With the promulgation of many new asylum rules under the Trump administration, and the likely continued policy changes of the Biden administration, asylum seekers from all over the world face great uncertainty about their claims. Nevertheless, there is one central component of any successful asylum claim: evidence. Successful asylum claims depend on the type of, and the level of evidence submitted in support of the I-589 Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal.

The Real ID Act of 2005 changed the burden of proof required by asylum applicants, heightened the level of corroborating evidence needed to prove a claim, and gave permission to adjudicators to require evidence in addition to an asylum seeker's own testimony. Because adjudicators weigh all evidence submitted along with the testimony of the applicant, let's take a look at how to shore up evidence in an asylum case.