Asylum
Many people flee their home countries in search of freedom. It is no surprise that the United States of America has become one of the top choices for refugees applying for asylum from their oppressive governments. However, before you can become an asylee in the U.S., you need to formally seek asylum status based on one of the five factors: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Read below detailed information and view instructional videos about asylum application and process. To see if you qualify for asylum or for any questions about your asylum case, please use this link to Schedule a Consultation with experienced asylum lawyer.
Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski and his team have extensive of experience in providing legal assistance to asylum seekers from all over the world.
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Before you can become an asylee in the U.S., you must formally apply for asylum through the U.S asylum process based on one or more of the five grounds:
- Race or ethnic origin;
- Religion or religious opinion, including lack of religion, i.e. atheism;
- Nationality or national origin;
- Political opinion; or
- Membership in a particular social group.
The key to your asylum approval is to establish a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country. You must convince the asylum officer or the immigration judge that you have suffered persecution in your home country before or that there is a reasonable chance of persecution in future. You must also establish that there is no safe part of your country to which you can return and that you have not firmly resettled in any other country.
Who is a refugee?
A person who: “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country; or who not having a nationality and being outside the country of his/her former habitual residence…., is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.”
Well-founded fear
There must be a reasonable possibility of persecution. The key to your case will be to prove and establish a well-founded fear of persecution in your home country. You will have to convince the asylum office or the immigration court that you have suffered persecution in your home country before, and the conditions have not changed, or that it is likely that you will be persecuted or will suffer if you return to your home country or both.
Establishing well-founded fear is based on identifying objective and subjective elements:
- Subjective factor. In the context of applying for asylum, fear is defined as awareness of danger. Thus, to satisfy the subjective element, you must show that your fear is genuine. An asylum seeker should only be motivated by a genuine fear of persecution while proving his or her case. A country’s poor economic conditions, civil unrest, or the presence of a natural disaster are not relevant considerations in an asylum application.
- Objective factor. You must prove the objective side of your case. For your fear to be acknowledged as well-founded, you must prove that there is a reasonable possibility that you would be persecuted in your home country. In other words, your fear must be objectively reasonable.
You must be very clear while establishing well-founded fear. Your testimony may be enough to make your case, if it is a compelling, genuine, and consistent story.
Persecution
Definition: There is no universally accepted definition of “persecution”, but the Board of Immigration Appeals defines persecution as “infliction of harm or suffering by a government or persons a government is unwilling or unable to control, to overcome a characteristic of the victim.” Examples: Genocide; Slavery; Torture; Cruel or degrading, inhuman treatment; Threats of life; Arbitrary arrest or detention; Inability to earn a livelihood; Inability to travel safely within a country; Arbitrary interference with a person’s privacy; Serious restrictions on access to normally available education; Passport denial; Constant surveillance; Pressure to become an informant; Confiscation of property.
* Past persecution: Past persecution provides presumption of well-founded fear. To show past persecution the applicant must prove that an incident: (1) Raises to the level of persecution; (2) Is on account of one of the five enumerated grounds (race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion); (3) Is committed by the government or forces the government is unable or unwilling to control.
* Future persecution: Absence of past persecution is not a bar to asylum. The asylum seeker may also qualify for asylum by showing the reasonable possibility of future persecution.
Work Permit
If you have applied for asylum, you may be able to obtain employment authorization and work in the United States. However, you can only apply for employment authorization 150 days after you submitted your asylum application, excluding any delays caused by you (such as a request to reschedule your interview or hearing), provided that no decision has been made on your application during that time. If you are granted asylum, you may work immediately.
One year after the grant of asylum, you can apply for green-card by filing a petition to adjust your status to permanent resident of the United States. If your spouse and/or children have been granted derivative asylum based on your petition, they will have to submit their own applications to adjust status and register permanent residence (I-485).
A green-card will make you eligible for all immigration benefits available to permanent residents of the United States, such as the ability to work legally, to apply for U.S. citizenship after you have held your green-card for five years, and to file immigrant visa petitions for your relatives abroad.
