Give me your tired, your poor, 

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

- Emma Lazarus

Asylum is a protective status that allows a person to remain the United States legally because they would be at risk of serious harm if they had to return to their home country.  Applying is a lengthy, complex process that can take up to a year or more to complete.   Most applicants greatly underestimate the difficulty of proving an asylum case, and the denial rate is high.

We Can Help

Asylum attorney Wendy Whitt will prepare your application and help you write a clear and compelling supporting statement.  She will compile and summarize news articles, human rights reports, affidavits, statements and other original documents to support your claim.  She will carefully prepare you for your interview with USCIS and go with you to address any legal issues that may arise.

Asylum attorney Wendy Whitt represents clients before the Houston Asylum Office, which serves individuals in the following states:  Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.  Contact us today to determine whether you are eligible to apply for asylum in the United States.

Asylum Eligibility

Asylum is a type of protection that allows individuals who are already in the United States to remain here.  In order to obtain this benefit, you must demonstrate to the United States government that you fear persecution in your native country based upon one or more of the following:

• Race,
• Religion,
• Nationality,
• Membership in a social group, or
• Political opinion

Fear of generalized violence or indiscriminate killing is not enough.  You must also prove that the persecution was carried out by your government or a group your government is unable or unwilling to control.

Where to File

You can file an asylum application if you are at a port of entry or in the United States.  You cannot file an application from your home country.

When to File

You must do so within one year of your arrival to the United States.

You will not be eligible to file an application if you have been in the  United States for more than one year.  However, you may qualify for an exception to this law if you show:

• Changed circumstances materially affecting your asylum eligibility for asylum; or
• Extraordinary circumstances relating to your delay in filing.

You must still file your  application within a reasonable time to qualify for an exception.

Schedule a Consultation with our Asylum Attorney

Initial consultations are available at a discounted fee of $75, which will be applied to any future legal services you may decide to engage.  You are invited to call 214-431-5237 to schedule your consultation.  We welcome your call now.