Asylum
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Contact an Asylum Attorney to Apply for Asylum
An asylum attorney can help you to reach a successful decision on your asylum application. Our attorney will determine if you have the basis to apply for asylum and what chances to succeed you have. Do not wait to contact us immediately since asylum matters are time-sensitive.
What is Asylum?
A person may have different reasons to seek entry into the United States. One of the most common ways to immigrate to the United States is by seeking asylum. Asylum is a status that allows individuals who flee persecution from their home country to stay in the United States and apply for a green card. The United States is a well-known country for its high standards of democracy and the freedoms of people. Therefore, persecuted individuals try to come here to seek protection and build a life without fear to be prosecuted.
Who Can Apply for Asylum?
In order to apply for asylum, you must meet the definition of a refugee since “refugee” and “asylee” are defined the same way in U.S. immigration law. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, a refugee is an individual:
- outside his or her home county
- who is unwilling or unable to return to their home country
- on the basis of a well-founded fear of persecution on account of:
- race
- religion
- nationality
- political opinion, or
- membership in a particular social group
In addition to the refugee requirements, an asylee must be physically located in the United States or at the port of entry in the U.S. at the time of application for asylum.
What is the Difference Between “Asylum” and “Refugee”?
As we discussed above, to apply for asylum an individual must satisfy all criteria of the refugee definition and be physically located in the United States when refugees just need to be outside their home country and they are not required to be physically present in the United States or the U.S. port of entry at the time of application.
The One Year Filing Deadline
You must apply for asylum within one year after arrival in the United States. There are exceptions to the one-year filing deadline if one of the requirements listed below is met:
- Change of circumstance that will give you the basis to apply for asylum:
- Extraordinary circumstances related to the late filing (your serious illness, legal disability, etc.)