Political asylum may be granted to people in the United States who are unwilling or unable to return to their home country because of persecution or a legitimate fear of persecution. This persecution can be due to race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or personal political opinions.

If an individual is granted asylum, that person will be able to live and to work in the United States. After one year, the asylum seeker is eligible to apply for permanent resident status. Under the current immigration laws, there is no maximum on the number of people who may be granted asylum in the United States each year. However, there is a limit on how many asylum seekers can adjust their status to permanent resident each year. Under the immigration reform measures of 1995, this number was increased from 5,000 to 10,000 people each year.

Approved asylum seekers must reside in the United States for at least one full year in order to apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status. One year of the asylum seeker’s residence period prior to adjustment is counted toward the naturalization residency requirement.

Asylum status and refugee status are very similar. The main difference between the two is the location of the person who seeks either refugee or asylum status. Asylum seekers are already in the United States while refugee status seekers are outside of the United States at the time of their request. All people who seek asylum must meet the definition of a refugee. Continue reading ‘Seeking Asylum In The United States’