Houston Asylum Lawyer
Asylum is a type of legal protection under U.S. immigration law granted to people who have fled their home country due to persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution. The U.S. offers asylum as a form of humanitarian relief, allowing eligible individuals to live and work in this country and eventually apply for permanent residency.
If you or someone you know needs to seek asylum, Maranto Law Firm can help. Our firm is backed by 17 years of experience in resolving U.S. immigration cases in Houston, Galveston, and across Southeast Texas.
Attorney Rafael Maranto is someone who has gone through the immigration process himself and thus understands the obstacles and challenges involved. He and his team are dedicated to helping individuals both here and abroad receive the help needed to overcome those obstacles. Their goal is to help you earn the right to remain in the U.S. and continue your immigration journey toward permanent status or even citizenship.
Arrange for a free case evaluation with our Houston asylum attorney. Contact Maranto Law Firm at (855) 961-0601. Hablamos español.
Requirements for Asylum
To be granted asylum in the U.S., you must meet certain requirements. These include:
- Fear of persecution: Applicants must demonstrate a legitimate fear of persecution in their home country based on one of the five grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
- Timely application: Applicants must apply for asylum within one year of their arrival in the U.S. unless they can show extraordinary circumstances or changed conditions that justify the delay.
- No bars to asylum: Certain factors, such as involvement in the persecution of others, the conviction of a serious crime, or posing a threat to national security, can disqualify an individual from obtaining asylum.
How Do You Seek Asylum?
To seek asylum for individuals who are in the U.S., you must submit a petition called Form-I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within one year of your arrival here. You must also provide supporting documents that demonstrate your eligibility for asylum.
Asylum may also be sought where it is applicable for those facing removal from the U.S. In those cases, an immigration judge will hear your case and determine whether you are eligible.
What Is the Difference Between Asylum & Refuge?
While both asylees and refugees are individuals who have fled their home countries due to persecution or fear of persecution, the key difference lies in the application process and location:
- Asylees apply for asylum while they are already in the U.S. or at a port of entry.
- Refugees apply for protection while they are outside the U.S., usually through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or a U.S. embassy.
How Maranto Law Firm Can Help
An experienced immigration lawyer, such as Attorney Rafael Maranto, can provide valuable assistance during the asylum process. This assistance can include assessing your eligibility for asylum and identifying potential issues that may arise, helping you gather and prepare supporting documents, such as affidavits, expert opinions, and country condition reports, and drafting a comprehensive legal brief that presents a persuasive argument for asylum.
Attorney Maranto can also help you prepare for interviews or hearings with USCIS officers or immigration judges, including guidance on how to answer questions and effectively present your case. For those facing deportation, he will advocate for you during removal hearings to ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process.
