Asylum Clock and Court Clock
The immigration court case clock counts the days your case has been pending and, for asylum seekers, tracks the time that counts toward a work permit. You generally need 180 days of qualifying clock time before you can be approved for employment authorization, and you can file Form I-765 once 150 days have accrued.
Check your case clock
With your case number (A-number) you can look up your immigration court case status and the days accrued.
Check my case statusHow the clock works
The clock runs while the court controls the pace of your case. Once 150 days have accrued you can file Form I-765, and the general threshold for approval of a work permit is 180 days of qualifying clock time.
Why the clock stops
A stopped clock usually means something paused the count of qualifying days, often a continuance you requested, a missed step, or a delay attributed to you rather than the court. While stopped, those days do not count toward the 180-day threshold, which can push back your work permit.
What to do if your clock is stopped
If your clock stopped and you are not sure why, an immigration attorney can review the record and request a correction if it was stopped in error. Watching your clock, and avoiding actions that stop it unnecessarily, is important.
Related tools
The asylum clock is about work-permit eligibility specifically. If your case is in removal proceedings, you can also check your immigration court (EOIR) case status for your next hearing, judge, and court. If you have a separate pending USCIS filing, such as Form I-765, check your USCIS case status directly.
Frequently asked questions
The asylum clock is the count of days used under 8 CFR 208.7 to decide when an asylum applicant becomes eligible for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), also called a work permit. You generally need 180 days of qualifying clock time before USCIS can approve a work permit, and you can file Form I-765 once 150 days have accrued.
A stopped clock usually means something paused the count of qualifying days, often a continuance you requested, a missed step, or a delay attributed to you rather than the court. While stopped, those days do not count toward the 180-day threshold, which can push back your work permit.
No. It does not connect to any government system or pull your real case data. It only performs date math on the filing date and clock-stopped days you enter, based on the general 150/180-day framework in 8 CFR 208.7. Always confirm your real clock status before relying on any estimate.
An immigration attorney can review the record and request a correction if the clock stopped in error. If you filed at 150 days and are now past 180 with no update, that is a good time to have your case and clock checked directly.
This page is for information only and is not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts and on the court record. Last updated September 24, 2026.