Individuals facing persecution may sometimes find safety by seeking asylum within the United States. With our current state of affairs being as tumultuous as they are, there are countless individuals throughout the United States interested in finding safety and security within our borders. Thankfully, through asylum status, individuals who have been persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, or other similar reason may be able to remain safely in the U.S. as they start anew. However, seeking asylum can be extremely complex and challenging if you do not know the correct protocol and legal procedures.
In order to protect your rights and your legal status as an immigrant, make sure you know how to seek asylum within the United States.
What Is Asylum?
Asylum is designed to protect people who would otherwise be persecuted in their own country. Although somewhat similar, someone granted asylum is not the same as someone seeking refugee status. A refugee has not yet entered the U.S. when he or she seeks protection, whereas someone seeking asylum is already residing in the United States.
How To Qualify for Protection
In order to seek asylum, you must be able to prove that you are in danger and would be persecuted if you remained in your home country. There are several different ways to do this, but the process can be complex and somewhat difficult. It is much easier to work with an experienced immigration attorney during this step of the legal process.
Someone seeking asylum must file a Form I-589, also called the Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. This form must be completed and given to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services within one year of the individual’s arrival in the United States. Families may file their form together, and parents can include their child in a single application. However, if children are over the age of 21, or married, they must file their own application.
Individuals who qualify for asylum must have a valid fear of persecution, and that persecution must be due to some issue involving race, religion, nationality, or some type of political or social stance. Lastly, the individual must be able to prove that their home country’s government is either behind those acts of persecution, or they are able to regulate it.
Attempting to seek asylum can be extremely stressful, especially for families who have already been through so much. If you or someone you love needs to seek protection within the United States, contact an experienced immigration attorney today to discuss your case.
Contact Smith Law Offices, LLC to discuss your asylum or immigration case with our experienced St. Charles immigration attorneys.