Asylum through Immigration Court vs. Asylum Office
Although the results of each specific asylum case may differ based on the asylum office and particular interviewing officer, it is important for all asylum applicants to carefully prepare for their asylum interviews. Attorney participation at the interview is very important. If an applicant is not sufficiently prepared for the interview, his or her application may be denied or transferred to immigration court. Related: How to Prepare for Asylum Interview.
Applying for asylum through immigration court (defensive asylum application) is much more difficult than through the asylum office (affirmative asylum application). In immigration court, the respondent is just one step away from deportation order if his or her application for asylum is denied. Importantly, immigration court proceedings take years, whereas asylum offices usually schedule an interview within several months, and decide on the case within a few weeks after the asylum interview (Video: Changes in Affirmative Asylum Scheduling). Often, asylum applicants in immigration court proceedings have to wait 4 or 5 years, especially if their process involves rescheduling court dates or appealing judge’s decisions. To be represented in immigration court by a lawyer, the asylum applicant has to pay additional attorney’s fees, which could have been avoided had the case been approved by asylum office. Related: Deportation Proceedings in Immigration Court.
Immigration courts are notorious for failing to properly calculate asylum seekers’ clocks, which determine their eligibility for work authorization. If you become a victim of such administrative error and your asylum clock does not start or restart when it should, you may end up waiting all these years unable to work legally. If you are eligible for employment authorization, the filing fee is waived for first-time asylum applicants, but after your employment authorization card expires in one year, you have to pay filing fee (currently $380) for each renewal. If your court proceedings take many years, you may have to spend thousands of dollars to be eligible to work during this time.
The process in court is adversarial; during a hearing, there is a judge and an opposing side – a government attorney, also known as prosecutor – who is often trying to disprove the applicant and find inconsistencies in the applicant’s story. In the asylum office, on the other hand, the process is non-adversarial; during an asylum interview, the interviewing officer simply asks questions, and the applicant answers.
Professionals at I.S. Law Firm have helped numerous applicants from many countries to obtain asylum in the United States. It is very important to select the most effective immigration lawyer for your case. Because your asylum application is an important step in your life that could ultimately determine whether or not you and your family can legally stay in the United States, it is crucial to have an experienced and zealous immigration lawyer to help you. An experienced attorney will help you prepare your asylum application, identify and gather corroborating evidence, and represent you in asylum interview or hearings. In selecting an asylum lawyer, you should always consider the following factors:
(1) The lawyer’s familiarity with the political and social conditions in the country of your origin – Some lawyers, although experienced in immigration laws, may not be sufficiently informed or educated about the client’s home country. As such, it may be difficult or even impossible for that lawyer to understand all intricacies of the social and political situation in the country of persecution. Lack of such understanding may severely limit the attorney’s ability to effectively represent the asylum client.
(2) The lawyer’s interest, understanding, curiosity and appreciation of your culture and ethnic, social, political or religious background – A good asylum lawyer does not have to be of the same ethnicity, political opinion, religion or national origin as the applicant. It is also not important for a lawyer to readily know or share your political and social views, religion, or culture. What is important, however, is that your asylum lawyer must be interested, curious and eager to learn more about you and every aspect of your life that may have an effect on the chances of getting asylum in the US.
(3) Individual attention and use of support staff – A good immigration lawyer must be able to utilize a professional support staff, while dedicating individual attention to each and every case. There should be no exceptions. If you did not meet your asylum case lawyer during your initial consultation, you should not hire such firm. If you will not have one single lawyer who will be fully dedicated to your case and handle your asylum case from day one to the end, your chances of favorable result are very slim. A good asylum lawyer must be personally on top of every development in your case. Your lawyer must regularly meet with you and everyone involved during every stage of the process, including the preparation of the applicant’s personal statement, drafting affidavits, witness preparations, identifying and providing supporting evidence, preparation for the interview, and most importantly the interview participation.
We at I.S Law Firm, PLLC ensure that your asylum case is diligently prepared, timely filed and well presented to the asylum office or immigration court. Our lawyers meet with each client from day one and maintain constant contact throughout the process. Our team of professionals conducts thorough research to identify and present country condition reports and experts in support of our clients’ asylum cases.
