Asylum: Fear of Persecution

Political asylum is a fear-based green card opportunity. Under applicable political asylum law, a person in the United States may obtain a special status to remain in the United States (and eventually obtain a green card for self and immediate family). The fundamental requirements (among other requirements) are two-fold:

• The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has has already been persecuted or has a "well-founded fear" of future persecution in their home country; and
• That persecution must be "on account of" the person's race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

Once an asylum application is approved, the asylee could apply to become a permanent resident in several years.