GREEN CARD THROUGH ASYLUM INFO

Asylum is the legal protection granted to foreign nationals in the United States who are afraid to return to their home country. Asylum may be granted to people who are already in the United States and who are unable or unwilling to return to their home country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

Asylum-seekers may apply for asylum in the United States regardless of their countries of origin. Prior legal status in the U.S. is not a requirement for application for asylum. Additionally, any alien in removal proceedings (deportation) may apply for withholding of removal as well as asylum. There are no quotas on the number of individuals who may be granted asylum each year (with the exception of individuals whose claims are based solely on persecution for resistance to coercive population control measures).

An asylum may apply for lawful permanent resident status (green card) after having been physically present in the U.S. for a period of one year, following the date the asylum status was conferred.