I.S. Law Firm has secured many asylum approvals from asylum offices and immigration courts all over the country. In some case, clients come to us after their affirmative asylum cases have been mishandled or denied. In such cases, we spend time to identify and address every issue which may have caused the denial and reorganize the file for the immigration court. By doing so, we have helped numerous applicants in the past to successfully obtain their asylum grants through immigration courts, even after their cases have been referred to courts by the asylum officers.
Thoroughly preparing for your asylum interview is equally important as preparing and filing your asylum application. We spend one-on-one time with each asylum client to prepare for their asylum interviews and our asylum lawyer attends each interview in person. Over the many years of asylum practice, we built up a good reputation and rapport with immigration offices, immigration courts and government agencies. We are closely familiar with the political atmosphere and human rights conditions in the countries from which our clients seek refuge. Therefore, we have high asylum approval rates.
To see if you qualify for asylum or for any questions about your asylum case, please use this link to schedule a consultation with experienced asylum lawyer.
If you have a pending Asylum application and are considering alternative means for employment-based immigration, various types of sponsors can be considered. These include self-sponsorship based on substantial talents or extraordinary abilities, which may qualify for categories such as the Individual with Extraordinary Abilities or the National Interest Waiver.
Additionally, an employer can sponsor you for certain employment-based visas if they are willing to support your application. For instance, if you are an outstanding professor or researcher, your employer can potentially sponsor you for an employment-based visa. Family members who are U.S. citizens, such as a child over 21 or spouses, can also serve as sponsors through family reunification procedures.
It is important to note that the availability of these alternative sponsorship options may vary based on individual circumstances and eligibility criteria. Determining whether you can pursue these alternatives while remaining in the U.S. through an adjustment of status process or if you need to go through a U.S. consulate abroad will depend on the specific visa category and circumstances.
Before making a decision, it is crucial to consider potential consequences, such as the accumulation of unlawful presence that could result in a three or ten-year ban if you have to leave the U.S. Seeking the guidance of an experienced immigration attorney can help address these questions and ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the potential outcomes and the investment of time and resources involved.
While Asylum may be the only viable option for some individuals, exploring alternative avenues can be beneficial in many cases. It is advisable to consider all available options to maximize your chances of achieving your immigration goals.
If you were in F-1 student status when your Asylum application was denied, you can generally continue to maintain your F-1 status. However, it is important to note that reinstatement of F-1 status is impossible if you have already lost it subsequent to your Asylum denial.
If you maintain valid F-1 status before applying for Asylum and your Asylum claim is denied, you can still maintain your F-1 status and continue your studies in the United States. It is essential to ensure that you comply with all the requirements and obligations associated with your F-1 student visa, such as maintaining a full course of study and fulfilling the academic and reporting obligations set by your educational institution.
However, if your F-1 status was terminated or you violated the terms of your F-1 visa after filing for Asylum, you would not be eligible to reinstate your F-1 status after denying your Asylum application. It is crucial to consult with an immigration attorney to assess your circumstances and explore any options for maintaining lawful status in the United States.
I understand your concern about the waiting time for your Asylum interview. However, the length of the wait can be highly unpredictable and varies from case to case. It can range from several months to several years. The Asylum process is currently facing significant backlogs, resulting in delays and uncertainty for applicants.
Since you filed the application independently, it is crucial to ensure that you have provided a thorough and complete declaration and supporting evidence, including country conditions. If any additional evidence or information is needed, it is advisable to supplement your case to avoid potential issues promptly.
Filing a strong and comprehensive case from the beginning is important, as it demonstrates the credibility and validity of your Asylum claim. It is not advisable to wait until closer to the interview date to start gathering evidence, as it may raise doubts about the authenticity of your claim.
While hiring an immigration lawyer is not mandatory, it can significantly benefit your case. If financial constraints prevent you from hiring a lawyer, you may need to take on the responsibility of learning and navigating the Asylum process yourself. However, seeking legal assistance or supplementing your application with additional evidence and information to strengthen your case is never too late.
Remember, the objective is not just to file for Asylum but to secure Asylum based on a well-prepared and compelling case. It is important to take the process seriously and make every effort to present a complete and persuasive application.
