Welcome to the
Asylum Support Clinic
Established in 2022 by a group of experienced pro bono attorneys and volunteers, the Asylum Support Clinic is a volunteer-driven, pro se free legal clinic for asylum seekers in NYC. ASC assists asylum seekers who lack legal representation to file their asylum applications in a way that reduces the challenge and trauma of the process, while also giving them the best chance at prevailing in immigration court. ASC provides critical support for immigrants who have left behind their families, jobs, and homes in search of a safe haven from violence and persecution.
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ASC's volunteer-based model involves a series of meetings over the course of six weeks with each person we help. This enables ASC volunteers to build trust with asylum seekers, to draft more thorough applications, and to better prepare them to continue on their own. Importantly, after filing their asylum applications, we help them with the crucial next step of applying for work authorization so that they can begin supporting themselves and their families as quickly as possible.
Help Offset Harsh New Asylum and Work Authorization Fees
The administration recently announced new fees for asylum and work authorization applications. It now costs $550 to apply for work authorization and $100 to file for asylum, plus $100 each year that the asylum application is pending. Previously, it didn’t cost anything to apply. These fees will prevent many vulnerable individuals from having the chance at a safer, more secure future.
ASC intends to help cover these filing costs to the extent possible. But our funding will only go so far. You can help ASC defray the cost of this harsh policy by making a donation via GoFundMe or a tax-deductible gift to Rutgers Presbyterian Church, ASC’s fiscal sponsor, online or by check payable to Rutgers Presbyterian Church and mailed to Dave Mammen, Church Administrator, 236 W. 73rd St., New York, NY 10023. Please include “ASC” in the note/memo field.
Values
Welcoming and Safe Space
Volunteer-driven
Asylum Seekers Own Their Own Story
Trauma-Informed Approach
Free, Thorough and Conscientious Support