# 8 U.S.C. § 1158: Asylum

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1158

## Section

- **Citation:** 8 U.S.C. § 1158
- **Heading:** Asylum
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** April 17, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY > CHAPTER 12—IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY > SUBCHAPTER II—IMMIGRATION > Part I—Selection System

## Text

Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title .

( June 27, 1952, ch. 477 , title II, ch. 1, § 208, as added Pub. L. 96–212, title II, § 201(b) , Mar. 17, 1980 , 94 Stat. 105 ; amended Pub. L. 101–649, title V, § 515(a)(1) , Nov. 29, 1990 , 104 Stat. 5053 ; Pub. L. 103–322, title XIII, § 130005(b) , Sept. 13, 1994 , 108 Stat. 2028 ; Pub. L. 104–132, title IV, § 421(a) , Apr. 24, 1996 , 110 Stat. 1270 ; Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 604(a) , Sept. 30, 1996 , 110 Stat. 3009–690 ; Pub. L. 107–56, title IV, § 411(b)(2) , Oct. 26, 2001 , 115 Stat. 348 ; Pub. L. 107–208, § 4 , Aug. 6, 2002 , 116 Stat. 928 ; Pub. L. 109–13, div. B, title I, § 101(a) , (b), May 11, 2005 , 119 Stat. 302 , 303; Pub. L. 110–229, title VII, § 702(j)(4) , May 8, 2008 , 122 Stat. 866 ; Pub. L. 110–457, title II, § 235(d)(7) , Dec. 23, 2008 , 122 Stat. 5080 ; Pub. L. 119–21, title X, § 100018 , July 4, 2025 , 139 Stat. 385 .)

## Nearby sections

- [8 U.S.C. § 1151 Worldwide level of immigration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1151.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1151a Repealed. Pub. L. 94–571, § 7(g) , Oct. 20, 1976 , 90 Stat. 2706](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1151a.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1152 Numerical limitations on individual foreign states](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1152.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1153 Allocation of immigrant visas](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1153.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1153a Transparency](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1153a.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1154 Procedure for granting immigrant status](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1154.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1155 Revocation of approval of petitions; effective date](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1155.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1156 Unused immigrant visas](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1156.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1157 Annual admission of refugees and admission of emergency situation refugees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1157.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1158 Asylum](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1158.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1159 Adjustment of status of refugees](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1159.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1160 Special agricultural workers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1160.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1161 Repealed. Pub. L. 103–416, title II, § 219(ee)(1) , Oct. 25, 1994 , 108 Stat. 4319](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1161.md)
- [8 U.S.C. § 1181 Admission of immigrants into the United States](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1181.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t8_s1158. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.