Asylum
When going back isn't safe
Asylum protects people who fear harm in their own country because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or a group they belong to. We help you tell what happened, and prove it.
There is usually a one-year deadline, counted from your last arrival in the United States, with narrow exceptions. If you're close to it, or past it, call us now. An asylum case lives on detail: dates, places, the names of people who threatened you, letters from people who knew you. We take that story in pieces, over as many meetings as it takes, in the language you're most at ease in.
What we do
Prepare the application and your written statement
Gather country reports, letters and records
Prepare you for the interview or the court hearing
Ask for a work permit as soon as you're eligible
What helps an asylum case
Anything from home
Police reports, medical records, written threats, news stories, even photos on a phone.
People who can vouch
Relatives, neighbors or coworkers who saw what happened, or knew about it at the time.
Your entry papers
Anything that shows when and where you came into the United States.
Questions people ask about asylum
Will anyone back home find out?
Your asylum file is confidential. The government doesn't share it with the country you left, and neither do we.
Can my spouse and children be included?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 who are in the United States can usually be included in your application. Those still abroad can be petitioned for once asylum is granted.
Can I work while my case is pending?
Usually you can apply for a work permit once your application has been pending for 150 days, and receive it some weeks later. We keep track of that date for you.
Start your asylum case with a lawyer
Tell us the date you arrived when you call, so we can plan around your deadline.