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Asylum Lawyers in Austin · Free Case Review

Asylum Lawyer in AustinAfraid to Go Home? The First Year Decides.

Affirmative asylum interviews for Austin and Central Texas residents are scheduled through the Houston Asylum Office. Referred cases from Austin are heard at the San Antonio Immigration Court, where the wait is shorter than in Houston or Dallas but still measured in years.

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Free eligibility screener

Do You Qualify for Asylum? Find Out in Two Minutes.

Five questions that mirror what an asylum officer or immigration judge has to decide. You get a screening score, the factors that help or hurt, and what to do next. Nothing you enter leaves your device.

  • Past persecution or a well-founded fear of future harm
  • A protected ground: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group
  • Who the persecutor is, and whether your government would protect you
  • The one-year filing deadline and its exceptions
  • Common bars: convictions, prior denials, firm resettlement

A low score is not a no. Many granted cases started with a story the client thought was too weak. Grounds like imputed political opinion or a family-based social group are found on review, not in a questionnaire.

Free tool · Santos Khoury Law

Asylum Eligibility Screener

Five confidential questions covering the core requirements, the one-year deadline, and the common bars.

100% confidential. Runs in your browser, nothing is stored or sent.

Question 1 of 50%

Have you been harmed or threatened in your home country, or do you fear serious harm if you return?

Think You May Qualify?

The one-year deadline and the details of your story can make or break an asylum case. Get a professional assessment before you file Form I-589, in your language.

Schedule a Free Consultation Call 888-805-9065

Disclaimer: Asylum eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case, current case law in your circuit, and how your claim is documented and argued. This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Santos Khoury Law.

Asylum in Austin, step by step

How an Asylum Case Works, From Filing to Decision

Interviews for Texas residents run through the Houston Asylum Office; referred and defensive cases are heard at the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Harlingen, El Paso immigration courts.

  1. 01

    Affirmative or defensive

    Not in proceedings? You file Form I-589 with USCIS and interview at the asylum office. Already in immigration court? The judge decides the asylum claim as a defense to removal.

  2. 02

    The one-year deadline

    File within one year of your last arrival, or document a changed or extraordinary circumstance that excuses the delay. Withholding and CAT protection have no deadline.

  3. 03

    The declaration and evidence

    Your story in your words, consistent and detailed, backed by identity documents, medical and police records, witness statements, and country-conditions reports.

  4. 04

    The interview or the hearing

    Asylum officers and immigration judges test credibility and the legal elements: persecution, a protected ground, and government involvement or failure to protect. Preparation decides outcomes.

  5. 05

    The work permit clock

    You can apply for a work permit after the application has been pending 150 days, subject to the 180-day clock that stops for applicant-caused delays.

  6. 06

    If the answer is no

    A referral from the asylum office sends the case to the judge for a fresh decision. A denial in court can be appealed to the BIA within 30 days, and other protections may still apply.

Austin immigration facts

The Courts, Facilities, and Offices That Decide Austin Cases

Immigration courts

Austin has no immigration court of its own. Cases from Austin and Central Texas are assigned to the San Antonio Immigration Court, about 80 miles south, or heard by video. Detained cases go to the docket of the facility holding the person.

  • Houston Immigration Court

    606 Lamar St, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77002

    Est. wait 3.8 yrs · 14 judges · Pending 52,000

  • Dallas Immigration Court

    1100 Commerce St, Suite 600, Dallas, TX 75242

    Est. wait 3.5 yrs · 8 judges · Pending 31,000

  • San Antonio Immigration Court

    800 Dolorosa St, Suite 300, San Antonio, TX 78207

    Est. wait 3.3 yrs · 10 judges · Pending 25,000

  • Harlingen Immigration Court

    2009 W Jefferson Ave, Harlingen, TX 78550

    Est. wait 2.8 yrs · 6 judges · Pending 15,000

  • El Paso Immigration Court

    700 E San Antonio Ave, Suite 550, El Paso, TX 79901

    Est. wait 2.5 yrs · 5 judges · Pending 12,000

Wait times and pending-case figures are estimates; confirm your hearing with your A-number through EOIR.

ICE detention facilities

Texas holds more ICE detainees than any other state. Austin-area arrests usually go first to T. Don Hutto in Taylor or to Pearsall, then anywhere in the state as beds open. Transfers across Texas within the first week are the norm, which is why we locate the person first and file the bond request at the facility that actually holds them.

