You have fled your home country out of fear of persecution and have arrived in the United States as an asylee. You want to live in the United States either temporarily or permanently. For the time being; however, you need a job to support yourself and your family while you are here. It is important for you to understand your right to work in the United States as an asylee.
Applying for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
If you are an asylee, you have the right to work in the United States after you apply for a work permit referred to as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). You must wait 150 days after applying for asylum to apply for an EAD. You cannot apply for an EAD until your application for asylum has been pending for another 30 days. This makes the wait time between applying for asylum and gaining the right to work 180 days in total.
After your EAD is pending
Once the 180-day waiting period between applying for asylum and applying for an EAD has passed, and your EAD application is pending, you can apply for almost any job you desire and are qualified for in the United States. You have the right to work for just about anyone who will employ you.
Your status as an asylee cannot be used against you in the hiring process. If you are not hired, or are otherwise discriminated against in the workplace, due to your status as an asylee, this might violate United States law prohibiting discrimination in the workplace based on race, ethnicity or national origin.
As an asylee employed in the United States, you are expected to pay taxes and your wages will be reported to the Social Security Administration. You will do this by filling out a W-2 with your employer. Your employer reports your wages to the SSA and deducts taxes from your paycheck.
As an asylee employed in the United States, you also must have a Form I-9 on file. This document confirms your identity and right to work in the United States as an “alien authorized to work.”
You have the right to work in the United States as an asylee. If you are denied this right, or do not know where to begin with the asylum or work permit application process, you can seek professional legal guidance.
