Seeking Asylum in the US
In politics and the news, whether you are keeping track of European or US events, you will have heard of asylum seekers and the paths to asylum. This became an important issue in Europe in 2015 with the migration crisis, but it has also ballooned as an American political issue as President Trump has been vocal on the avenues of immigration to the US. Following different forms of persecution in many Latin American countries, many citizens have fled their countries of origin in order to seek asylum in the US. This article will provide a brief overview of the path to asylum and the process of seeking asylum in the US.
An asylum seeker is defined as someone who fears persecution in their country of origin. They must arrive in the US and apply for asylum because of persecution due to race, religion, political opinion, nationality, or social group. The asylum seeker must have a justifiable fear from persecution because of the aforementioned reasons and, as such, seeks legal protection in the US. The individual can either seek asylum once they enter the US or later on as a defense against deportation. The asylum seeker must file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal within one year of arriving in the US.
Receive Permanent Residency
Many of those who cross the border due to fear of persecution bring with them, spouses and children. These family members can be included in the asylum application, with certain restrictions applying. Once asylum has been granted, the individual can legally work in the US. Once one year has passed since being granted asylum, the individual can apply to receive permanent residency in the US – also known as a Green Card. Those who wish to seek asylum can receive the advice of experienced immigration attorneys at Sethi & Mazaheri.
by Prozco®