The current situation regarding Asylum interviews is unpredictable and characterized by a certain level of chaos. While it is generally stated that cases are processed in the order they are received, the actual scheduling of Asylum interviews appears to be random and inconsistent. Some cases filed more recently may receive interview appointments within six months, while others from 2015-2016 or even earlier may still be awaiting their interviews.
There is no clear pattern or guarantee that the “last in, first out” principle is strictly followed. The scheduling of interviews seems to depend on various factors, including the complexity and urgency of individual cases. It is possible that cases perceived as having the potential for quicker resolution may be prioritized for faster interviews.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of transparency and uniformity in the process, it is difficult to provide a definitive answer. Each case is unique, and the timing of Asylum interviews can vary significantly. It is advisable to consult with an experienced immigration attorney who can provide guidance based on their knowledge of recent trends and practices specific to your jurisdiction. They can help you understand the current landscape and expectations regarding scheduling Asylum interviews.
You can request release from detention while your Asylum case is pending. However, it is important to understand that obtaining release can be challenging, especially if you do not have a sponsor or a place to stay. The government aims to avoid releasing individuals who may burden US taxpayers or pose a risk.
If you applied for Asylum at the airport before entering the US, your case would be routed directly to the immigration court instead of going through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). In this situation, your case will be part of removal proceedings, and being detained can make it more difficult to continue with your case.
When requesting release, it is crucial to present a strong case for why you should be released. This may involve demonstrating that you have a credible fear of persecution or harm in your home country, have a viable Asylum claim, and can provide a suitable plan for living in the United States while your case is ongoing. Not having a sponsor or a place to stay can make this process more challenging, but it is not impossible.
Navigating the detention and release process is complex, and it is highly recommended to seek the assistance of an experienced immigration attorney. An attorney can help you prepare a compelling case for release and represent your interests during immigration court proceedings.
- When you arrive in the USA and seek Asylum, it is important to know the timelines and requirements for filing your application. While it is recommended to file for Asylum as soon as possible after arrival, the current law sets a deadline of one year from your entry into the country. Filing for Asylum within the one-year timeframe is crucial because failure to do so may result in your application being deemed untimely, potentially leading to denying your Asylum claim. However, it’s essential to note that there are some exceptions to this one-year rule. If you had a valid nonimmigrant or immigrant status throughout the entire one-year period and that status has expired, you are still eligible to apply for Asylum within a reasonable period after your status expiration. Generally, this reasonable period is considered to be within six months after your status expires. It is important to understand that while there is a legal filing timeframe, your application’s timing can impact your case. Filing for Asylum promptly after arrival demonstrates your genuine intent to seek protection in the United States, potentially strengthening your claim. Conversely, delaying the filing may raise questions about your motives and intentions. Additionally, when preparing your Asylum application, it is crucial to ensure that you have a comprehensive and well-documented package. This includes a thorough Asylum declaration, also known as your Asylum story, which should provide a detailed account of the persecution or harm you experienced or feared in your home country. Working closely with a qualified immigration attorney can be beneficial in preparing a strong and compelling declaration. The importance of a complete application package cannot be overstated. It is essential to include all relevant evidence, supporting documents, and any affidavits that can substantiate your claims. Aim for accuracy and thoroughness in your submission, striving for as close to perfection as possible. Beware of individuals or unscrupulous law firms that may offer quick and inadequate assistance, merely filling out forms without providing the necessary legal guidance. Engaging the services of a qualified immigration attorney is highly recommended, as they can guide you through the entire Asylum process, help gather the required evidence, and ensure your application is submitted correctly and promptly. It is advantageous to begin working with an immigration attorney before arriving in the United States. This proactive approach allows for early case preparation, gathering evidence, and receiving legal guidance. Having a well-prepared Asylum package when crossing the border can increase the likelihood of a smoother process, as you will be equipped to respond confidently during a credible fear interview.
When the case gets referred to Immigration Court, they will need a Voluntary Departure. They cannot leave in the middle of Removal Proceedings. You also need to consider if they incurred any ULP before they depart the US, even with VD.
