Asylum in the United States

Looking for safety in the U.S.? If you fear persecution in your home country due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, you may qualify for asylum. Our experienced immigration attorneys are here to guide you through the complex legal process of seeking protection and building a new life in the United States.

Schedule a call with an attorney of your choice

What Is Asylum?

Asylum is a form of legal protection granted to individuals who are physically present in the United States or arriving at the border and are unable to return to their home country due to a well-founded fear of persecution. It provides a path to lawful residency and eventually U.S. citizenship.

Key Benefits of Asylum:

Protection from deportation.
Permission to work in the U.S.
Eligibility to apply for a green card after one year.
Ability to bring eligible family members to the U.S.

Who Can Apply for Asylum?

You may be eligible to apply for asylum if:

You are physically present in the U.S., regardless of immigration status.
You apply within one year of your last entry into the U.S. (with limited exceptions).
You can demonstrate a credible fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group

Exceptions to the One-Year Deadline

You may still qualify if you can prove:

Changed circumstances in your home country.
Extraordinary circumstances that prevented timely filing.

Affirmative vs. Defensive Asylum

There are two main types of asylum applications:

Affirmative Asylum

★
Filed proactively with USCIS.
★
Interviewed by an asylum officer.
★
No removal proceedings involved unless the case is denied.

Defensive Asylum

★
Applied for during removal proceedings.
★
Heard before an immigration judge.
★
Often involves individuals apprehended at the border or denied other immigration relief

Common Asylum Case Scenarios

Political dissidents and activists
Victims of religious or ethnic persecution
LGBTQIA+ individuals facing violence in their home countries
Survivors of domestic abuse or gang-related threats
Journalists or whistleblowers under state threat

How Asylum Attorneys Can Help

They analyze the strength of your claim
They gather detailed evidence and country condition reports
They prepare you for asylum interviews or court hearings
They represent you in USCIS interviews or immigration court
They assist you in filing for work authorization and family reunification