Practice Area
Asylum
If you're in the U.S. and fear persecution in your home country, affirmative asylum may be a path to safety and permanent status. We handle affirmative filings only — not defensive asylum in removal proceedings.
Who This Is For
- Physically present in the U.S. and not currently in removal proceedings
- Fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or social group
- Generally within one year of arrival (exceptions may apply)
Asylum can also be raised as a defense if you are already in removal proceedings — but our firm does not handle those cases. If you're in proceedings, we'd recommend a litigation-focused immigration attorney.
What We Handle
- Form I-589 preparation and filing
- Country-conditions and evidence strategy
- Interview preparation with the asylum office
- Work authorization guidance while your case is pending
How It Works
What working with us looks like
Free Intro Call
A short call with our intake team to understand your situation and confirm we’re the right fit — affirmative cases only.
Consultation with Attorney
You meet directly with the attorney to discuss your case, options, and likely path forward.
Strategy & Filing
We build your case plan and prepare and file your petition with USCIS, keeping you informed throughout.
Case Management
We monitor case progress throughout the scope you retained us for and flag what needs attention next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you handle asylum if I am already in removal proceedings?
No. We handle affirmative filings only. Asylum can also be raised as a defense in removal proceedings, and if you are in proceedings we would recommend a litigation-focused immigration attorney.
Is there a deadline to apply for asylum?
Asylum is generally filed within one year of arrival, though exceptions may apply. If you think you are past that point, it is still worth asking, because the exceptions turn on your specific facts.
How long does an affirmative asylum case take?
Affirmative asylum currently faces significant nationwide backlogs, and wait times can run several years from filing to a final decision. We will walk you through realistic expectations and what to do while your case is pending.
Can I work while my asylum case is pending?
Pending asylum applicants can become eligible for an Employment Authorization Document. Work authorization guidance while your case is pending is part of what we handle.
Can my spouse and children be included in my asylum application?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21, as of the date you filed, can generally be included as derivatives on your application and may be granted asylum along with you, though each one is still evaluated against the same bars that could apply to any applicant. Family members abroad are handled differently — an asylee may file a separate petition to bring a spouse and qualifying children to the United States, generally within two years of the asylum grant, though an extension of that deadline is available for humanitarian reasons. A child who turns 21 or marries while a case is pending raises separate questions, so tell us early if that is coming.
What do I actually have to prove to win asylum?
More than a well-founded fear. The fear has to be on account of one of five protected grounds — race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group — and the government of your country must be either the source of the harm or unable or unwilling to protect you from it. Certain bars also apply regardless of how strong a claim is, including some criminal history, security-related grounds, firm resettlement in another country before arriving here, and participation in the persecution of others, which is why we ask about those things honestly at the outset.