  • T. Don Hutto Residential Center, Taylor, TX: 35 miles from Austin, the closest ICE facility to the city
  • South Texas ICE Processing Center, Pearsall, TX
  • Montgomery Processing Center, Conroe, TX
  • Houston Contract Detention Facility, Houston, TX
  • Bluebonnet Detention Center, Anson, TX
  • Prairieland Detention Center, Alvarado, TX
  • IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility, Livingston, TX
  • Port Isabel Detention Center, Los Fresnos, TX
  • El Paso Service Processing Center, El Paso, TX
  • Camp East Montana, El Paso, TX: opened in 2025 at Fort Bliss
Someone detained? Call now

USCIS and asylum offices

Affirmative asylum interviews for Texas residents are generally scheduled through the Houston Asylum Office (Houston, TX).

USCIS field offices serving Texas: Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen.

How we serve Austin

Immigration law is federal, so our attorneys represent Austin and Central Texas clients in the San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas immigration courts and at every Texas detention facility, by video and in person.

Languages: English · Español · Português · العربية · Français · Hours: 24/7

Watch: our attorneys explain

Asylum Questions, Answered by Our Attorneys

  • Will Anyone Find Out If You Apply for Asylum?

    The truth about confidentiality when you file an asylum application.

  • How to Prepare for an Affirmative Asylum Interview

    What to expect and how to prepare before your affirmative asylum interview.

  • How to Increase Your Chances of Winning Your Asylum Case

    Practical factors that strengthen an asylum case.

  • Why Silence Can Hurt Your Asylum Case

    How to tell your story clearly and completely to strengthen your asylum claim.

  • Asylum Denied? It May Not Be the End

    Options that may still be available after an asylum denial.

  • Missed Your Asylum Deadline?

    What options may still exist if a filing deadline has passed.

More on the video center or call 888-805-9065.

Client reviews

Real Clients. Real Reviews.

4.9 / 5 ★★★★★500+ verified Google reviews →

From ICE detention to a green card

A client we represented tells the story in their own words. Every review on this page comes from our verified Google Business profile, and we share client stories only with permission.

K
Khalid Khan
December 2025 · Google

★★★★★

“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Attorney Fernando and Jad Essayli. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout. I felt supported and confident, and ultimately we achieved a positive outcome.”

Positive outcome

H
Hatim Yousif
May 2026 · Google

★★★★★

“I cannot thank Daniella at Santos Khoury enough for her professional and compassionate support. She was incredibly quick to respond, kept me fully informed, and showed genuine care for my case.”

Responsive, caring team

A
Alima
September 2025 · Google

★★★★★

“Santos Khoury filed a mandamus petition that finally forced USCIS to act. When I was referred to Immigration Court, Attorney Jad Essayli represented me and my daughter, and we were granted asylum. This completely changed our lives.”

Asylum granted in immigration court

Reviews describe individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Common questions

Asylum Questions From Austin, Answered

Where is my asylum interview if I live in Austin?

Affirmative asylum interviews for Texas residents are generally scheduled through the Houston Asylum Office in Houston, TX. If your case is referred, or if you are already in proceedings, it is heard at the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Harlingen, El Paso immigration courts.

What is the one-year asylum deadline?

You generally must file Form I-589 within one year of your last arrival in the United States. Exceptions exist for changed circumstances (new danger, a new law, a change in status) and extraordinary circumstances (serious illness, being a minor, ineffective counsel). Withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture have no deadline.

Can I work while my asylum case is pending?

You can apply for a work permit once your application has been pending 150 days, subject to the 180-day asylum clock. Delays you cause stop the clock, so file a complete case.

What if the danger comes from a gang, cartel, or family member, not the government?

Harm by a group the government cannot or will not control can qualify if it is tied to a protected ground and you can show the state failed to protect you. These cases are won on how the claim is framed and documented.

How long do asylum cases take in Texas?

Interview waits at the Houston Asylum Office are commonly measured in years, and the Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Harlingen, El Paso courts carry an estimated 135,000 pending cases. Filing a complete application early and requesting an expedite where the criteria fit are the levers we use.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for asylum?

You can file alone, but represented applicants win far more often. The declaration, the country-conditions evidence, and the legal theory of the claim are where cases are won or lost.

Have a different question? Call 888-805-9065

Free and confidential

Afraid to Go Home? Start With One Conversation.

Tell us what happened and when you arrived. We tell you whether asylum fits, what the deadline means for you, and what a strong case would take. Free, confidential, five languages.

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Every case is different. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

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