You may have fled your home country out of fear of harm. With this, you may want to seek shelter in the United States, where you know you will be safe. Well, to legally reside within these country’s borders for the time being, you may have to apply for asylum formally with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). So, without further ado, please read on to discover how to apply for asylum in the United States and how one of the seasoned asylum lawyers at Lupton Law LLC can help you obtain the protection and safety you are so desperately yearning for.
Am I eligible for asylum in the first place?
Before you petition for asylum in the United States with the USCIS, you must first confirm that you meet its eligibility requirements. That is, you must reasonably fear being persecuted in your home country if you live there for any longer. More specifically, well-grounded bases for such fear include the following:
- You may fear harm or discrimination against your ethnicity or citizenship status in your home country.
- You may fear the prejudice or lack of societal acceptance against your racial identity in your home country.
- You may fear persecution when expressing your religious beliefs, practices, and affiliations in your home country.
- You may fear being targeted if you express your political opinions or participate in political activities in your home country.
- You may fear the backlash after being outed as a member of a certain social group (i.e., your sexual orientation, your gender identity, etc).
How can I apply for asylum in the United States?
Once you confirm your eligibility for asylee status, you may proceed in filing Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding Removal, with the USCIS. Importantly, you must do so within one year of your arrival in the United States. It is equally important to fill out all sections of this application using English. That is, leaving a section blank or using another language may result in its automatic dismissal. The specific sections within this application that you must prepare for are as follows:
- Information about you (i.e., date of birth, country of birth, etc).
- Information about your spouse and children, if applicable.
- Information about your background (i.e., past residences).
- Information about your application (i.e., why you are applying).
- Your printed, complete name, your written signature, and the date.
- Your declaration of an individual who helped you with your application, if applicable.
On the bright side, you do not need to supplement this application with a required fee. But if you find yourself at a crossroads, please seek the sound advisement of one of the competent asylum lawyers. Someone at Lupton Law LLC will stand by your side at a moment’s notice.