Depends. Some of our colleagues on AILA Message Center report that USCIS has been denying such AOS cases. Based on that, I have had two of my clients in the last year to obtain Advance Parole during their asylum and successful obtain IV through a US consulate in third country. We did not want to risk waiting for 1-2 years and getting AOS denied.
If I am the derivative spouse of an asylum applicant and we are in the process of divorce, will I be eligible for asylum?
If you divorce the principal asylum applicant while the asylum application is pending you will lose your derivative eligibility for asylum. This is true even if you divorce after the approval of asylum but before you adjust your status to that of a permanent resident. This means that you must either depart from the U.S., apply for another status, or apply for asylum on your own independent basis.
If I applied for asylum and my case was pending. At that time, I married a US citizen and applied for a Green-card based on marriage, and the asylum application was withdrawn. When I am already the green-card holder, can I go to the country from which I previously applied for asylum?
Answer: Depends. If you return to your country, from which you previously applied for asylum, you may be asked – how? Was your asylum application then frivolous? Or did the country conditions change? What changed? By virtue of applying for asylum, you stated to the US government that you were unable or unwilling to return to your country due to reasonable fear of harm. If you now return, the questions will be – what changed? Filing and withdrawing asylum application by itself raises a question of possible misrepresentation. But when you withdraw and then return to the same country, where you previously claimed that you would be harmed, you are almost certain to trigger these questions down the road; for example, when you apply for renewal of your green-card or citizenship.
Will my immigration case be delayed by a government shutdown?
Answer: It depends upon your type of case. If you applied for any immigration benefit with US Citizenship and Immigration Services, your case will not likely be affected by any government shutdown. That is because USCIS accepts fees for their applications, therefore, they are not affected by a lapse in funding due to a shutdown. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations also proceed as normal during a shutdown. While affirmative asylum cases also continue being processed during the shutdown, the defensive asylum cases in immigration courts get delayed. In fact, all non-detained cases in Immigration Courts are suspended during the government shutdown. The majority of Immigration Courts hearings during government shutdowns, with the exception of detained removal proceedings.
I am asylum applicant. Can I apply for Refugee Travel Document?
Answer: You cannot apply for Refugee Travel Document if you are an asylum applicant and your asylum application is still pending. You can apply for Refugee Travel Document only after your asylum application is granted. However, if there is an emergency situation, you can apply for an Advance Parole Document as an asylum applicant which would allow you to return to the United States. Nevertheless, it is within discretion of the USCIS to grant or deny your application for Advance Parole.
I used false information to obtain B-2 tourist visa and applied for asylum after I entered the US. What are my chances?
Prior to every asylum interview, the USCIS asylum office obtains from the consulate copies of all your visa applications. The asylum officer will review the forms and information you provided during the consular process and compare it to the information you provided in the asylum application. If there are any inconsistencies or contradictions, the asylum officer during your asylum interview, must ask you questions about your visa application and give you a chance to explain.
If the asylum officer is satisfied that you had provided false information in your visa application because you had no other ways to escape the risk of harm or to avoid persecution in your home country, then USCIS will not likely deny your asylum case for this reason. According to the USCIS Asylum Officer’s Manual, the officers are instructed to not deny asylum applications solely based on the false information provided by the applicant during the consulate visa application or for gaining entry into the US. The officer is instructed to ask questions and to determine if the applicant lacks credibility. The key is to make sure to tell the truth when asked about the visa application. If you lied during your visa application, not everything is lost, and you may have an explanation. But if you continue lying at the interview, your asylum application will certainly be denied. In other words, when the officer asks you questions at the interview, you must come clean, give truthful information and honestly answer all questions at the asylum interview.
If you truthfully answer all questions at the asylum interview, your previous misrepresentations to the consulate, may be forgiven and become irrelevant. But your misrepresentations at the asylum interview or at the individual hearing will not be forgiven. The logic behind this is that, providing false information to flee the country due a risk of immediate harm, may be understandable. But providing false information to obtain asylum is not justifiable.
I applied for asylum, but my family members are still in my country. How do I expedite my asylum case?
