The United States’ political asylum system is in a deep coma. Despite the efforts of several state actors to improve the system, the problem is spiraling out of control. According to [the latest information](https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/cisomb/cisomb_2019-annual-report-to-congress.pdf) from Homeland Security, the asylum applications backlog (i.e. - all cases that have not been considered as of February 2018) reached more than 350 thousand cases. In June 2020 local USCIS offices started holding interviews again after a lengthy closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine lockdowns. However, approximately 9,000 to 12,000 cases lost the opportunity for their interviews in 2020. The capacity to process asylum applications is approximately 2,000 to 4,000 interviews per month, which is between 24,000 and 48,000 applications per year. To put this in perspective: in 2018, 105,472 asylum cases were submitted.

In 2020, the Trump administration initiated a series of changes to the asylum process that had a significant impact on both existing asylum seekers and new applicants. In July 2020, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman published an annual report that includes a detailed analysis of the current state of political asylum, and a summary of innovations. We have prepared for you a selection of the important items that have already been implemented or are expected to be implemented in the near future. 

## Current situation and statistics. 

The problems in the political asylum system are not new. For example, in late 2012, the number of cases in the backlog reached 15,526, and in 2020 this figure exceeded 350,135 cases. If extraordinary measures or legislative changes are not made, most of these cases will not be considered.

![Screen Shot 2020-10-03 at 12.25.14 PM](https://api.qua.community/uploads/Screen_Shot_2020-10-03_at_12.25.14_PM_7041074f0c.png)

### USCIS statistics highlights several trends:  
 
- The total number of applications for political asylum in the United States is gradually declining (115,356 in 2016; 139,777 in 2017; 105,472 in 2018; **60,698 in 2019**; statistics are available from January through September).
- The total number of backlogged cases is growing steadily (318,624 cases in March 2018; 350,135 cases in early 2020).
 - The monthly number of scheduled interviews is gradually declining - 6,011 interviews were conducted in October 2018, but only 2,799 interviews were conducted in September 2019.
- The total number of approved asylum cases is growing. 26,509 were approved in 2017 and 38,687 cases (a 46% increase) were approved in 2018.
 - The number of cases approved by UCSIS increased by 61%, and the number approved by judges increased by 24%.

![Screen Shot 2020-10-03 at 12.46.55 PM](https://api.qua.community/uploads/Screen_Shot_2020-10-03_at_12.46.55_PM_f57d73351b.png)

It should also be noted that the United States has experienced a steady uptick in the number of approved asylum cases.  In 1990 the United States approved 8,472 political asylum cases and **38,687 cases were approved in 2018**.

![Screen Shot 2020-10-03 at 12.52.19 PM](https://api.qua.community/uploads/Screen_Shot_2020-10-03_at_12.52.19_PM_62bcdf3e29.png)

## What has changed for asylum seekers in 2020:

One of the significant changes for asylum seekers was a change in [the rules for obtaining and renewing employment authorization](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/06/26/2020-13544/asylum-application-interview-and-employment-authorization-for-applicants). If you submitted an Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal after August 25, 2020, and you were not summoned for an interview within **365 calendar days**, you have the right to apply for Employment Authorization. To put this in perspective, before August 25, 2020, asylum seekers could apply for employment authorization 180 calendar days after the application for political asylum, subject to a waiting period for an interview date. **USCIS extends the wait time before an asylum applicant can apply for employment authorization from 150 days to 365 calendar days.**

The second significant change was the removal of the deadline for application consideration and the issuance of the card. The previous rule set 30 days for the deadline for consideration and 90 days for the issuance of the card. Under the new procedure, USCIS does [not have a deadline for processing the application](https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-provides-greater-flexibility-in-processing-work-authorization-requests-for-asylum-applicants), which is likely to lead to the formation of a line of applicants for political asylum to obtain or renew the employment authorization.

The procedure for applying for an extension of employment authorization has also been changed, and political asylum applicants awaiting an interview date may submit a petition for an extension of the authorization 180 calendar days before its expiration (*previous rule: 90 days*). After the authorization expiration date, it is automatically extended for 180 calendar days, provided that the applicant has submitted a petition for an extension.
For more detailed and up-to-date information, as well as an updated employment authorization petition, use this official page: [www.uscis.gov/i-765](https://www.uscis.gov/i-765)

**New petition fees have also been set, including: **
- $50.00 fee for the I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal
- $550.00 fee for the Application for Employment Authorization

**NB! Note that USCIS has updated the I-765 and I-589 forms.** When submitting the relevant forms, download the current forms following the above links from [the official USCIS website](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum).

