APPLY FOR ASYLUM

If you meet the eligibility requirements, within 1 year of your arrival to the U.S.  (legally or illegallyyou may apply for asylum for yourself, your spouse, and your unmarried children under 21-years of age. Read more

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Each year, people come to the U.S. looking for protection from the persecution they have suffered, or are fearful they will suffer, because of their race, nationality, religious beliefspolitical opinions, or affiliations with certain social organizations. If you are eligible to file for asylum, you may include your spouse and your children who are in the U.S. on your application when you file, or any time up until a final decision has been made in regards to your case. Children must be unmarried and under the age of 21 to be included.

There are two ways to Apply for Asylum: Affirmative processing and Defensive processing.

Related form: I-589, APPLICATION FOR ASYLUM AND FOR WITHHOLDING OF REMOVAL

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

You need to be physically present in the U.S. to apply for asylum via the Affirmative process. No matter how you arrived in the U.S., you can apply for asylum status. You must, however, apply within 1 year of your most recent arrival in the U.S. unless you can demonstrate:

  • Altered circumstances that directly affect your being eligible for asylum or that the delay was caused by unusual circumstances, and
  • That you filed in a reasonable time considering those unusual circumstances.

Due to recent changes in the USCIS policies, Affirmative Asylum Applications are being processed in a different way than previously. Unfortunately, this change in policy may directly and adversely affect your rights as an asylum-seeker. As of January 29th, 2018, the USCIS Asylum Division is giving priority to Affirmative Asylum Applications filed the most recently in time. What this means, is that if you file your application tomorrow for example, USCIS intends, within 21 days of receiving your application (or within 21 days of tomorrow in our example), to assign you an Asylum Interview Date in the not too distant future. That interview, as was the case previously, will then be used to decide if you’re potentially eligible for asylum or not.

USCIS has a huge backlog of Asylum cases, and they used to process the oldest ones first. Thus, there was a policy where you could seek employment authorization to work after 150 days of USCIS receiving your application, while you waited for them to process your application. Thus, previously people could file asylum applications as a way to extend their stay in the United States, and typically became eligible to work for many months and sometimes years, while they waited for USCIS to process their asylum applications.

Now, because USCIS policy has changed and because they are making it a priority to assigning interview dates to applications filed within the last 21 days; instead of the oldest pending asylum applications in their backlog, this means new asylum applicants typically won’t get the chance to work and stay in the United States unless their asylum claim is granted. Now, new applicants will quickly be given their asylum interviews, and if the interview goes well, you will be scheduled for an Asylum Hearing before an Immigration Judge to decide ultimately whether you will be granted asylum or not. If the Asylum Interview with USCIS does not go well however, and the USCIS decides your case is non-meritorious, frivolous, or fraudulent, you will be immediately placed in Removal Proceedings.

Thus, if you don’t have the strongest case for asylum based on your facts, now you may really want to think twice before applying for asylum. The aim of this policy change is to reduce the percentage of applicants that file asylum applications solely to extend their time in the United States and to obtain employment authorization. In contrast, if you have a good and legitimate claim to asylum, the length of time for you to be officially granted asylee status should be greatly reduced.

The Defensive process for applying for asylum is used as a defensive strategy against removal from the U.S. This process has not changed as a result of the changes in USCIS policy listed above. If you have been placed in Removal Proceedings in Immigration Court with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), either because:

  • you were determined by USCIS to be ineligible for asylum as a result of your rejected Affirmative Asylum Application, and thus you were referred to an Immigration Judge; or,
  • you were caught at a U.S. port of entry without proper documentation, or were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection attempting to enter the U.S. without the proper documentation; or,
  • you were otherwise placed in Removal Proceedings by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for an Immigration Violation;

your case for asylum can still be heard in the courtroom before an Immigration Judge during the Removal Proceedings against you, as a defense to your attempted removal. The United States is against all forms of persecution, and thus even if they are seeking your removal from the United States, asylum arguments will still be entertained by the Immigration Judge during removal proceedings, and valid asylum eligibility even at this late stage, will prevent you from being deported from the United States.

Advance Parole. If you are an asylum applicant and you intend to travel outside the United States and return, you must apply for and receive advance parole. If you leave the United States without first obtaining advance parole, we will assume that you have abandoned your asylum application.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING CHANGES IN U.S. DEPORTATION POLICIES

What Happens If USCIS Denies My Asylum Application After The Interview?

