Immigration courts
Boston Immigration Court
15 New Sudbury St, Suite 320, Boston, MA 02203
Est. wait 3.8 yrs · 10 judges · Pending 30,000
Wait times and pending-case figures are estimates; confirm your hearing with your A-number through EOIR.
Asylum Lawyers in Massachusetts · Free Case Review
Asylum Lawyer in MassachusettsAfraid to Go Home? The First Year Decides.
Affirmative asylum interviews for Massachusetts and the rest of New England are scheduled through the Boston Asylum Office. Referred cases go to the Boston Immigration Court or the Chelmsford court, both with multi-year non-detained dockets.
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Free eligibility screener
Do You Qualify for Asylum? Find Out in Two Minutes.
Five questions that mirror what an asylum officer or immigration judge has to decide. You get a screening score, the factors that help or hurt, and what to do next. Nothing you enter leaves your device.
- Past persecution or a well-founded fear of future harm
- A protected ground: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group
- Who the persecutor is, and whether your government would protect you
- The one-year filing deadline and its exceptions
- Common bars: convictions, prior denials, firm resettlement
A low score is not a no. Many granted cases started with a story the client thought was too weak. Grounds like imputed political opinion or a family-based social group are found on review, not in a questionnaire.
Free tool · Santos Khoury Law
Asylum Eligibility Screener
Five confidential questions covering the core requirements, the one-year deadline, and the common bars.
100% confidential. Runs in your browser, nothing is stored or sent.
Question 1 of 50%
Have you been harmed or threatened in your home country, or do you fear serious harm if you return?
Think You May Qualify?
The one-year deadline and the details of your story can make or break an asylum case. Get a professional assessment before you file Form I-589, in your language.
Disclaimer: Asylum eligibility depends on the specific facts of your case, current case law in your circuit, and how your claim is documented and argued. This tool provides general information only and is not legal advice. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Santos Khoury Law.
Asylum in Massachusetts, step by step
How an Asylum Case Works, From Filing to Decision
Interviews for Massachusetts residents run through the Boston Asylum Office; referred and defensive cases are heard at the Boston immigration court.
- 01
Affirmative or defensive
Not in proceedings? You file Form I-589 with USCIS and interview at the asylum office. Already in immigration court? The judge decides the asylum claim as a defense to removal.
- 02
The one-year deadline
File within one year of your last arrival, or document a changed or extraordinary circumstance that excuses the delay. Withholding and CAT protection have no deadline.
- 03
The declaration and evidence
Your story in your words, consistent and detailed, backed by identity documents, medical and police records, witness statements, and country-conditions reports.
- 04
The interview or the hearing
Asylum officers and immigration judges test credibility and the legal elements: persecution, a protected ground, and government involvement or failure to protect. Preparation decides outcomes.
- 05
The work permit clock
You can apply for a work permit after the application has been pending 150 days, subject to the 180-day clock that stops for applicant-caused delays.
- 06
If the answer is no
A referral from the asylum office sends the case to the judge for a fresh decision. A denial in court can be appealed to the BIA within 30 days, and other protections may still apply.
Massachusetts immigration facts
The Courts, Facilities, and Offices That Decide Massachusetts Cases
ICE detention facilities
Massachusetts arrests are usually held at Plymouth County Correctional Facility or transferred to Strafford County in New Hampshire, and increasingly to facilities in Texas and Louisiana. Hearings for detained New England cases run through the Boston Immigration Court and the Chelmsford court.
- Plymouth County Correctional Facility, Plymouth, MA: the main ICE detention site in Massachusetts
- Strafford County Department of Corrections, Dover, NH: many Massachusetts arrestees are transferred here
USCIS and asylum offices
Affirmative asylum interviews for Massachusetts residents are generally scheduled through the Boston Asylum Office (Boston, MA).
USCIS field offices serving Massachusetts: Boston, Lawrence.
How we serve Massachusetts
Our attorneys are admitted in Massachusetts and appear at the Boston Immigration Court and the Chelmsford court, in person and by video.
Languages: English · Español · Português · العربية · Français · Hours: 24/7
Watch: our attorneys explain
Asylum Questions, Answered by Our Attorneys
Will Anyone Find Out If You Apply for Asylum?
The truth about confidentiality when you file an asylum application.
How to Prepare for an Affirmative Asylum Interview
What to expect and how to prepare before your affirmative asylum interview.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning Your Asylum Case
Practical factors that strengthen an asylum case.
Why Silence Can Hurt Your Asylum Case
How to tell your story clearly and completely to strengthen your asylum claim.
Asylum Denied? It May Not Be the End
Options that may still be available after an asylum denial.
Missed Your Asylum Deadline?
What options may still exist if a filing deadline has passed.
More on the video center or call 888-805-9065.
Client reviews
Real Clients. Real Reviews.
From ICE detention to a green card
A client we represented tells the story in their own words. Every review on this page comes from our verified Google Business profile, and we share client stories only with permission.
KKhalid Khan December 2025 · Google
★★★★★
“I want to express my sincere gratitude to Attorney Fernando and Jad Essayli. Their expertise and dedication were evident throughout. I felt supported and confident, and ultimately we achieved a positive outcome.”
Positive outcome
HHatim Yousif May 2026 · Google
★★★★★
“I cannot thank Daniella at Santos Khoury enough for her professional and compassionate support. She was incredibly quick to respond, kept me fully informed, and showed genuine care for my case.”
Responsive, caring team
AAlima September 2025 · Google
★★★★★
“Santos Khoury filed a mandamus petition that finally forced USCIS to act. When I was referred to Immigration Court, Attorney Jad Essayli represented me and my daughter, and we were granted asylum. This completely changed our lives.”
Asylum granted in immigration court
Reviews describe individual client experiences. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Common questions
Asylum Questions From Massachusetts, Answered
Where is my asylum interview if I live in Massachusetts?
Affirmative asylum interviews for Massachusetts residents are generally scheduled through the Boston Asylum Office in Boston, MA. If your case is referred, or if you are already in proceedings, it is heard at the Boston immigration court.
What is the one-year asylum deadline?
You generally must file Form I-589 within one year of your last arrival in the United States. Exceptions exist for changed circumstances (new danger, a new law, a change in status) and extraordinary circumstances (serious illness, being a minor, ineffective counsel). Withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture have no deadline.
Can I work while my asylum case is pending?
You can apply for a work permit once your application has been pending 150 days, subject to the 180-day asylum clock. Delays you cause stop the clock, so file a complete case.
What if the danger comes from a gang, cartel, or family member, not the government?
Harm by a group the government cannot or will not control can qualify if it is tied to a protected ground and you can show the state failed to protect you. These cases are won on how the claim is framed and documented.
How long do asylum cases take in Massachusetts?
Interview waits at the Boston Asylum Office are commonly measured in years, and the Boston court carries an estimated 30,000 pending cases. Filing a complete application early and requesting an expedite where the criteria fit are the levers we use.
Do I need a lawyer to apply for asylum?
You can file alone, but represented applicants win far more often. The declaration, the country-conditions evidence, and the legal theory of the claim are where cases are won or lost.
Have a different question? Call 888-805-9065
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Afraid to Go Home? Start With One Conversation.
Tell us what happened and when you arrived. We tell you whether asylum fits, what the deadline means for you, and what a strong case would take. Free, confidential, five languages.