How to get political asylum in the United States
The unstable political situation and the widespread violation of human rights in the countries of the former CIS force people to seek political asylum in the United States. What does this status mean, who can apply for it and how to correctly organize the process, understood ForumDaily.
Journalist is a dangerous profession
Sergey (name changed) flew to New York from Ukraine in November 2014. At home he worked as a journalist. He decided to apply for political asylum in the United States at the time of arrival, but the first six months he collected the necessary information, consulted with lawyers and people who had already gone through the whole process of obtaining this status.
«В Украине сейчас очень сложная ситуация. Она сложная не в каких-то отдельных регионах, а в целом, во всем государстве. Учитывая то, что я работаю в сфере журналистики 12 лет, включая политические проекты, моя личная жизнь усложнялась с каждыми выборами и сменой власти. В связи с этим, частые неофициальные вызовы в прокуратуру заставляли с опаской продолжать свою профессиональную деятельность», — рассказывает Сергей.
During the Orange Revolution 2004 in Ukraine, the journalist worked closely with the team of Viktor Yushchenko, who later became president. His opponent, Viktor Yanukovych, came to power in the next election. Accordingly, power changed at all levels.
«Я работал на оппозиционном телеканале, и сюжеты, которые мы готовили, не особо радовали отдельных личностей. Мне начали угрожать как представители городских властей, так и совершенно неизвестные люди. Намекали, что я принимаю оппозиционную сторону, которая идет вразрез с интересами партии действующего президента Виктора Януковича и его «Партии Регионов». Революция, которую называют «Евромайдан», окончательно усложнила ситуацию — в стране начался бардак. В это же время произошло нападение на директора нашего телеканала. В момент нападения он получил предупреждение, что я буду следующим», — делится украинский журналист.
После этого Сергей был вынужден принять решение, которое все время откладывал, — покинуть Украину. Приехав в США, он понял, что это та страна, где закон работает, в первую очередь, для населения.
All the documents necessary for obtaining political asylum, Sergey collected independently, based on the information he received from lawyers, bloggers and official websites of the US government. He also wrote his own story about persecutions in his homeland.
«Историю я писал сразу на английском языке. Плюс делал переводы документов и заверял их сам уже в Нью-Йорке. На переводы и копии документов ушло не так много денег — несколько сотен долларов. Документы на политическое убежище я подавал уже не находясь в статусе туриста. Этот статус у меня истек 25 мая 2015, а подался я в ноябре 2015», — уточняет журналист.
«У меня достаточно сильная история, которая подкреплена фактами, статьями и свидетельскими показаниями. На данный момент мой кейс находится в Службе гражданства и иммиграции США, и я ожидаю вызова на интервью», — говорит он, suggesting that interviews can be expected for several months or more than a year.
«Мои контакты и подработки в Украине позволяют мне пока держаться в США на плаву. У меня было несколько предложений в Нью-Йорке, связанных с работой в СМИ, но как только работодатели узнавали о том, что у меня нет права на работу, мне отказывали. Хотя все просили связаться с ними, как только я получу разрешение на работу», — делится с ForumDaily Сергей.
Soon Sergey should receive a social security number and a work permit. After that, she hopes to find a job in the field of journalism.
What is political asylum?
Political Asylum in the USA (political asylum) is a special legal status of a person whose rights and freedoms are violated, and which is persecuted on the territory of his state on certain grounds. This situation allows a person, if there is evidence, to be able to legally reside in the United States and apply first for a green card, and then for citizenship.
Political asylum called in the US political asylumshould not be confused with the refugee refuge. Although they are essentially similar in many respects, the asylum status is requested when an immigrant is in the United States or is trying to enter the country, and the immigration request for refugee status is made from his home country.
People who are persecuted in their country for one of five reasons can apply for political asylum: race, religion, nationality, political beliefs, membership in certain social groups.
The common element of all these statuses is that they cannot be changed by any forceful influence. Relatively speaking, you may be persecuted for confessing Christianity in a Muslim country or holding opposition political views. Anyway, the very fact of persecution (or beating) is unlikely to make you think otherwise. Thus, a situation that is “normal” in each particular state may be unacceptable in the United States in terms of respect for human rights.
Reasons for obtaining political asylum
Religious views
Нападки на адептов той или иной веры – ситуация достаточно распространенная в странах бывшего СНГ. Гонения из-за религиозных убеждений были особо распространены в советское время, когда уничтожались храмы, синагоги, мечети и монастыри, а представители религий преследовались по закону. Даже сейчас сторонники определённых религий ощущают давление в тех или иных государствах. Например, баптисты и пятидесятники — в Украине и России.
Believers who live in those states or cities where they are a minority can also receive political asylum for religious reasons. For example, Muslims in an Orthodox country or Christians in the Muslim world, women who live in Muslim countries.
Informational articles on the state of affairs in the country, prepared by international human rights organizations, such as Human Rights Watch (there is a version in Russian) and Amnesty Internationalcan help increase the chances of obtaining political asylum.
