Strengthen Your Asylum Application & Personal Statement

Fortalece tu Solicitud de Asilo y tu Historia Personal

Why this matters / Por qué esto es importante

Applying for asylum is not just about filling out forms — it’s about telling your story in a way that shows the truth of your journey. But too often, people submit applications that are rushed, incomplete, or missing important details.

⚠️ A weak application can put everything at risk:

  • Judges in immigration court may dismiss your case if your file doesn’t have enough information.

  • USCIS officers expect clear and consistent applications when you go to your interview.

At RIF, we know how stressful this process is. That’s why we’ve created a low bono service designed to help you strengthen your asylum application (Form I-589) and write your personal statement.
👉 This service is available for people who speak English or Spanish.


Solicitar asilo no es solo llenar formularios — es contar tu historia de una manera que muestre la verdad de tu camino. Pero muchas veces, las personas entregan solicitudes apresuradas, incompletas o sin los detalles importantes.

⚠️ Una aplicación débil puede poner todo en riesgo:

  • Los jueces en la corte de inmigración pueden rechazar tu caso si tu archivo no tiene suficiente información.

  • Los oficiales de USCIS esperan solicitudes claras y consistentes durante la entrevista.

En RIF sabemos lo estresante que es este proceso. Por eso hemos creado un servicio low bono diseñado para ayudarte a fortalecer tu aplicación de asilo (Formulario I-589) y escribir tu historia personal.
👉 Este servicio está disponible para personas que hablen inglés o español.

How it works / Cómo funciona

Step 1 – Free Initial Review
📩 Send us your current application and documents at mariella@rifnyc.org.
We’ll carefully review what you already have — at no cost — so you can get a clear picture of where your case stands.

Step 2 – One-Hour Meeting
🗓 After the review, we’ll meet with you for one hour. In this session, we will:

  • Share the results of your initial review.

  • Ask clarifying questions about your case.

  • Organize your information so that your application and personal statement are complete and consistent.

  • Explain the final cost and the timeframe for you to receive your updated materials.

Step 3 – Low Bono Fee
💲 The cost of the service is $60 per hour, and most cases take 3 to 4 hours in total.


Paso 1 – Revisión Inicial Gratuita
📩 Envíanos tu aplicación actual y tus documentos a mariella@rifnyc.org.
Revisaremos con cuidado lo que ya tienes — sin costo — para darte una visión clara de cómo está tu caso.

Paso 2 – Reunión de Una Hora
🗓 Después de la revisión, tendremos una reunión contigo de una hora. En esta sesión:

  • Te compartiremos los resultados de tu revisión inicial.

  • Haremos preguntas para aclarar detalles de tu caso.

  • Organizaremos tu información para que tu aplicación y tu historia personal estén completas y consistentes.

  • Te explicaremos el costo final y el tiempo estimado en que recibirás tus materiales actualizados.

Paso 3 – Costo Low Bono
💲 El servicio tiene un costo de $60 por hora, y en la mayoría de los casos se tarda entre 3 y 4 horas en total.

Important notes / Notas importantes

⚖️ For Pro Se Applicants Only – This service is only for people representing themselves (pro se). If you have an attorney, they are responsible for supporting you with this process.

  • 📝 Not From Scratch – We do not prepare asylum applications from zero. You must provide all your information and documents.

  • 🌍 No Translation Services – We do not translate evidence or supporting documents. If needed, you must hire a qualified translator.

  • 📬 We Don’t File for You – We will not submit your updated application to immigration court (EOIR) or USCIS. However, we will give you clear guidance on how to do this yourself.

  • ❌ Not Legal Advice – This service is not legal advice. For case-specific questions, we recommend speaking with an immigration attorney.

  • ⚖️ Solo para Personas Pro Se – Este servicio es únicamente para personas que se representan a sí mismas (pro se). Si tienes abogado, él es responsable de apoyarte en este proceso.

  • 📝 No Desde Cero – No preparamos aplicaciones de asilo desde el inicio. Debes proveer toda tu información y documentos.

  • 🌍 No Ofrecemos Traducción – No traducimos evidencias ni documentos de apoyo. Si los necesitas traducidos, deberás contratar a un traductor calificado.

  • 📬 No Enviamos tu Solicitud – No enviaremos tu aplicación actualizada al tribunal de inmigración (EOIR) ni a USCIS. Sin embargo, te daremos orientación sobre cómo hacerlo tú mismo.

  • ❌ No es Asesoría Legal – Este servicio no es asesoría legal. Para preguntas específicas sobre tu caso, recomendamos siempre hablar con un abogado de

Who will be doing this? / ¿Quién estará a cargo?

This service will be led by Mariella Cárdenas, part of the RIF team.

Mariella has been working side by side with Brian Duggan, one of RIF’s immigration attorneys, supporting the process of reviewing and strengthening asylum applications. Through this collaboration, she has gained valuable experience in identifying what makes an application strong, clear, and complete.

Her role is to guide you through the process of updating your application and personal statement with patience, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the challenges asylum seekers face.

Mariella combines her communication expertise with her hands-on work supporting asylum cases to make sure your story is not just told, but told in the most effective way possible

Este servicio será liderado por Mariella Cárdenas, parte del equipo de RIF.

Mariella ha trabajado de la mano con Brian Duggan, uno de los abogados de inmigración de RIF, apoyando el proceso de revisión y fortalecimiento de aplicaciones de asilo. Gracias a esta colaboración, ha adquirido una valiosa experiencia en identificar qué hace que una aplicación sea sólida, clara y completa.

Su función es guiarte en el proceso de actualizar tu aplicación y tu declaración personal con paciencia, atención al detalle y una comprensión profunda de los desafíos que enfrentan las personas solicitantes de asilo.

Mariella combina su experiencia en comunicación con su trabajo práctico apoyando casos de asilo, para asegurarse de que tu historia no solo sea contada, sino contada de la manera más efectiva posible.

Ready to Begin? / ¿Listo para Comenzar?

Send your documents today to mariella@rifnyc.org and take the first step to strengthening your case.


Envía tus documentos hoy a mariella@rifnyc.org y da el primer paso para fortalecer tu caso.

Micro–FAQ

1. What if I don’t have an interpreter?
If you will need an interpreter in your real USCIS interview, we highly recommend bringing one to your mock session. If you don’t have one yet, you can still book the session to practice your answers, but it won’t fully reflect the timing and flow of your actual interview.

2. What if I don’t have an interview date yet?
You can still reserve your session if you expect your date soon. We recommend booking within 1–2 months of your real interview for the best preparation.

3. How will the session be conducted?
All mock interviews are done online via Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in the U.S. You’ll receive a secure link once your booking is confirmed.

4. Will you review my application before the session?
Yes. We ask that you upload your complete asylum application (Form I-589 and supporting documents) when booking. The information will be reviewed before your session to tailor the questions and simulation to your case. We'll need at least one week to review your documents and prepare for the session, which is why we cannot schedule interviews on short notice.

5. How long will it take?
Sessions typically last between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the complexity of your case and the number of follow-up questions.

6. What if I already have an attorney?
These practice sessions are meant to be a supportive and complementary resource for individuals who are representing themselves (pro se) and are not working with an attorney. A practice session does not constitute legal advice and no immigration attorney is involved in the process. If you are already working with an attorney for your case, we recommend consulting with them and asking them for guidance and preparation instead of this session.

7. Not sure if this service is right for you?
Feel free to contact asyluminterviewprep@gmail.com with any other questions.

Additional Free Resources to Prepare

Preparing for your asylum interview goes beyond a single practice session. We encourage you to explore these free resources to strengthen your confidence and understanding before the big day.