; and (II) notified the applicant of such determination. (iii) Prohibition on denials due to processing delays An application for asylum under this paragraph shall not be denied, in whole or in part, on the basis that processing could not be completed within the timeframe under clause (i). . 112. Protections for minors seeking asylum (a) In general Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(2), as amended by section 103, by amending subparagraph (E) to read as follows: (E) Applicability to minors Subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) shall not apply to an applicant who is younger than 18 years of age on the earlier of— (i) the date on which the asylum application is filed; or (ii) the date on which any notice to appear is issued. ; and (2) in subsection (b), in paragraph (4), as added by section 104(d)(2), by adding at the end the following: (C) Applicants under 18 years An asylum officer (as defined in section 235(b)(1)(E)) shall have initial jurisdiction over any asylum application filed by an applicant who is younger than 18 years of age on the earlier of— (i) the date on which the asylum application is filed; or (ii) the date on which any notice to appear is issued. . (b) Treatment of spouse, children, mother, and father seeking asylum Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1158 ), as amended by section 104(d), is further amended— (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking and children and inserting , children, mothers, and fathers ; (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking (as defined in section 101(b)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (E)) of an alien and inserting (as defined in subparagraph (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), or (H) of section 101(b)(1)) of an alien, or the mother or father of an alien who is such a child,