Political asylum is an immigration benefit granted by the United States to people who have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of one or more of the five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. In order to qualify for asylum, the person must have suffered past persecution on this basis and must demonstrate a well-founded fear of future persecution. Asylum cases are complex and require thorough research and preparation.
At the individual interview, the applicant must be prepared to discuss their entire asylum case history. This can include their “coming out” process (if applicable), their family relationships and other significant aspects of their life, as well as the reason for applying for asylum. The applicant should also be prepared to describe any physical or emotional harm they have suffered.
Depending on the circumstances of the case, it is often useful for the attorney to have an expert provide an expert affidavit in support of the asylum claim. This can be particularly helpful when there is a question about whether or not the victim has experienced past persecution.
To pay the filing fee for your case, you must submit a money order or cashier’s check. You can get these at the post office, a bank, or some stores. Make it payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and write your A-number (for example, A# 000-000-000) somewhere on the money order.