Role of USCIS in Doraville Asylum Cases

The United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) plays an important role in Doraville asylum cases, as it is the agency within the Department of Homeland Security that will approve an individual’s application to remain in the country. It is important for asylum applicants to be familiar with how this office operates, as a lack of knowledge could have a detrimental impact on their case. If you want to learn more about the USCIS, an experienced attorney could address any of your questions or concerns.

What is the USCIS?

The USCIS is the office that processes immigration applications and petitions. They are tasked with handling many different kinds of cases, from asylum applications to family petitions to naturalization requests. This is the government entity to which asylees will be submitting applications to gain lawful status.

For someone who is not undergoing removal proceedings, USCIS is the first place they will go to have their asylum application adjudicated, which means they would first have their interview with an asylum officer at USCIS. Considering the low rate of approval for asylum applications in the local immigration court, an applicant may have a much higher chance of approval after conducting an asylum interview at USCIS.

Evaluation Process

If an individual chooses to submit their application to the USCIS, an asylum officer there will be tasked with evaluating it. The initial processing is just done by the asylum officer at USCIS, who will assess the application and make their own determination to either approve it or refer it to the immigration court for further action.

Anyone submitting an application for asylum to USCIS should know that if that application is not approved by the officer, they will be referred to removal or deportation proceedings and may potentially face deportation from the country as a consequence. This makes it essential for an applicant to seek professional advice from a Doraville attorney who could explain the role of USCIS during the asylum process. Without the help of legal representation, a person’s risk of removal may be even higher.

Disqualifying Factors

The most common factor that may lead USCIS to not approve an asylum application is a conviction of an aggravated felony or a particularly serious crime. Additionally, if the applicant has been involved in any way in terrorist activity or any organization that is considered a threat to the security of the United States, persecuted another person, participated in gang activity, or missed the one-year deadline to apply for asylum, their application may not be approved, and they may face deportation.

However, it is important to note that if an applicant is denied by USCIS and is referred to a Doraville immigration judge, they will have a second opportunity to present their application and may still be granted asylum.

Contact a Doraville Attorney About How USCIS Will Operate in Your Asylum Case

The asylum process is complex and challenging to navigate, and there are many requirements that must be met to achieve lawful status. If you are struggling with your asylum application and want assistance before you submit it to the USCIS, reach out to a Doraville attorney. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation and get started on your case.