Nationality and race
This means persecution of people because of their nationality, country of origin, nationality, color, eye shape, or race. For example, members of national minorities — Uzbeks, Tajiks, Yakuts, Tatars, and others — are often persecuted in Russia. There are also cases when Russian people who live on the territory of the former Soviet republics (Tajikistan, Armenia, Ukraine, etc.) are discriminated by the inhabitants of their city.
Political Views
Harassment of a person due to his political views is also a reason for obtaining political asylum. Moreover, they take into account not only direct threats to the applicant from representatives of the ruling party, but also cases where a person did not express his convictions, but his political views may lead to conflict with the authorities in the future. Even the political views of the applicant's relatives or his friends can cause persecution. Usually, members of opposition political parties, journalists and public figures suffer from this type of persecution.
Social group
Obtaining political asylum by the social criterion is the most ambiguous option, since every immigration judge has his own opinion about the existence of certain groups and the credibility of their prosecution. A social group can be people with a non-traditional sexual orientation (LGBT community), victims of domestic violence, dissidents, military personnel, and so on.
Since the US seriously protects the rights of members of the LGBT community, and in countries of the former CIS, gay people are persecuted, a similar reason for seeking asylum is considered to be quite significant.
In the United States, an organization is actively functioning that helps free-form political asylum for homosexuals, lesbians and hiv-positive people - Immigration Equality.
A person may be denied political asylum in the following cases:
- staying in the United States without a good reason for more than one year prior to the date of filing for political asylum;
- there has already been a denial of political asylum obtained in an immigration court;
- strong ties in another state (an immigration officer may consider that the applicant has the opportunity to relocate to this country);
- criminal record outside the United States (implies particularly serious crimes);
- participation of the applicant in the persecution of someone because of his race, religion, nationality and others;
- The applicant poses a terrorist danger to the United States.
Political asylum process
- Arriving in the USA
In accordance with §208 (a) of the Immigration and Citizenship Act, an applicant has the right to apply for political asylum within one year of his arrival in the United States, or he must provide evidence for why an exception to this rule applies to him.
The type of visa (work, study, tourist, etc.), on the basis of which the applicant is in the United States, and his status (legal / illegal) are irrelevant for applying for political asylum. His case will be considered in any case, and the deportation cannot be carried out until the decision is made by the immigration judge.
- Filling the form I-589
Applicant fills out Form I-589 in English, applies documents to it and sends the entire package to the nearest Refugees Reception Center.
The package of documents should include: a copy of the documents of the applicant, a copy of documents confirming the relationship of the applicant with the person with whom he is applying for political asylum, the history of the applicant, proof of history.
История или заявление (Declaration) — cамый главный документ в деле. В истории указывается — кто, когда, по какой причине и как именно преследовал заявителя, а также — какие реальные или моральные травмы были нанесены заявителю.
Evidence may include: certificates of beatings and injuries, testimonies of family, relatives, friends and acquaintances; police / police documents; membership cards, court decisions; leaflets and newspaper articles, documents on property damage; requests sent from America to various institutions in their home state.
Documents, history and evidence must be translated into English. Innings формы I-589 — бесплатная процедура.
The nearest refugee reception center can be found at official website of the Citizenship and Immigration Service.
You can prepare documents and fill out the form yourself or use a lawyer. Due to the fact that the applicant is usually not familiar with US law and the process of filing documents, the second option is a more correct solution.
- Receive notification of case and fingerprinting
Some time after the submission of the application, the candidate receives a notification that his case is under consideration, and his case number. After receiving this number, a person is in the US legally, even if his visa has already expired.
- Waiting for an interview. Form submission I-765
С момента получения номера своего дела заявитель ожидает письмо с датой и временем проведения интервью с иммиграционным офицером. В последние несколько лет из-за большого количества заявлений на политическое убежище люди могут ждать своей очереди от года до трех лет. Через 150 дней с момента отправки документов на политическое убежище, заявитель может подать заявление о разрешении на работу — I-765 form.
- Receive Interview Notification
The applicant is notified of the interview and is preparing for the upcoming interview. During this time, a candidate for political asylum must find a translator who will go with him for an interview.
- The Interview
The Interview conducts immigration officer. The purpose of the interview is to verify the information that the applicant provided in his history, as well as clarification of some data. The officers are excellent psychologists and use various methods to expose the applicant for political asylum. Here are some questions that immigration officers ask:
— Почему вы хотите получить политическое убежище именно в США, а не в другой стране?
— Почему вы не переехали в другой город в своей родной стране?
— В случае вашего возвращения в родное государство, что вас там ожидает?
— Вы будете готовы вернуться домой, если политическая или социальная ситуация в вашей стране поменяется, и исчезнут основания для вашего преследования?
— Почему вы не подали на получение политического убежища в родной стране, а приехали в США по туристической визе?
— Чем вы планируете заниматься в США?
