WHAT IS ASYLUM?
• Asylum is a status available to persons seeking protection in the U.S. or at its borders.
• To receive asylum you must show that you have experienced persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution because of your race, religion, political opinion, nationality or membership in a particular social group.
• One year Rule. You must also file within one year of your last entry to the U.S., unless one of the exceptions to the One Year Rule apply, usually due to Changed Country conditions or extraordinary circumstances in the applicant’s life.
WHAT IS NOT ASYLUM?
• Asylum is not given to people from countries with unstable governments.
• Asylum is not given to people who experience some form of discrimination.
• Asylum is not given just because your government is corrupt.
• Asylum is not given if the general economic situation in your country is bad.
• Depending on the facts of your individual case, each of those things can be one factor in finding asylum, but these things alone are not enough to show asylum.
• We need to show specific reasons why YOU have had problems or will have problems in the future. General statements about your country being bad are not enough.
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