Asylum

People come to the United States every year seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear if they return to their home country they will suffer persecution. These people may seek asylum based on persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, and political opinion.

Zontlaw / Asylum

Apply for Asylum

To apply for asylum, an alien who is physically present in the U.S. must submit a Form I-589 (Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal). In support of this application, the applicant must show the following:

He/She has a fear of persecution;
The fear is well founded;
“at least one central reason for” persecution is race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion; and
He/She is unable to return to the home country or country of last residence because of persecution or a well founded fear or prosecution.

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Defensive Asylum

Are you in removal proceedings? Removal proceedings are a scary thing for anyone! If you believe that you have a claim to asylum based on past harm you faced in your home country,

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Green Card through a refugee/asylee status

Once an asylee has had asylee status for a year, he/she may apply for a green card by filing a Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence Status or Adjust Status). After the application has been submitted, USCIS will send a notice to applicants over 14 years old of an appointment to have his/her fingerprints taken after which it should mail the green card to the applicant’s home address. Certain applicants might still be required to attend an interview at USCIS offices before the green card can be issued.

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Asylee or Refugee Travel Document

U.S. citizens may petition on behalf of family members who don’t fall into the “immediate relative” category. Once the petition has been approved and a visa number made available, unmarried children of 21 years of age or older, married children of any age as well as siblings of a U.S. citizen (the U.S. sibling has to be at least 21) can apply for a Green Card through a U.S. Consulate in their native country.

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☎️Call today for a free asylum consultation

The U.S. asylum process is very complicated, so the best chance of success comes by working with an experienced asylum attorney. We are highly experienced in US asylum law. We have helped people from all over the world fleeing persecution to gain asylum in the US. Our attorneys, translators and support staff will work with you individually to give you the best chance of success possible. We know how difficult and heart wrenching the asylum process can be, and we will be with you every step of the way.

Your citizenship and your residency status is something you should entrust to a professional. Call the top New York Immigration Attorneys at toll free at (888) ZONTLAW / (888) 9668529

Can I ask for political asylum from outside the US?

NO. To apply for political asylum, you must be in the United States (embassies or diplomatic missions outside the US will not help you in this matter). Being outside the US, you can only apply for refugee status and this procedure is also a complicated procedure.

Can I apply for asylum when crossing the border?

This is possible, and such cases often occur at the border crossing with Mexico. The application directly on the border is an extreme measure. A very important point is that when you cross the border without the necessary permission (US visa) and asylum application, you are most likely to be detained and placed in an immigration prison where you will conduct initial inquiries and check all the facts you previously stated . The decisions of the border service can be delayed for weeks or even months.

Can I apply for political asylum if I am illegally in the US?

You have the right to defend and examine your application, even if you are in an illegal status. It is very important that this happens in the first year of your stay in the country. Otherwise, you have to argue, there are compelling reasons why you did not do this before.

How long does it take to get an interview for asylum?

Beginning on January 29, 2018, the Immigration Department for Asylum (USCIS Citizenship and Immigration Service Group) will give priority to the newest applications when assigning interviews.
Such a change in the schedule of interviews will make it possible to weed out those applicants who use groundless statements and try to use this process solely to obtain a work permit and will enable the USCIS to immediately identify such persons and begin the process of their deportation. In reality, the new Priority will allow the USCIS to make decisions on qualified asylum seekers more quickly and efficiently.