7 key questions to determine if you have a successful asylum case in the US

Many people flee their countries looking for a better quality of life in the United States. Others have no other choice but to come to the United States because their lives are in danger in their home country. However, there are some people that flee their country because crime is such that if they were to go back they could potentially lose their lives. There are also people whom are targeted simply because of who they are, many times by the government of their country. Such cases are the ones that have the most chances being successful.

Here are the questions that will help you determine whether you have a successful asylum case:

1) Are you afraid to return to your country?

This fear must be objective and subjective. It must also be real and extreme.

2) Is that fear of returning to your country due to criminal activity and or shortages in your country?

Criminal activity or lack of opportunities in your country ARE NOT valid reasons to seek asylum in the United States

3) Is your fear of returning to your home country due to the fact that you were a victim of persecution?

Although there are certain exceptions, usually a person who has not been a victim of persecution in their country has very little chance of winning an asylum case in the United States.

4) Have you been persecuted because of your race, religion, and membership in a social group, ethnic group or political belief?

The laws of the United States only recognize 5 grounds for asylum: race, religion, ethnic group, political beliefs, and membership in a particular social group.

5) Who was the perpetrator of the persecution, the government of your country or some group or person unrelated to the government?

Usually when the government creates the persecution against the person and this persecution has a nexus with any of the 5 asylum grounds, the person is on track to having a successful asylum case

6) Has the government of your country collaborated to stop the persecution that you suffered?

Although the government of the country where the asylum seeker is from may not be the main factor in the persecution, case law and international treaties have determined that willful lack of protection by local authorities to help the citizens of a given nation is sufficient reason for the person to seek asylum in the US

7) When did you arrive to the US?

There is a limit of one year to request an asylum. That is, you had to file your asylum petition within one year of arriving to the United States, otherwise (and usually) the person loses the opportunity to request asylum.

Much success on your asylum application!