Asylum & Border · January 20, 2025
CBP One App Shutdown: What Changed for Asylum Seekers and the New CBP Home App
Key takeaway
Thousands of people who had scheduled appointments through the CBP One app to present themselves at a port of entry had those appointments canceled on January 20, 2025. The app has since been repurposed as "CBP Home." Here is what happened, what it means, and how to protect your
Thousands of people who had scheduled appointments through the CBP One app to present themselves at a port of entry had those appointments canceled on January 20, 2025. The app has since been repurposed as "CBP Home." Here is what happened, what it means, and how to protect your case.
Last reviewed June 11, 2026
Key takeaway
On January 20, 2025, CBP One's port-of-entry appointment system for asylum seekers was shut down and existing appointments were canceled. The app has since been repurposed as CBP Home, focused on reporting an intent to depart the United States voluntarily. If you had a canceled appointment or were previously paroled into the country through CBP One, keep every document related to your case and get an individualized review before taking any new action, especially before submitting anything through CBP Home.
What CBP One Was Used For
Beginning in January 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection used the CBP One mobile app to let certain individuals outside the United States schedule an appointment to present themselves at a designated port of entry along the southern border. People with a confirmed CBP One appointment who arrived at their scheduled time and location were generally processed and, in many cases, allowed to pursue their claims for protection (such as asylum) from inside the United States rather than being subject to certain entry bars that can apply to people who cross between ports of entry.
Over roughly two years, CBP One became the primary lawful pathway for many asylum seekers to begin the process of seeking protection at the southern border.
What Happened on January 20, 2025
On January 20, 2025, the appointment-scheduling function of CBP One for individuals seeking to present at a port of entry was shut down. Existing scheduled appointments, including ones scheduled for that same day or in the days that followed, were canceled. People who had traveled to northern Mexico specifically to attend a CBP One appointment found themselves without the appointment they had been relying on.
At the same time, the broader policy environment shifted toward expanded use of expedited removal and reduced access to the asylum process at and between ports of entry, which is a separate but related set of changes from the CBP One cancellation itself.
From CBP One to CBP Home
The CBP One app was not deleted. Instead, it was repurposed and rebranded as "CBP Home." The redesigned app has been promoted primarily as a tool for individuals already in the United States without lawful status to report their intent to depart the country voluntarily, sometimes referred to as "self-deportation," with the government describing potential travel assistance for people who use it this way.
It is important to understand that CBP Home is not a replacement for the prior CBP One appointment system for people seeking to present at the border, and using it to report an intent to depart is a significant decision with real consequences for any pending immigration case. Anyone considering using CBP Home should understand exactly what submitting information through the app does and does not do for their specific situation before using it.
If You Had a Pending CBP One Appointment
If you had a confirmed CBP One appointment that was canceled, keep every piece of documentation related to it: the confirmation screen or email, any case or appointment numbers, screenshots of your appointment details, and records of any communications with CBP. This documentation may be relevant to future legal options, including any litigation or policy changes affecting people whose appointments were canceled.
People in this situation should also keep records of their location and circumstances at the time the appointment was canceled, since options can vary significantly depending on whether someone is in Mexico, has already entered the United States through another process, or is in some other situation.
Impact on People Already in the United States Through CBP One
Many people who used CBP One to enter the United States before January 20, 2025, were granted a form of temporary permission to be in the country, often called parole, along with eligibility to apply for work authorization. The cancellation of the appointment system on January 20, 2025, is a separate issue from the status of people who had already been paroled into the country before that date.
If you were paroled into the United States after using CBP One, your parole document and any work authorization card you received remain important records. The validity period, expiration date, and any conditions on your parole should be reviewed individually, especially given how quickly related policies have changed since January 2025.
What To Do Next
- Gather and preserve every document connected to your CBP One appointment: confirmation pages, appointment numbers, screenshots, emails, and any communications with CBP or other agencies.
- If you were paroled into the U.S. through CBP One before January 20, 2025, locate your parole document (Form I-94) and any Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and check the expiration dates printed on each.
- Do not submit information through the CBP Home app, especially anything describing an "intent to depart," without first understanding how that could affect any pending application, parole status, or future immigration options you may have.
- If you are currently outside the United States because your CBP One appointment was canceled, keep records of your current location, the date of the cancellation, and any communications with shelters, legal aid organizations, or consulates.
- If your parole or work authorization from a CBP One entry is approaching its expiration date, begin researching what (if anything) you may be eligible to file before that date, since gaps in status can have serious consequences.
- Request a case review so the firm can look at your appointment history, current status, and any documents you have, and explain what realistic options may be available given the current rules.
