In this episode of Immigration Uncovered, host James Pittman interviews Jared Jaskot, founder of Access 61, an AI-powered platform to help asylum seekers file applications within the critical one-year deadline. They discuss the challenges asylum seekers face in navigating the complex immigration system, including lack of legal representation, difficulties meeting filing deadlines, barriers affording attorney fees, and more. Jared explains how Access 61 leverages technology and a limited scope representation model to provide high quality, affordable help to asylum seekers at the early stages of their cases.

Key Discussion Points:

• The "famous one-year deadline" for asylum seekers to file their I-589 application and how lack of awareness and inability to afford legal fees causes many to miss this deadline.
• How the recent EOIR rule change allowing limited scope representation enables Access 61's model of breaking up asylum case work into modular services.
• Details on Access 61's phased model - preparing just the I-589 initially to meet deadlines and preserve eligibility, then subsequent help gathering evidence, preparing briefs, and prepping clients for trial.
• Examples of common problems that stem from asylum interview (CFI) and initial I-589 - issues with level of detail, framing of case, laying groundwork for credibility, etc.
• The need for solutions that "don't just involve 8 year individual hearings" - creative approaches to resolve backlogs and ensure fair access.