Interviews can last from 30 minutes to two hours. An interview can be attended by a lawyer and a translator. Lawyer is obliged to protect his client in case of incorrect behavior of the immigration officer.
- Getting a solution
Some time after passing the interview (two weeks or more - it all depends on each particular case), the applicant receives a letter in the mail with the decision of the officer.
There are five types of solutions:
1. Asylum Decision (Grant of Asylum)
2. Recommended Approval
She means that The Citizenship and Immigration Services did not receive the necessary confirmation of the person in the security check. However, there is a chance that after providing additional information, the application will be approved and the applicant will receive refugee status.
3. Referral to an Immigration Court
The immigration judge will consider the case on his own, without relying on the decision of the immigration officer. If the court decides against the applicant, he may appeal. If, however, the appellate court is denied to the applicant, you can appeal to the Immigration Board and the Federal District Court.
4 INnotice of intent to give a refusal (Notice of Intent to Deny)
It is received by applicants who do not fall under the definition of a refugee. The notification explains the reasons for such an officer’s decision. Upon receipt of this letter, the applicant will have 16 days to provide new evidence of their history. The officer will review them and make a positive decision or give a final refusal.
5. Final Denial of Political Asylum (Final Denial)
Christianity in a Muslim country
Россиянка Ирина (имя изменено) уехала со своей семьей в США из Египта в конце ноября 2011 года, когда в стране пирамид началась цветная революция. США выбрали из-за простоты получения туристической визы. Ирина и ее дочь имеют двойное гражданство (России и Египта), а муж Ирины — гражданин Египта. Поскольку семья женщины исповедовала христианство в мусульманской стране, было решено получать политическое убежище по религиозному принципу.
«Мы – христиане, но не можем назвать себя активными верущими. Не молимся, в церковь не ходим. Лично нас не преследовали, но для формирования сильного кейса хватило факта, признанного ООН – христианскому меньшинству часто достается от фанатично верующих мусульман. Такой категории людей практически всегда дают политическое убежище», — делится своим опытом Ирина.
The family filed the case with an American lawyer, whom they found via the Internet several months before departure. His services cost 5 thousand dollars. They provided a lawyer with a passport, marriage certificate and other official documents. There was no evidence of family persecution in the case. The lawyer himself found information about the facts of harassment of religious minorities and attached to the case.
«Документы мы подали в иммиграционный центр через несколько недель после приезда в США – в конце декабря 2011 года. В начале февраля 2012 мы сдали отпечатки пальцев и через 2 недели после этой процедуры уже получили приглашение на интервью», — уточняет женщина.
Only the husband went to the interview, and Irina and her daughter were waiting for him in the hall. Political asylum was given immediately after the interview. In May 2012, Irina's family received a package of documents, all family members received social security numbers. Soon Irina's husband began working in the field of engineering, and life began to flow. In 2013, Irina's family received a green card, and as early as next year, their family applies for citizenship.
“We came to the United States with a total of $ 10 000 dollars, and we immediately gave half to a lawyer. Had to spin. Пока мы не получили статус, работали не на самых лучших должностях, но это было всего шесть месяцев. При этом владеем разговорным английским», — делится Ирина.
The woman is a midwife by profession, but in the United States she had to relearn as a nurse. For the year and a half she paid $ 9 500. "Сумма такая маленькая, потому что я переучивалась. Учиться с нуля гораздо дольше и дороже», — делится Ирина. Сейчас she needed only to pass the exam and get a license. In the meantime, Irina works in private offices as a medical assistant.
By nationality
Alexander (name changed) arrived in New York from Moscow two years ago. За спиной имел реальную и печальную историю преследования — в российской столице он на своем опыте почувствовал преследования людей кавказской национальности.
“I lived in Moscow and endured mockery until однажды меня не избили до полусмерти, а полиция отказала в возбуждении дела. Тогда я и понял, что Россия — это аналог Германии начала 1935 года, а русские массово превратились в нацистов», — рассказывает Александр.
For hiring documents, Alexander hired an American lawyer, while still in his native state. She told the man and his family how they should proceed. The entire process - from filing documents to obtaining political asylum - took 2 of the year. When the case was submitted to the Citizenship and Immigration Services, Alexander was already in the United States, where he flew in on a tourist visa.
«Свою историю, которая является основой для получения политического убежища, я писал самостоятельно еще в Москве. К истории прикладывал факты: видео, аудио, справки, выписки, листовки дискриминационного характера. Адвокат взял мои материалы, историю и просто исключил некоторые, по ее мнению, лишние моменты. Кейс был настолько сильным, что консул на собеседовании чуть ли не плакал», — делится мужчина.
While Alexander was waiting for documents, he worked remotely as a programmer in Moscow, and now he is building a new life in America.
See also:
10 about honest ways to stay in the USA
Personal experience. How I moved to the USA
How can I get a green card for work
New rules for changing migration status published in the USA
Everything you need to know about US work visas
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