Atlanta Asylum Lawyer

In addition to providing immigrant visas to individuals with family members or employers willing to sponsor them for Legal Permanent Resident status, the United States also offers immigrant visas to people threatened by persecution in their country of origin. However, while declaring asylum in this way could be vital to protecting you and your family from harm, it is a complicated process, especially if you try to pursue your petition alone.

If you want to explore your options for asylum applications, scheduling a conversation with an Atlanta asylum lawyer should be a priority. Guidance from a knowledgeable immigration attorney might make a difference in how efficient the application process will go and your odds of getting a successful case result without any procedural hurdles.

Who Is Eligible to Seek Asylum?

Under current federal policy, asylum is meant specifically for people who have a well-founded fear of persecution in their current country of residence based on their religion, race, national identity, political beliefs, or social group membership. Persecution in this context can refer to various harmful and threatening actions, but federal authorities have historically defined it as one or more of the following:

• Severe discrimination along social and economic lines
• Threat or causation of serious physical injury
• Targeting through criminal robbery or extortion
• Unjust prosecution or disproportionate punishment for criminal offenses
• Coercive psychological or medical treatment

Proof that a person’s fear is well-founded can come from past personal experiences and the experiences of other members of the same persecuted group. It is worth noting, though, that fear of persecution must be objective and subjective for an asylum application to be accepted. In other words, there must be evidence that severe persecution may occur and confirmation that an applicant feels personally threatened by that persecution.

Additionally, an asylum applicant must not be inadmissible to the U.S. for any other reason, like a history of convictions for certain crimes or previous violations of U.S. immigration law. A seasoned attorney in Atlanta could help build a strong asylum claim and, if necessary, seek a waiver of inadmissibility for a particular applicant.

How to Apply for Asylum

The central component of an asylum application in the U.S. is Form I-589. A prospective applicant must complete and file this form within one year of arriving in the U.S. in order to remain eligible. Applicants may include their spouse and unmarried children under 21 on their application but not any other family members related by blood or marriage.

The government grants immediate U.S. work authorization to applicants who receive asylum, and any applicant whose case has been pending for 365 days or more may apply for work authorization separately. Individuals admitted to the U.S. as asylees become eligible to apply for Legal Permanent Resident status one year after being granted asylum. A practiced lawyer in Atlanta could the rules for applying for asylum in more detail.

An Atlanta Asylum Attorney Could Help

Seeking asylum in the U.S. does not work like other immigrant visa applications, and applicants often need a great deal of evidence to establish their eligibility for this unique protection. Even qualifying applicants may still have trouble getting a positive response from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services if they fail to submit their application promptly.

Fortunately, assistance is available from a dedicated Atlanta asylum lawyer with a track record of successfully helping people in situations like yours. Learn more by calling today.