HOW TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM - The Florence Project
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM - The Florence Project
HOW TO APPLY FOR ASYLUM - The Florence Project
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If you would like to contact any of the organizations listed above, use the Documentation Request Form<br />
attached at the end of this booklet.<br />
Turning in Letters to the Court<br />
Each letter or document you file with the Court that is not in English has to have an English translation along<br />
with it. At the end of the translation, the translator has to put the following:<br />
I, (name of translator), certify that I am competent to translate this document and that the translation is true and<br />
accurate to the best of my abilities.<br />
(signature of translator)/ (date)<br />
If a document or letter is not in English, attach an English translation!<br />
If you can get letters from friends or family members who know about what happened to you in your country or<br />
what might happen to you if you have to go back, there are certain things each letter should have:<br />
RULES <strong>FOR</strong> LETTERS <strong>TO</strong> THE JUDGE<br />
1. <strong>The</strong>y should be addressed to "Honorable Immigration Judge."<br />
2. <strong>The</strong> person should state his or her name, address, employment, age, immigration status, and relationship<br />
to you (for example, brother, cousin, neighbor, boss).<br />
3. <strong>The</strong> person should write the letter in his/her own words.<br />
4. If possible, the letter should be notarized.<br />
5. If the letter is not in English, it must be accompanied by an English translation, with a certificate of<br />
translation (Use the exact words in the example we just gave you.).<br />
<strong>The</strong> Index<br />
If you have attached letters, articles, or other documents to turn in with your application, you should make a list<br />
of the documents. This list, called an "index," helps the judge see at a glance what documents you have turned<br />
in and also gives him or her the opportunity to see if any documents are missing. At the top of the list, put your<br />
name, A number, and the words, "Index to Documents in Support of Asylum Application."<br />
Certificate of Service<br />
You should turn in all your letters, articles, and other papers at the same time you turn in your application form,<br />
if you can. But if you cannot, you will usually be allowed to file them later (but before your hearing). In that<br />
case, you may be filing the papers by sending them in the mail rather than giving them to the judge and DHS<br />
lawyer in court. If so, you will also need to file a paper that shows the judge that you sent DHS a copy. That<br />
paper is called a “Certificate of Service” and you will find one at the end of this booklet. To fill it out, put your<br />
name, “A number,” and the date you are mailing the documents. <strong>The</strong>n, put the address of the office of DHS that<br />
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FIRRP- last update June 2007