## COVID 2019 interview conditions

In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the USCIS political asylum offices changed the interview procedure, in particular:
- The applicant will be in a separate room and will talk to the officer via video;
- The applicant’s lawyer will also be in a separate room and will be able to observe the interview;
- The applicant cannot bring their own interpreter for an interview if they are unable to proceed in English. USCIS will provide asylum applicants with a free interpreter (interpretation is available in 47 languages). The temporary rule is valid until March 22, 2021. You can find the list of languages ​​available for interpretation [following the link](https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum/temporary-final-rule-asylum-interview-interpreter-requirement-modification-due-to-covid-19).

In this case, if you came for the interview at the specified time, and the interpreter of the requested language is not available – your interview will be shifted to another date. If you don’t speak conversational English and refuse a USCIS interpreter, your case will be referred to an immigration court. If your language is not listed you can bring your own interpreter.

## 2021 Trends and innovations. 

One of the important global initiatives is the launch of the **Asylum Vetting Center (AVC)**. The idea of ​​creating a special national center for checking applicants for political asylum arose in 2015 as part of a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) at the request of the US Congress, full report can be found [following this link](https://www.gao.gov/assets/680/673941.pdf). 

AVC is slated for launch in March 2021 and will be the main recipient of political asylum petitions [I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal](https://www.uscis.gov/i-589). Their staff will include 250 federal employees, 100 contractors, and 40 political asylum officers. This center will replace the Nebraska Service Center (NSC), **and the AVC functionality will include:**
- Initial processing of I-589, pre-screening of applicants for public safety and national security threats (for example, the presence of the applicant in international databases of criminals or terrorists);
- Support for national fraud investigations. In particular, reviewing text analytical data from asylum filings to identify national fraud trends and patterns, etc.
- Coordination of national backlog reduction efforts, centralizing management of all files for backlogged cases, automation of the relevant process.  

When AVC is running at full capacity, the part of the functions from the local officers from the USCIS will be transferred to the AVC center. In particular, security screening of the applicant will be conducted before the interview, and the relevant emigration officer will already have the results of such screening at the time of the interview.

AVC will also analyze the language in all applications (it is also anticipated that the I-589 petition will be submitted electronically through a user account by either the applicant or an authorized person) and identify similar patterns with other applications. That is, if your story matches other stories, the system will automatically mark a special investigation of your story/case.

Also, AVC will address fraud concerns after political asylum has been granted. In particular, there will be stricter electronic control over people who have been granted political asylum, for example, if you have visited the country you fled from for political asylum in the US or if you have applied as an LGBTQ representative and later had heterosexual marriage - such cases will be monitored and investigated. All these cases will get an appropriate response in accordance with the US Criminal Code. 

## Summary:
In the process of acquiring political asylum in the United States there are several trends:

- The total number of people on the backlog is growing rapidly. In fact, the backlog is very big and this problem cannot be solved without implementing special measures.  Most applicants have no chance of being interviewed. At the moment, solving the problem for the backlog and setting up the interview system requires extraordinary measures.
- The USCIS office is working to digitize and automate processes. New mechanisms to combat possible abuses of the political asylum system may potentially help honest applicants.

## Tips and useful resources for asylum applicants:

If you are an asylum applicant and are waiting for an interview, or in the process of preparing a package of documents, have a look at the resources we recommend you to use:

1. [USCIS website]( https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/asylum).  Here you will find all application forms (forms for political asylum and employment authorization), all relevant information, news, and updates. 


2. If you submitted the I-589 form and got your alien number **sign up** [for your account](https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/showSplash.do) do where you can follow up all the important milestones of your case.  


3. You can find your USCIS asylum office by entering your ZIP code [following the link](https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=ZSY#/asy)


4. If you have been waiting a long time for an interview, you can try to get help from your Senator or Representative. To do this, find the appropriate web page of your Congress Representative and write the petition. For example, New Yorkers can petition for support of their asylum cases through Senator Kirsten Gillibrand by [following this link](https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/help/help-for-new-yorkers/request)


5. If you have been in the backlog for a long time, you may try to submit a special request for an expedited interview procedure. You need to meet the social criteria for your request to be approved.  You can learn more about the procedure for these requests by  [following this link](https://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-information/how-to-make-an-expedite-request). 


