Asylum

Asylum is a form of protection that allows individuals who are in the United States to remain here, if they have been persecuted in the past or have a well founded fear of persecution in his or her home country based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group. Asylum applicants may apply for asylum even if he or she entered the US illegally or if he or she is in the US on an expired visa/I-94.

Generally, asylum applicants must apply for asylum within one year of their arrival in the US but there are limited exceptions which will allow the filing of an asylum application after one year.

Only after an asylum petition has been pending for 180 days may an asylum applicant apply for employment authorization.

For whom is Political Asylum appropriate?

Foreign nationals in the US who are unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, or membership in a particular social or political group.  Applying for political asylum cannot and should not be thought of as a means of obtaining employment authorization.  Generally, the asylum interview will be conducted within 180 days and the applicant will generally be placed in removal ("deportation") proceedings if the application is not approved at the asylum office.

How can we help?

The burden of proof is on the applicant for asylum to establish that he has a credible fear of persecution. The applicant may qualify as a refugee either because he has suffered  past persecution or because he has a well-founded fear of future  persecution.  In light of the recently passed REAL ID Act, it is more important than ever to properly document your asylum claim.  An otherwise credible applicant could be denied for failing to reasonably corroborate his or her claims! 

During a consultation, we will review your claim and supporting documentation and provide our opinion as to whether an asylum application is right for you.  If you trust us with your application, we will assist you in creating a detailed declaration of your claim and assist you with corooborating your claims and obtaining the most up-to-date country condition information available.  We can also personally accompany you to your interview.