For the purposes of U.S. asylum/immigration law, a particular social group is generally defined as a set of people who have something in common that is so essential to each person’s identity — including but not limited to race, ethnicity or gender — that it can’t or shouldn’t be changed.

Legal recognition as a particular social group may also hinge upon whether or not there is a clear distinction between the group and the rest of the population in a given country, and whether the country acknowledges the group’s existence.

The United States government has often accepted the following as particular social groups: tribes; ethnic groups; certain social classes; people that identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender; people forced to participate in armed conflicts as children; former members of the police or armed forces (in certain circumstances); women (in certain circumstances); and people related to dissidents.

With its relatively recent acceptance of people persecuted based on gender as a particular social group, the U.S. has granted asylum to women who proved that they were forced to endure, or who have a legitimate fear of being forced to endure female circumcision and related procedures; arranged marriages; and domestic violence in their countries.

IIn some cases, the U.S. has also granted asylum to applicants who proved that they were persecuted or feared persecution because their country’s government wrongly believed that they belonged to a particular social group.

Finally, it is important to be aware that there are no universal rules pertaining to particular social groups for U.S. asylum purposes. This means that what the U.S. government recognizes as a particular social group in one country may not be recognized as a particular social group in another country, depending on factors including but not limited to the societal norms and laws in each one. For this reason, it is important to consult with an experienced asylum attorney when seeking asylum based on your standing as a member of a particular social group.

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Due to its complexity, it is extremely difficult for the average person to understand he U.S. asylum process. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not try to file an application for asylum on your own. Our attorneys have extensive experienced in US asylum law, gained through helping countless clients  from all over the world.  Our team will work with you to provide the best possible chance of success, so call us toll free at (888) ZONTLAW / (888) 966-8529