6. Additional resources for information and news [can be viewed on the blog](https://www.asylumist.com/)


7. For legal information and clarification, visit the website of [Human Rights First](https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/asylum)


1567785321232

US political asylum 2020 – what you need to know

Отримання політичного притулку в США у 2020 році: що потрібно знати?

The Hon. Mr. Eliot L. Engel
Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
United States House of Representatives

The Hon. Ms. Marcia Carolyn Kaptur
Co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus
United States House of Representatives

Dear Mr. Engel and Ms. Kaptur:

 As you know, the Republic of Belarus held its presidential election on August 9, 2020. Unsurprisingly, the election has further proved the Lukashenka regime’s disregard for democratic values and free and fair elections. The opposition candidate Tikhanovskaya has left the country for her own safety. For several days now, we have watched demonstrations fill Belarusian streets, and hundreds of videos on social media from Minsk and other major cities have shown how police are arresting and using violence against peaceful demonstrators.

In addition, several Ukrainian journalists and civil rights activists have been arrested, including Ukrainian activists of Euromaidan SOS Konstantin Reutski and Yevhenii Vasyliev.

The situation in Belarus is critically important for all Eastern Europe as well as for Ukraine’s long-term national security. Ukraine and Belarus share over 670 miles of the border, which Russia could potentially exploit against Ukraine.

We believe that the United States can and should take a more proactive stance, in solidarity with the peaceful protests in the Republic of Belarus, by providing its people and activists more support while taking positive diplomatic actions.

In 2013, when Euromaidan and the Revolution of Dignity began in Kyiv, Ukraine, Western countries, the European Union and the US, had long expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine but took no more meaningful action. As a result, hundreds of people lost their lives. We believe that Western countries should learn from that Ukrainian example and more proactively support the Belarusian people. For example, sanctions should be imposed as soon as possible, in addition to more diplomatic actions.

QUA - LGBTQ Ukrainians in America, as an American grassroots LGBTQ organization, strongly supports our Belarusian brothers and sisters. We see the similarity of events in Belarus and on Euromaidan of 2013-14 in Ukraine and believe the entire democratic world must take action now before more innocent people are killed.

Sincerely,

Bogdan Globa
President


Open letter to Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Marcia Carolyn Kaptur

The open letter to Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Marcia Carolyn Kaptur

In 2020, for the first time in more than 50 years of American Pride history, all human rights and cultural LGBTQ marches were canceled due to…. But you and I know that human rights for LGBTQ people are not only and not so much about marches (although marches and street protests are an integral part of our cultures).  It's about our visibility, our pride in being ourselves - in response to millennia of oppression, discrimination, murder, and persecution.

Last year we organized the first Ukrainian column at the New York Pride, in 2020 we hoped to walk the streets of Washington and San Francisco, and although the physical march will not take place - we are walking online!
So, welcome to our special project - [ONLINE PRIDE 2020](https://qua.community/virtual-pride). You will meet 15 brave heroes and heroines! Ukrainian men and women and our friends who emigrated to the United States. They have happy and cool families, raise their children, remember their Ukrainian roots and readily support the development of the Ukrainian LGBTQ community in the United States.

**Who are they?**
These are boys and girls, women and men, singles and happy couples, smiling families whom America allowed to get married and raise little Americans on their fertile land.
Follow our page for the next two weeks, and we promise you delicious stories of very very different Ukrainian LGBTQ+ in the USA (spoiler - and not only, there are also several heterosexual liberals 🙂

**Acknowledgments! **
The entire QUA team and board express its sincere, gigantic, Arizona-size gratitude to the most talented people who helped us make this incredible project:
@Photo by Arthur Aleksanian  - he took such incredible photos that some of the characters look a few kilos slimmer (well, we know all credits to Photoshop 🙂 Maria Zhubreva, Alina Shubska, Artem Kuzmenchuk - they worked day and night on the texts. 

Artem Vasilkin coded his inspiration into our website, and now we can show you our stories! Thank you, friends, you are so incredible, [Artem Vasilkin](https://www.facebook.com/artemvasilkin) – you are a gem!

Follow us, subscribe to our [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/QUA.community), we promise many interesting stories during the next two weeks!

