The United States has often been a place of safety for people forced to flee from dangerous situations in their countries of origin. Claiming personal protection of the United States from another country is called claiming asylum. If you have come to the United States on your own, hoping to claim legal asylum, you may find that the process is actually much more difficult than simply traveling to this country. In 2010, only half of the reported claims for asylum in the USA were successful. Obtaining an immigration lawyer in Dallas, TX is a must to understand all the application processes and successfully file for asylum.
The first job for someone hoping to claim asylum is to first file an application for it. This can happen either at a United States border if you are stopped from entering the country, or by filing an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). If your loved one has been stopped at the border and asked for asylum, they will most likely be placed in a detention center and have only a few days to prepare a case for themselves that proves the necessity of US protection or face immediate expulsion from the country. If you or a loved one have already entered the United States, then you have a year to obtain an immigration lawyer in Dallas, TX, file your application, and prepare your case.
After your application is mailed in and reviewed by an asylum officer, you will need to prepare for a detailed explanation of your claim. Your claim should detail the situation that required you to flee your country of origin and explain why you are afraid to return. This will also be reviewed by an asylum office and may be deferred to an immigration court, where it will need to be presented before a judge and a lawyer who will cross-examine you and your claim.
If you cannot speak or read English well, even obtaining the proper forms to apply for asylum can be next to impossible. With the help of a knowledgeable and available asylum lawyer in Dallas, TX, however, you can be assisted through every step of the process. Not only will you have help filing your application, but you will have invaluable assistance in preparing your case to help you get through the subsequent interviews and legal hearings, even applying for an appeal if necessary.
*http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_rfa_fr_2010.pdf