You’re applying for asylum in the United States. You may be coming from a war-torn country or you could have had your life directly threatened in your home country. Whatever the reason is, you’re looking forward to having a safer and happier life in America. However, before you are granted the ability to live here, you need to go through the asylum application process, which includes being interviewed. Find out what types of questions will be asked during your interview and how to apply for asylum with the help of an immigration attorney in Charlotte.
Questions Asked During Your Asylum Interview
The asylum interview includes three parts. You’ll need to answer questions regarding your biographical information, why you don’t want to go back to your country, and general questions that every interviewee needs to answer. They are going to ask questions about your full/legal name, country and city you were born in, if you’re married, your spouse’s name, and if you have children, their names. The asylum officer will also want to know if you’ve ever applied for asylum in the U.S. or another country, if you have legal status in another country aside from your home country, and how long you’ve been in the U.S. They will ask you why you are applying for asylum, who is causing you harm, what type of harm you experienced, if you reported the harm to the police in your country, if you would be harmed if you went back home, and why you can’t live in another part of your country. You will need to show the Asylum Officer that you have a credible fear of persecution if you return your country. This means that there is an objective basis that you could be harmed or punished on account of your race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular social group. Although the credible testimony of an asylum applicant is sometimes enough to be granted asylum, the applicant should provide any available evidence to support their claim.
Applying for Asylum
The U.S. immigration authorities recognize that people need asylum because they are facing harm based on their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. You can only file for asylum if you are already physically present in the U.S. but you aren’t a U.S. citizen. You will need to fill out Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, within one year of coming to the United States. You can include your spouse and children as dependents on your application. If you’ve already applied, then you can log onto the USCIS website and check your case status online for any updates. If you go through the application and interview process and your asylum is granted, you will be able to remain in the U.S. It’s a good idea to work with an immigration lawyer so that you fill out the application correctly and are well-prepared for your interview. It is not easy to get asylum in the U.S.; typically, 73% of applications are rejected the first time around. But if you have an immigration lawyer on your side, you are more likely to have your application approved and get peace of mind that you can live in the U.S.
Contact The Fogle Law Firm, LLC
Need help preparing for your asylum interview, or applying for asylum in the first place? Contact immigration lawyer The Fogle Law Firm, LLC today at (704) 405-9060 to learn more, or visit our website. We are happy to assist you with all your legal immigration needs.