#QUAPRIDE2020 #QUA #LGBTQUA

У 2020 році вперше за понад 50 років усі правозахисні та культурні ЛГБТК-марші були скасовані через карантин у зв’язку із пандемією коронавірусу Covid-19. Та ми з вами знаємо, що права людини для ЛГБТК - це не лише марші (хоча саме марш та вуличний протест є неодмінною частиною нашої культури), але й наша видимість, гордість бути собою як відповідь на багаторічні пригнічення, дискримінацію, утиски та переслідування. 
У минулому році ми організовували першу українську колону на Нью-Йоркському прайді. У нинішньому ми теж плекали надію пройтися вулицями Вашингтонщини та Сан-Францизчини. І хоча фізичного маршу не відбудеться - ми крокуємо онлайн! 
Тож, вітайте наш спеціальний проєкт ONLINE PRIDE-2020, де ви зустрінете 15 відважних героїв та героїнь! Українців та українок, що емігрували до США та створили щасливі родини. Вони знайшли себе тут, та пам'ятають своє українське коріння і залюбки підтримують розвиток української ЛГБТК-ком'юніті в США. 
Хто вони?
Це хлопці та дівчата, жінки та чоловіки, яким Америка дала можливість жити нормальним життям: одружитися, виховувати дітей і не боятися бути собою. 
Наступні два тижні слідкуйте за нашою сторінкою. Ми обіцяємо вам унікальні історії дуже-дуже різних українських ЛГБТК+ в США (спойлер - і не лише ЛГБТ, знайшлось і декілька гетеросексуальних лібералів 🙂 
Подяки! 
Вся команда та правління QUA висловлює щиру, велетенську, як арізонщіна, подяку неймовірно талановитим людям, які допомагали нам зробити цей важливий проєкт:
Arthur Aleksanian  зробив настільки неймовірні фото, що дехто з героїв виглядає на декілька кілограм стрункіше 🙂 Maria Zhubreva, Alina Shubska, Artem Kuzmenchuk днями і ночами працювали над текстами.  Artem Vasilkinkin закодив своє натхнення в наш сайт, і тепер ми можемо показати вам наші історії!
Дякуємо, друзі та подруги, ви просто неймовірні! 
Слідкуйте за нами. Підписуйтеся на нашу фейсбук-сторінку. Обіцяємо багато цікавого протягом наступних двох тижнів!  
#QUAPRIDE2020 #QUA #LGBTQUA

1696 x 1272_03

QUA: OUR ONLINE PRIDE 2020

QUA: Наш ONLINE PRIDE-2020

Today we are happy to announce our team has finished all the steps to found and register QUA - LGBTQ Ukrainians in America officially as an American 501(c)(3) non-government organization and based in Washington District of Columbia, U.S.
This day began a history when the group of Ukrainians living in the U.S. and Americans with Ukrainian roots started the civil rights organization working as a bridge between Ukrainian LGBTQ and American society in the U.S.

The Board of Directors includes Bogdan Globa, Dmytro Berezenko, Alex Burlakov, Sergiy Sibel, Dmytro Orlovsky, and Yana Slesarchuk. The founder and Ukrainian LGBTQ activist Bogdan Globa will serve as president for the next four years.

## Mission Statement

QUA - LGBTQ UKRAINIANS IN AMERICA will foster cultural exchange between American and Ukrainian LGBTQ communities. It will cooperate with both American and Ukrainian cultural and human rights institutions to promote democratic values both in the USA and Ukraine.   

The main goal of this organization is to provide newly arrived Ukrainian LGBTQ individuals and families with help, protection, and facilitate their adaptation integrating into American society.

## Bogdan Globa - President QUA

Bogdan Globa is a human rights and LGBTQ activist, leader, and co-founder of QUA - LGBTQ Ukrainians in America, the first openly gay person to address the Ukrainian Parliament and to be ranked in the  "TOP 30 Under 30 Ukrainians" in 2016. He has been living in the USA since November 2016 and working on LGBTQ human rights issues internationally. He initiated the first official Ukrainian group in the World Pride in New York in 2019 and several other human rights events on Capitol Hill.   

Before working in the public sector, Bogdan Globa was CEO in the large Ukrainian LGBTQ NGO, and from 2015 until 2016 served as an assistant to Mr. Grigoriy Nemira, Head of Human Rights committee in Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. 