First, your family members may be eligible for Humanitarian Parole. Humanitarian Parole is designed to allow the applicants to expeditiously enter the United States due to a compelling emergency. The current processing time anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months. To be eligible for Humanitarian Parole, you must demonstrate that your family members are either under a risk of harm or have some medical condition that needs immediate care or any other urgent humanitarian reason. Simply, showing the need to reunite your family is not enough. To file for Humanitarian Parole, you (i.e. the person in the US) would file form I-131 for each family member, attaching a detailed affidavit and evidence of the emergency condition. Each case is considered separately. However, it is frequently granted to family members of asylum applicants who are under risk of harm or need of urgent care.
Now, as to expediting the asylum interview or hearing, you must contact your local asylum office or file a motion with the immigration court. You can also request the expedited individual hearing at your master hearing. The judge will ask you why your hearing should be expedited, and if you demonstrate that your family is separated, the court may put your case on short list, which means that your hearing will be scheduled at the first available window, when, for example, another hearing gets cancelled or new time slot becomes available. Same applies for the USCIS asylum offices. If you demonstrate that your family is still in Iraq, the asylum office may put your case on a short-list of expedited cases.
Each asylum office had its own system of short-listing cases. For example, the Arlington Asylum Office, at least until recent times, was accepting short list requests for every case, as long as your application is full and complete and does not need any supplementation. In the past, the Arlington Asylum Office’s short list worked well, probably because not many applicants knew about it. Now, since almost every case gets short-listed, the likelihood of getting your case expedited without proof of exceptional reasons (e.g. family being separated) is much less. Therefore, it is imperative to provide evidence at the time when you request to short-list your case. To do so, you need to contact your local asylum office and following your local asylum office’s rules.
Are there any exceptions to the one year filing deadline for asylum application?
Yes. You can apply for asylum even after one year deadline, if you demonstrate that there are:
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- changed circumstances which materially affect your eligibility; or
- extraordinary circumstances causing the delay.
However, when these circumstances exist, you need to file the application within reasonable time given the exception.
“Changed circumstances” means new developments which now give rise to the reasonable possibility of persecution in your home country. It may be something you did while you were in the US, after one year deadline had passed, making you a target of possible persecution in your country, and thus, earning you basis for asylum. Or another example – you are a homosexual from a country which recently passed laws making it a crime.
“Extraordinary circumstances” usually means circumstances which made your asylum application either “impossible” or “unnecessary” within the one year of your presence in the US. An example of impossible is – you had a serious medical condition precluding you from filing your asylum application within one year of your entry into the US. An example of “unnecessary” is having a valid immigration status in the US and therefore not needing asylum to avoid returning to your home country. Thus, you can apply for asylum even after several years of presence in the US as a student on F-1 status or in any other non-immigrant status, such as H-1B, J-1, etc.
It is important to note that, even if you had changed or extraordinary circumstances, you must file for asylum “immediately” after those circumstances arise or stop existing. For example, if you are applying for asylum after one year deadline based on the changed country conditions, you must file the application immediately after those conditions change. Or if you file for asylum after one year deadline because you had a student visa status which you just lost (e.g. because you stopped going to school), then you need to file for asylum as soon as possible after you lose your status. The official term is “reasonable time.” However, the asylum officers interpret it to mean nearly immediately. Typically, a delay of less than 90 days counts as reasonable. But don’t take our word for it. There are multiple cases involving disputes and different interpretations. There is no specific amount of time set as “reasonable”. It dealt with on case-by-case basis.
Can I travel outside the United States while my asylum application is pending?
We strongly recommend not to travel during your asylum case processing. Even though, there is not an automatic ban, leaving the US while having a pending asylum application may cause denial of your asylum application, delays and other unfavorable consequences. In emergency situations, the applicant may apply for Advance Parole to get an authorization. However, Advance Parole is rarely granted in pending asylum cases and, even if granted, it does not guarantee your return. It will be under discretion of the US Customer and Border Protection (CBP) officials to allow or ban the applicant’s re-entry.
I asked for extension of B-2 status, which was denied. I now applied for asylum. How does my application for B-2 extension affect my asylum case?
