If you are afraid to return home
Asylum is a form of protection under federal immigration law for people who have been persecuted, or who have a well-founded fear of persecution, in their home country. The harm has to be connected to one of five protected grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. That last ground can cover situations like family ties or gender-based violence.
Many people who call us have lived through things that are painful to talk about. You do not have to share every detail on the first call. We go at your pace, and what you tell us stays private.
If you are inside the United States, you can ask for asylum no matter how you entered. If asylum is granted, you may later apply for permanent residence (a green card), and your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be included in many cases.
Affirmative and defensive asylum: how the process works
Every asylum case starts with Form I-589, the Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. The form is long, and the written statement and evidence that go with it are what carry the case. Where it is filed depends on your situation.
Affirmative asylum is for people who are not in removal proceedings. You file the I-589 with USCIS, and an asylum officer interviews you at a USCIS asylum office. If the officer does not grant asylum and you have no other lawful status, the case is usually referred to immigration court.
Defensive asylum is for people who are already in removal proceedings. You file the I-589 with the immigration court (EOIR), and an immigration judge decides the case at a hearing. The government has its own attorney in the room, and you need someone on your side who knows the courtroom.
The general rule is that you must apply within one year of your last arrival in the United States, with exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances. If more than a year has passed, do not assume you have lost the chance. Ask us to review it.
- Step 1: Free consultation to check whether asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) may apply.
- Step 2: We prepare the I-589, your personal statement, and supporting evidence such as country reports, medical or police records, and witness letters.
- Step 3: We file with USCIS (affirmative) or the immigration court (defensive) and track every notice.
- Step 4: We prepare you for the interview or hearing, and we go with you.
What USG Law Group does on your asylum case
Attorney Sandra Leiva handles asylum at USG Law Group, including defensive cases in immigration court (EOIR), detained clients, and bond hearings. She is licensed in Maryland, and because immigration law is federal, she represents clients before asylum offices and immigration courts across our service area.
We start by reviewing everything you already have: notices, prior applications, your travel history, and documents from your country. Then we build your written declaration with you, in your own words, and gather the evidence that supports it.
Before your interview or hearing, we practice. You will know what questions to expect and how the day will go. If USCIS or the court asks for more evidence, we respond. If the decision is not what we hoped, we explain your options for appeal or other relief in plain words.
Work permits, related protections, and what can go wrong
Once your asylum application has been pending for the required period, you may be eligible to apply for a work permit (Form I-765). We track the timing so the request goes in as soon as the rules allow. A work permit does not decide your asylum case, but it lets you support your family while you wait.
If asylum is not available, two related protections may be: withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). They have different standards and fewer benefits, but they can still keep you from being sent back. We evaluate all three on the same I-589.
Cases often run into problems that have nothing to do with how real the fear is. A late filing with no explanation, a story that changes between the form and the interview, missing evidence, or a prior application someone else filled out badly can all hurt. Criminal history may also limit your options. None of this means you should give up; it means the case needs careful work. A free consultation lets us look at your facts first.
Why families choose an asylum lawyer at USG Law Group
You will be heard in your own language. USG Law Group is a bilingual firm led by an immigrant attorney, and our clients tell us that we explain everything in detail and that we prepare cases sooner than other offices had quoted them.
We offer a free initial consultation, payment plans and financing, and evening, weekend, and virtual appointments by phone or Zoom. Our office is in Woodbridge, Virginia, near Potomac Mills, and we serve clients across Northern Virginia, Richmond, Maryland, and Washington DC. If you are not ready to come in person, you can start privately by phone.
Related help from USG Law Group
If you are already in removal proceedings, see our Deportation Defense and Immigration Court pages. If a family member is detained, see our Bond Hearings page. If your asylum has been granted, our Adjustment of Status page explains the path to a green card. If you were harmed by a family member or were the victim of a crime here, our VAWA and U Visa pages may also apply.
