Asylum Immigration Lawyer Philadelphia

Serving Bucks County, Northeast Philadelphia, & Montgomery County

If you fear returning to your home country because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, you may qualify for asylum in the United States.

An experienced Philadelphia asylum lawyer can review your situation, tell you honestly whether you have a strong claim, and guide you through each step of the application, from filling out the forms to presenting your case before an Asylum Officer or Immigration Judge.

It remains an unfortunate reality that not all nations possess the level of freedom that the United States does. This country was, in no small part, founded by people seeking escape from mistreatment in their homeland, often based on religion or political opinion. It is only natural that the United States would offer that same protection to people around the world.

Who Qualifies For Asylum In The United States?

Asylum protects people who have been persecuted, or who have a reasonable fear that they would be persecuted or face violence in their home country, based on one or more of these protected grounds:

• Race,
• Religion,
• Nationality,
• Political Opinion, or
• Membership in a particular social group.

There are no rigid standards for what constitutes “persecution.” Instead, it is used here as an umbrella term encompassing a broad range of potential situations.

It can include direct actions of a government or can be perpetrated by non-governmental persons or organizations who the government either cannot or will not control.

It may consist of physical, financial, or mental harm caused by them or the threat of such harm. However, if you could safely and reasonably avoid the harm by moving to another part of your home country, your asylum claim may be denied.

Applications for asylum can be filed in two ways. An affirmative application is one the applicant files on his or her own initiative. A defensive application is one where asylum is raised as a defense to removal proceedings that are already underway.

Additionally, some applicants who do not meet the criteria for asylum but fear that they may be tortured in their home country may instead be able to seek relief under the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

Once asylum is granted, you can live and work in the U.S., and after one year you can apply for a green card.

Having the assistance of a skilled immigration lawyer to prove your case to either the United States Immigration Judge or an Asylum Officer with the Department of Homeland Security is important.

Our attorneys help prepare your application and personal statement, gather supporting documents and country-conditions evidence, and get you ready for your interview or hearing, so the process goes as smoothly as possible.

Evidence that the applicant has a reasonable fear of persecution is not always straightforward, and so having an Asylum Attorney with knowledge of current events and legal precedents to help demonstrate reasonable fear is an invaluable asset.

Philadelphia Asylum Immigration Lawyer

Our Philadelphia immigration lawyers provide legal representation for complex immigration cases. With our expertise in handling intricate immigration matters, we are dedicated to supporting clients through every step of their immigration journey.

Contact us today for reliable legal services and assistance with your immigration case.

Keep in mind that asylum applications are time-sensitive and must generally be filed within one year of entering the United States. Suppose you fail to file your application before the one-year deadline expires.

In that case, it may still be possible for you to obtain asylum status if you can demonstrate that either the situation in your home country has changed in a way relevant to your basis for Asylum or that you underwent extraordinary circumstances which prevented the filing of a timely application.

In either case, you must also demonstrate that your application was filed within a reasonable period after the situation or circumstances of your application changed.  

Immigration Lawyer For Asylum

Though the process of an Asylum application may seem complex and daunting when you are first faced with it, having a dedicated Asylum Lawyer walk you through every step of the immigration process can make all the difference.

With over 75 years of combined experience, the Immigration Attorneys at the law offices of Velter Yurovsky Zoftis Sokolson, LLC, have what it takes to give you the best chance to file for Asylum.

You can be free from fear and begin your new life here in peace. We offer free consultations to all prospective clients, so don't hesitate to call us at (215) 969-3004 or contact us by Email to start your path to lawful permanent residency in the United States today.