If you're fleeing persecution, asylum law provides protection. The process is challenging, but refugees have rights under U.S. and international law.
Expert information to help you understand your rights and options
Asylum protects people who have been persecuted or fear persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Learn eligibility requirements, the one-year filing deadline, and differences between asylum and refugee status.
To win asylum, you must prove past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution based on a protected ground. Understand what constitutes persecution, how to establish nexus to a protected ground, and bars to asylum eligibility.
Affirmative asylum is filed proactively with USCIS, while defensive asylum is raised as a defense against deportation in immigration court. Understand which process applies to your situation, timeline differences, and what to expect at asylum interviews and hearings.
Refugees apply for protection while still outside the U.S., unlike asylum seekers who apply after arrival. Learn UNHCR referral requirements, the overseas refugee interview process, security checks, and what benefits refugees receive upon U.S. arrival.