What to do next
- Save the full notice, receipt, envelope, and any deadline exactly as written.
- Write a short timeline with dates, agency names, court or facility names, and prior filings.
- If ICE, court, detention, an RFE, NOID, denial, or a close deadline is involved, start intake and mark the issue urgent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly was CBP One used for before January 20, 2025?
CBP One let certain individuals outside the U.S. schedule a specific date, time, and port of entry to present themselves to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, generally as part of seeking asylum or another form of protection, rather than crossing between official ports of entry.
I had a CBP One appointment scheduled for after January 20, 2025. What happened to it?
Appointment scheduling through CBP One for individuals seeking to present at a port of entry was shut down on January 20, 2025, and existing scheduled appointments were canceled as part of that change.
Is CBP One still available as an app?
The app itself continues to exist but has been repurposed and rebranded as "CBP Home," with a different primary function focused on individuals reporting an intent to depart the United States voluntarily, rather than scheduling appointments to seek protection at the border.
What is CBP Home, and is it the same as the old appointment system?
No. CBP Home is not a continuation of the prior appointment-scheduling system. It has been described primarily as a tool for people already in the United States without lawful status to report an intent to leave voluntarily, with the government describing possible travel assistance connected to that process.
Should I use CBP Home to report that I want to leave the United States?
This is a significant decision that can affect any pending immigration case, future eligibility to return to the U.S., and other rights you may have. Before using CBP Home for this purpose, it is strongly recommended that you get an individualized review of your situation so you understand the consequences first.
I was paroled into the U.S. after using CBP One in 2023 or 2024. Does the January 20, 2025 shutdown affect my status?
The shutdown specifically affected the appointment-scheduling system used by people outside the U.S. trying to present at a port of entry. If you were already paroled into the U.S. before that date, your parole document and any work permit have their own expiration dates and conditions, which should be reviewed individually given how quickly related policies have changed.
My work permit was approved based on parole from a CBP One entry. Is it still valid?
Work permits are generally valid through the expiration date printed on the card unless terminated earlier through a separate action. Check the expiration date on your Employment Authorization Document and plan well ahead of that date, since renewal options can depend on your underlying status.
I am currently in Mexico because my CBP One appointment was canceled. What should I do?
Keep all documentation of your canceled appointment, including confirmation numbers and screenshots, and stay in contact with any legal aid organizations or shelters assisting you. Options can vary significantly depending on your specific circumstances, so an individualized review is important before deciding on next steps.
Can I still apply for asylum if I am already inside the United States?
The process for applying for asylum from inside the United States, generally by filing Form I-589 with USCIS or in immigration court, is governed by separate rules from the CBP One appointment system. Whether asylum is realistically available to you depends on your specific entry history, how you arrived, and applicable deadlines, which is why an individual case review matters.
Is there a deadline to apply for asylum after entering the United States?
Under long-standing immigration law, there is generally a one-year deadline to apply for asylum after arrival, with limited exceptions for changed circumstances or extraordinary circumstances that prevented an earlier filing. Given how much policy has changed recently, anyone approaching this deadline should not wait to get a case reviewed.
What records should I keep if I am affected by the CBP One changes?
Keep your CBP One appointment confirmation, any I-94 or parole documents, your Employment Authorization Document if you have one, passports or identity documents, and a written timeline of dates and events, including when and how you learned your appointment was canceled.
Does this affect people who entered the United States between ports of entry, not through CBP One?
The January 20, 2025 changes were specifically about the CBP One appointment system for ports of entry. People who entered between ports of entry have always been subject to a different and generally more restrictive set of rules, and the broader enforcement environment has also become more restrictive since January 2025. An individualized review is especially important in these situations.
Can I appeal or challenge the cancellation of my CBP One appointment?
There is no simple individual appeal process for an appointment cancellation that resulted from a system-wide policy change. Some organizations have pursued broader litigation over related policies. Keeping your documentation preserves your options if your situation becomes relevant to such litigation or to a future application.
Where can I find reliable, up-to-date information about CBP One and CBP Home?
Boundless (boundless.com) and Immigration Impact (immigrationimpact.com) both publish plain-English updates on border policy changes. Always check the publication date, since this is an area where the rules can change quickly.
I have a friend or family member affected by these changes but they are outside the U.S. Can your firm still help?
In many cases, an initial case review can be done remotely to help someone understand their documents and general options, even if they are currently outside the United States. Submitting an intake request is a good first step so the firm can advise on what, if anything, can be done given their specific location and circumstances.
Sources & Further Reading
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