Can I ask for political asylum from outside the US?

NO. To apply for political asylum, you must be in the United States (embassies or diplomatic missions outside the US will not help you in this matter). Being outside the US, you can only apply for refugee status and this procedure is also a complicated procedure.

Can I apply for asylum when crossing the border?

This is possible, and such cases often occur at the border crossing with Mexico. The application directly on the border is an extreme measure. A very important point is that when you cross the border without the necessary permission (US visa) and asylum application, you are most likely to be detained and placed in an immigration prison where you will conduct initial inquiries and check all the facts you previously stated . The decisions of the border service can be delayed for weeks or even months.

Can I apply for political asylum if I am illegally in the US?

You have the right to defend and examine your application, even if you are in an illegal status. It is very important that this happens in the first year of your stay in the country. Otherwise, you have to argue, there are compelling reasons why you did not do this before.

How long does it take to get an interview for asylum?

Beginning on January 29, 2018, the Immigration Department for Asylum (USCIS Citizenship and Immigration Service Group) will give priority to the newest applications when assigning interviews. Such a change in the schedule of interviews will make it possible to weed out those applicants who use groundless statements and try to use this process solely to obtain a work permit and will enable the USCIS to immediately identify such persons and begin the process of their deportation. In reality, the new Priority will allow the USCIS to make decisions on qualified asylum seekers more quickly and efficiently.

Can I apply for asylum with a minimum of materials, and send documents and evidence after I apply?

It is possible, but we do not recommend it. In cases where you sent an off-the-shelf petition, the fact of not being prepared may negatively affect your interview and raise suspicions about the reliability of the information provided earlier.

Is it possible to apply for political asylum without a lawyer?

Some apply for political asylum on their own, filling out Form I-589 and attaching a declaration. Applicants, who apply for political asylum in the US do not need to hire a lawyer and an interpreter to apply for political asylum in the United States. But you need to consider important points: 1. Immigration Attorneys analyze the facts of persecution, apply immigration laws to the facts. 2. Attorneys help applicants to fillout the necessary immigration forms and not make any mistakes in their filing. 3. Attorneys help Applicants prepare for the interview, correctly write a declaration, collect documents. 4. Attorneys have the right to intervene in the process by using immigration law at all stages of the proceedings. 5. Attorneys can help find an interpreter and represent refugees in interviews and in the process of deportation to the immigration court. When your future is at stake, you need to weigh everything for and against the participation of a Attorneys in your process. Consult the Immigration Attorneys – Here

Contact Attorney J.Greenberg

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    The U.S. asylum process is very complicated, so the best chance of success comes by working with an experienced asylum attorney.  We are highly experienced in US asylum law.  We have helped people from all over the world fleeing persecution to gain asylum in the US. Our attorneys, translators and support staff will work with you individually to give you the best chance of success possible.  We know how difficult and heart wrenching the asylum process can be, and we will be with you every step of the way.

    Your citizenship and your residency status is something you should entrust to a professional. Call the top New York Immigration Attorneys at toll free at  (888) ZONTLAW / (888) 9668529

    APPLICATION REVIEW

    Check your Eligibility, Register, Begin your Forms, Sign & Pay when you’re Ready.

    Our innovative online system allows you to figure out exactly which case or immigration benefit you

    are likely eligible for, just by answering a few simple questions. After that, our system will allow you to register in our online client portal for free; with the assigned case you’re likely eligible for. You’ll be able to begin working on your case for free, by filling out our easy to understand forms (that become official USCIS forms) automatically, with our software. If you like our system and want to retain us for our Attorney Application Review service, you will be able to sign our representation agreement electronically and make your first payment.

    Schedule and have your Initial Consultation with your Attorney

    After you have made the minimum payment, you will be prompted to schedule your initial

    consultation with your attorney. Your attorney will then contact you on the date and at the time you select. During the Consultation, your attorney will verify that you are indeed eligible for the case our software assigned, and that it is the best option for you. They will then instruct you on how to properly continue to fill out your assigned Immigration Forms, and about any required or recommended supporting documentation for your case type. Your attorney will also seek to address any questions or concerns you may have, about your individual process and petition

    Finish completing your Forms, your Attorney Checks your Petition, and you Submit

    You will use our innovative software system to continue to fill out the necessary forms for

    your case, and any supporting documentation. Then when you have completed everything, your attorney will check your USCIS forms for accuracy, completeness, adherence to USCIS standards and procedures, and any possible ineligibility/inadmissibility grounds that might come up. Your attorney will tell you how best to address any problems with your petition that they observe, and then you will make the necessary and/or recommended changes. If you elected for the add-on service of having your attorney check your supporting documentation, they will also give you feedback on that. Once you have made the proper changes, you will print your petition, sign where indicated, and then send it off to USCIS in the pre-addressed and pre-paid envelope, we provide. From there, you’ll only have to make sure to respond to any ensuing correspondence or requests from USCIS, should there be any.
    How our Legal Services Work page

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    FULL REPRESENTATION

    Check your Eligibility, Register, Sign (or Schedule a Consultation First).

