-12-05.pdf
They tell you the reason why. If you are out of status and your case is denied and referred to immigration court, they have the opportunity to serve you when you go to pick up the decision.