USCIS opened a new asylum office in San Antonio, Texas, a change that may affect immigrants with pending or future affirmative asylum claims, depending on where they live.

The agency reported that, as of May 28, 2026, the new office began to have jurisdiction over certain affirmative asylum seekers. In practice, this means that some people who could previously be served by another asylum office could now be summoned to San Antonio for their interview.

Not all immigrants in Texas will be affected by the change. Assignment depends on the applicant's address and the jurisdiction defined by USCIS.

New asylum office in San Antonio

The new USCIS asylum office is located at 106 S. St. Mary St., 7th Floor, San Antonio, TX 78205.

USCIS also reported a different mailing address for correspondence: 16855 Northchase Drive, Houston, TX 77060.

The important point is not to confuse the physical address with the email address. The physical office is in San Antonio, but correspondence must be sent to the address indicated by USCIS.

Who may be affected by the change?

The new office may affect people who applied for affirmative asylum with USCIS and live within the area assigned to San Antonio.

Affirmative asylum is the process initiated by a person who is not in deportation proceedings before an immigration judge. In those cases, the application is submitted to USCIS and, if appropriate, the person is scheduled for an interview with an asylum officer.

If the applicant is in a process before the immigration court, their case follows another path: the so-called defensive asylum, which is processed before a judge. Opening a USCIS office does not by itself change the rules of those court cases.

What changes for immigrants in Texas

The main change is administrative, but it can be important for the real life of the applicants. Some immigrants could receive interview appointments in San Antonio, instead of going to another asylum office. This can modify travel times, transportation costs, the need to request days off from work or coordination with lawyers and interpreters.

It may also impact people who already had a pending application, although USCIS did not indicate that all existing cases will be automatically moved. The recommendation is to review any official notification before assuming a change of venue.

What doesn't change with the new office

The opening of the office does not mean that all asylum cases in Texas will be approved faster. It also does not change the basic requirements to request asylum, nor eliminate the obligation to appear for interviews, submit evidence, keep your address updated, and respond to USCIS notifications.

The new office also does not replace the immigration court. Defensive cases, when a person requests asylum as a defense against deportation, remain under the immigration court system.

How to know if the San Antonio office corresponds to a case

USCIS assigns cases based on the applicant's residential address. Therefore, the most important information is to keep the address updated.

If a person moves and does not report the change, they may miss interview notices, biometric appointments, or other notifications. In asylum cases, missing an appointment or failing to show up can have serious consequences.

Applicants should review official USCIS communications, verify their case online, and consult with an attorney or accredited representative if they have questions about which office they are assigned to.