Obtaining Refugee Status in the US
Wars, political turmoil, religious persecution, and other tragedies create new refugees each year. The United States is one country with the belief that persecuted individuals should be provided asylum, or shelter from harm. While the United States cannot accept every person in the world facing hardship, it does grant refugee status to thousands of people annually. In 2008, 80,000 individuals were granted refugee status in America.
Do I Qualify for Refugee Status?
There are strict requirements for a person to qualify as a refugee, listed as follows:
- Currently living outside the country of his or her nationality, or outside of the country in which he or she last resided, but not currently in the United States
- Is unable or unwilling to return to his or her last country of residence because he or she has been persecuted, or has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his or her race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a certain social group
Because there are a limited number of refugee positions each year, it is crucial to file a complete application that clearly states your reasons for requesting refugee status. An incomplete or illegible document may not be accepted for consideration. It is therefore important to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer to help you organize and file your application.
An immigration attorney will work with you to make sure that you have all of the necessary documentation and identification to file for refugee status in the United States. He or she can help you meet all deadlines and file a completed application so that you have the best chances of being granted status as a refugee.
Contact Us
To learn more about the refugee application process and how an immigration lawyer can help your case, don’t hesitate to contact the Orange County refugee status lawyers of Garg & Associates today at 949-540-6704.
