Your Legal Advocate Throughout The Asylum And Refugee Process
Asylum and refugee status are special legal protections available to people who have left their home country for their safety and are afraid to return. If you are eligible for asylum, it will allow you to live in the United States, work, obtain a green card and eventually file for U.S. citizenship
In an already stressful and devastating time, the last thing you need is to face the United States immigration system alone. It is vital that you work with an attorney who has experience working with refugees and asylum seekers. At The Law Office of Anne Z. Sedki, LLC, our New York and New Jersey-based attorneys understand how the process works and can help you in every step of the process.
We Understand How The Process Works, And How To Help You Through It
Asylum is an immigration benefit applied for within the U.S. that allows certain foreign nationals who fear persecution to remain lawfully in the U.S. indefinitely. People granted asylum may apply for lawful permanent residence (a green card) one year after asylum. With some exceptions, an asylum application must be filed within one year of the applicant’s last entry into the U.S.
To be eligible for asylum, the persecution must be based on one or more of five grounds:
- Religion
- Political opinion
- Membership in a particular social status
- Nationality
When you file for asylum, you must establish that you are fleeing your country in fear of persecution for one of the above reasons. If you are already in the United States, you can apply for asylum with USCIS form I-589. If you are outside of the United States or don’t hold a valid visa to enter the country, you can claim asylum at a port of entry, which is a more complex process. USCIS will call you in for an interview after they review your petition. If there is uncertainty in your petition or interview, the court will review your petition.
Refugee status is an immigration benefit available to foreign nationals abroad and must be applied for outside the U.S. To apply for refugee status, the foreign national must find their way to a U.S. Embassy or Consulate or, preferably, to an office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). There, they will be interviewed about their persecution and asked to submit forms and supporting documents for their claim. The foreign national will be granted a visa to enter the United States if approved.
Connect With An Experienced Immigration Attorney Today
If you or a loved one are considering asylum or refugee status in the United States, our experienced immigration attorneys can represent you throughout the process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an experienced immigration lawyer at 516-540-7948 or fill out an online contact form.