Every application and interaction with the USCIS or DOS creates extra questions in the context of asylum process. One of the tasks of an asylum officer is to verify the applicant’s credibility. One of the ways by which the officer checks the applicant’s credibility is by comparing the asylum application to the applicant’s previous applications and comparing the information provided in the previous forms and visa applications with the information provided in the asylum application and asylum interview.
The situation with applying for extension of visitor or tourist status prior to applying for asylum is especially delicate, because, to be eligible for a visitor status, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she has a home country residence to which the applicant intends to return. But, on the other hand, to be eligible for asylum, the applicant must demonstrate that he/she is not willing and cannot return to his/her home country. Thus, an application for extension of B-2 visitor, in most instances, contradicts the asylum application and damages the applicant’s credibility. The applicant’s credibility may be restored, if the applicant proves that his/her intent or grounds for asylum application came up after the B-2 extension. For example, it is possible that the applicant filed for extension or change to B-2 visitor status, hoping that the situation in the applicant’s country would change and the applicant would be able to return during the six months of the requested stay and, when at a later time, the applicant realized that his/her return is impossible or dangerous, the applicant decides to file for asylum.
Therefore, in general, applying for any non-immigrant status, such as visitor visa (B-2) or student visa (F-1), while intending to apply for asylum is contradictory and not recommended. Of course, making any misrepresentations or providing false information may be deadly for asylum chances.
I applied for asylum, but my family members are still in Iraq. How do I expedite my asylum case?
First, your family members may be eligible for Humanitarian Parole. Humanitarian Parole is designed to allow the applicants to expeditiously enter the United States due to a compelling emergency. The current processing time anywhere between 3 weeks to 3 months. To be eligible for Humanitarian Parole, you must demonstrate that your family members are either under a risk of harm or have some medical condition that needs immediate care or any other urgent humanitarian reason. Simply, showing the need to reunite your family is not enough. To file for Humanitarian Parole, you (i.e. the person in the US) would file form I-131 for each family member, attaching a detailed affidavit and evidence of the emergency condition. Each case is considered separately. However, it is frequently granted to family members of asylum applicants who are under risk of harm or need of urgent care.
Now, as to expediting the asylum interview or hearing, you must contact your local asylum office or file a motion with the immigration court. You can also request the expedited individual hearing at your master hearing. The judge will ask you why your hearing should be expedited, and if you demonstrate that your family is separated, the court may put your case on short list, which means that your hearing will be scheduled at the first available window, when, for example, another hearing gets cancelled or new time slot becomes available. Same applies for the USCIS asylum offices. If you demonstrate that your family is still in Iraq, the asylum office may put your case on a short-list of expedited cases.
Each asylum office had its own system of short-listing cases. For example, the Arlington Asylum Office, at least until recent times, was accepting short list requests for every case, as long as your application is full and complete and does not need any supplementation. In the past, the Arlington Asylum Office’s short list worked well, probably because not many applicants knew about it. Now, since almost every case gets short-listed, the likelihood of getting your case expedited without proof of exceptional reasons (e.g. family being separated) is much less. Therefore, it is imperative to provide evidence at the time when you request to short-list your case. To do so, you need to contact your local asylum office and following your local asylum office’s rules.
I was looking for a lawyer who had experience working with similar cases and had a good knowledge. Ismail was a great candidate for this role. He made a personal connection with me and my case and made sure I was informed about the process and steps I had to take as an applicant to make a solid, strong case.
Ismail and his team professionally handled all my immigration cases from the beginning to the end. They got me asylum, then green-card and I now became a US citizen! I strongly recommend this firm to anyone who needs excellent immigration lawyer.
Article Information
Article Title: Asylum
Short Description: Many people flee their home countries in search of freedom. It is no surprise that the United States of America has become one of the top choices for refugees applying for asylum from their oppressive governments. However, before you can become an asylee in the U.S., you need to formally seek asylum status based on one of the five factors: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski and his team have extensive of experience in providing legal assistance to asylum seekers from all over the world.
Author: Ismail Shahtakhtinski
Publisher - Orgnization: I.S. Law Firm, PLLC
Publisher Logo: 