May 7, 2026
From the front desk of Thone Dari Maung, Assistant Director

Recently, many asylum applicants have noticed that asylum officers are asking more personal and
detailed questions during interviews. The questions are not only about what happened in the
applicant’s home country anymore. Officers are also asking about the applicant’s life in the United
States, family members, social media activity, and involvement in the community.
Some people reported being asked questions like:

● Do you have family in the United States? What is their immigration status?
● Do you volunteer or help your community in any way?
● Do you attend church, temple, mosque, or another religious place?
● Have you posted political opinions online?
● Do you have anti-American, anti-Jewish, or anti-Israel opinions?
● Have you ever been arrested or gotten parking tickets?
● Do you own a house or property in the United States?

These questions show that asylum officers may now be looking more closely at a person’s
background and daily life, not just the asylum claim itself. Because of this, applicants should be
prepared to answer questions honestly and clearly.

Moral of the Story

Before your interview, take time to review your history, social media, and important details about
your life. Try to stay calm, honest, and consistent with your answers. Even small details can become
important during an asylum interview, and being prepared can make the process much lessstressful.