    Begin by answering one of our online Eligibility Quizzes. If all goes well, our software will tentatively

    assign you a case. You will then be able to register, create your profile, and request an individualized price quote for your case–all for free. We will get back to you with an individualized price quote shortly. You can then sign our electronic retainer at the quoted price (subject to certain reservations). Or, if you prefer, you can schedule and pay for a consultation, before signing. If you choose to make us your attorneys by signing right away; you will use our secure online system to make your first payment, and then you will still be prompted to schedule a consultation. To ethically and most effectively serve you, our Full Attorney Representation Service always begins with a consultation.

    Have your Initial Consultation with your Attorney and let them get to work.

    Your attorney will contact you as scheduled, for your consultation. They will verify your eligibility for

    the case our software pre-selected, and make sure it is actually the best option for you. Your attorney will detail the steps for handling your specific immigration matter, and render you any necessary and pertinent legal advice. Addressing your questions, and requesting any documents and information that you’ll need you to provide (such as birth certificates), will also be priorities of the consultation. If you did not already retain Zontlaw formally, your attorney will send you a price quote (with the $150 dollar consultation fee deducted from the cost of your representation); after the consultation. You can then formally sign and retain us as your attorneys. After you make your first payment, your attorney will proceed to the next step. If you have already retained us, you’ll make your first payment if you haven’t already (the one after the $150 minimum), and your attorney will automatically proceed to the next step.

    Your Attorney Compiles your Case, you Sign, and your Attorney Submits.

    Your attorney prepares all necessary USCIS forms and any supporting materials in their power. If

    there is supporting documentation that only you as the client have access to (ex: former employer letters), they will tell you exactly what you need to do and provide you with samples, so you can get the correct documentation. Once everything is ready, your attorney will compile your case into a professional legal petition, with a cover letter and a table of contents that will please USCIS and/or the other immigration authorities. They will check everything again, and send it to you to print and sign, via our secure online system. You will print and sign your completed case, and mail it to us in the envelope we provide. Your attorney will verify that you signed in the correct places, and they will send it off to the correct USCIS Dropbox, processing center, or other authority. It is possible that USCIS or other immigration authorities may request additional documentation/clarification regarding your petition. Your attorney will handle any such requests, communicating with you as required.
    How our Legal Services Work page

    Our online tool makes it so easy to complete your immigration paperwork

    Start my Application

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    Our experienced immigration professionals check the website content daily to keep up with changes in laws or forms required.

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    Answer a few simple questions and our innovative system will generate a complete form and ready to be presented

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    Our team of professionals will check all your answers to make sure that they are accurate, complete and ready to be submitted

    Evidence Checklist

    Once you assemble and upload all required documents, we will check if the evidence is correct and will provide a cover letter.

    IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY JULIA GREENBERG

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    With more than a decade in the field, Julia Greenberg has earned a reputation as a highly successful immigration attorney. Since 2006, she has represented countless corporate and individual clients in complex matters ranging from removal (deportation) to asylum, family, business and investor’s petitions, and employment-based cases.

    Authorized to practice in immigrant courts throughout the United States, Ms. Greenberg may also appear before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Northern, and Eastern districts of New York, and the New York Supreme Court. Ms. Greenberg takes pride in helping clients who have been unable to get satisfactory results elsewhere. Her honesty and compassion, combined with her expertise and vast knowledge of immigration law make her a formidable opponent in court – resulting in a long list of satisfied clients and positive referrals.

    Outside of court, Ms. Greenberg often addresses Congress regarding relevant legislation. She also devotes her spare time to making presentations at local events, where she answers questions for New York’s immigrant community.Ms. Greenberg is a member of the New York City Bar Association, and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), where she is a member in good standing in its New York Chapter. Ms. Greenberg is also fluent in Russian.

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