Victims of persecution or those who fear persecution in their home country may be granted asylum and remain in the United States. Whether you are seeking asylum due to persecution related to race, religion, nationality, your membership in a particular social group, or your political opinion, Ayala Law Office, P.C. in Tucson, Arizona will guide you through the process. We work to ensure your claims are heard and understood, giving you the best opportunity for success.
Fortunately, you may apply for asylum status regardless of how you arrived in the United States or your current immigration status. But there are some requirements.
You must apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the United States, with limited exceptions. You may include your spouse and unmarried children under 21 on your application, if they are already in the country.
You may live in the United States while your application is pending. If the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services finds you ineligible for asylum, you can remain while your application proceeds with the immigration judge.
You may not be eligible to apply for asylum if you missed the one-year filing deadline, previously were denied asylum, or can safely go to a third country.
There are two paths for seeking asylum.
Affirmative process
Defensive process
Whether you require the affirmative or defensive process, our immigration attorneys will work to help you complete your application in a manner that complies with the rules and advances your path toward asylum.
Once you are granted asylum, you may work immediately. Generally, you may not work while your asylum application is pending, but you may apply for employment authorization if your application has been pending for more than 150 days and no decision has been made.
You may also immediately apply for an unrestricted Social Security card. If you are a male between the ages of 18 and 26, you must register for the Selective Service.
Within two years of being granted asylum, you may petition to bring your spouse and unmarried children under 21 from your home country to the United States.
One year after you have been granted asylum, you may be eligible to apply for a green card and receive permanent residence status.
Asylum does not expire, but it may be revoked if you:
Our attorneys can help you understand and take full advantage of the benefits of asylum and can counsel you on ways to avoid revocation of your asylum status.
The road to asylum is full of obstacles and is best navigated by experienced immigration attorneys who have traveled it many times before. To learn more about how the Tucson immigration attorneys at Ayala Law Office, P.C. can help you achieve asylum, please contact us online or at 520-365-3185.