In 2012 Bogdan finished the State Department leadership program "LGBT advocacy in the U.S." and, after that, successfully realized several significant initiatives, including founding LGBTQ parents movement TERGO, Corporate Equality Index, Friendly Doctor (HIV/AIDS  friendly service for LGBTQ in Ukraine).   

Since 2016 Bogdan has been actively working on anti-LGBTQ Russian propaganda issues. In March 2019, the Georgetown Public Policy Review published his Op-ed How Russia exports homophobia into Ukraine.

He is an M.A. graduate of the University of Economics and Trade in Poltava and Kyiv-Mohyla Business School (MBA).

## QUA future

"We are extremely optimistic; we have a small but active and creative team who intensively works for Ukrainian LGBTQ community needs and builds a cultural bridge between LGBTQ Ukrainian and American. Our team is American dreamers, and we believe Ukrainian has a lot of unique civil rights experiences that can be helpful in the U.S. LGBTQ Ukrainians should be a great brick for diverse American society",  Bogdan Globa said. 

## Support QUA. 

We are welcoming new board members with an active role in QUA, and people who want to just follow us and support in any other way. If you want to be part of the organization, please leave your information by this link.

Also, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

QUA – LGBTQ Ukrainians in America are officially registered like a NGO

QUA - LGBTQ Ukrainians in America joined the HRC and 100+ LGBTQ organizations and signed [a letter condemning racial violence](https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/LGBTQ_Organizations_Unite_to_Combat_Racial_Violence.pdf).

QUA strongly supports the black community of the United States. Our friends and neighbors still struggle with racism, racial violence, and police brutality in a day to day life. As an LGBTQ immigrant organization, we respect and cherish the human rights of all people.

We ask everyone to support the black community to fight racism and discrimination. We urge our community to take action today: join a peaceful protest, educate society or yourself, help a human rights or educational organization.

# BlackLivesMatter

QUA - LGBTQ Ukrainians in America joined the HRC and 100+ LGBTQ organizations and signed [a letter condemning racial violence](https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/LGBTQ_Organizations_Unite_to_Combat_Racial_Violence.pdf]).

QUA strongly supports the black community of the United States. Our friends and neighbors still struggle with racism, racial violence, and police brutality in a day to day life. As an LGBTQ immigrant organization, we respect and cherish the human rights of all people.

We ask everyone to support the black community to fight racism and discrimination. We urge our community to take action today: join a peaceful protest, educate society or yourself, help a human rights or educational organization.

# BlackLivesMatter

9C843599-04E7-4C01-8CDB-8719132E9B96_1_105_c

 Justice for one is justice for all

QUA team is working on the report about Russian anti-LGBTQ propaganda in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. We are considering more and more cases of how organizations, religious, or conservative groups supported by the Russian government or related organizations are pushing the anti-LGBTQ agenda in Ukraine and use the so-called “traditional family values” for carrying forward hate speech and calls for violence.

For example, a member of Svoboda party Oleg Karpuk in the City Council of Rivne initiated the resolution to ban gay pride and other LGBTQ events in the region. In 2013 Ukrainian activists found out that the webserver of Svoboda was located in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Religious leader Filaret (Denysenko) in the interview on TV said that coronavirus happened because of gay marriages. Until 1992, Filaret (Denysenko) had been serving in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate). 

The report will be presented to the U.S. government and other human rights actors at the end of July 2020 in Washington D.C. and in Brussels in the late fall of 2020.

 

**Related links:**

Georgetown Public Policy Review: [HOW RUSSIA EXPORTS HOMOPHOBIA INTO UKRAINE](https://gppreview.com/2019/03/19/guest-op-ed-russia-exports-homophobia-ukraine/)

The Harriman Institute at [Columbia University: The Politics of Anti-LGBTQ Propaganda in Russia and Ukraine](http://www.columbia.edu/cu/creative/epub/harriman/2020/spring/internal_enemies-the_politics_of_anti-LGBTQ_propaganda_in_russia_and_ukraine.pdf)

US political asylum 2020 – what you need to know

Open letter to Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Marcia Carolyn Kaptur

QUA: OUR ONLINE PRIDE 2020

QUA – LGBTQ Ukrainians in America are officially registered like a NGO

Justice for one is justice for all

QUA is working on the report about Russian anti-LGBTQ propaganda in Ukraine and Eastern Europe