WAG 03-01-04-a: Asylum Applicants and Torture Victims (Medical)

PM 03-01-04-a

1. Verify the status of an individual who claims to have an application for asylum pending before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) or an appeal pending regarding a decision on an asylum petition. The person must provide a Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative (form G-28, EOIR-28 or EOIR-27) signed by both the representative and applicant, and any one of the following six documents (a through f):
   1. I-589 asylum application Acknowledgment of Receipt issued by BCIS, or
   2. I-589 Asylum Interview Notice issued by BCIS, or
   3. Referral Notice regarding I-589 request for asylum to a an immigration judge issued by BCIS, or
   4. Form I-589 Application for Asylum stamped as received by the Court, or
   5. Form EOIR-26 Notice of Appeal with Filing Receipt for Appeal, both issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Board of Immigration Appeals, or
   6. Petition for Review of a Board of Immigration Appeals decision stamped by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
2. To verify that an individual is receiving torture treatment services from a federally funded torture treatment center, the applicant must provide a statement from an authorized staff member, on treatment center letterhead, attesting to the individual's participation in the torture treatment program

Note: The Marjorie Kovler Center for Treatment of Survivors of Torture, a program of Heartland Alliance, located at 1331 W. Albion Ave., Chicago, is the only agency in Illinois that currently receives federal funds to provide torture treatment services.