Asylum
Asylum, built one document at a time
Asylum is for people who fear harm in their own country because of who they are or what they believe. The application asks for your story, and the story has to be backed by evidence.
I help you write the declaration in your own words, gather letters, records and reports on your country, and prepare you for the interview or the court hearing. The one-year deadline matters: if you’re close to it or past it, tell me on the first call.
What I handle
Asylum applications with USCIS
Asylum as a defense in immigration court
Withholding of removal
Protection under the Convention Against Torture
Work permits while the case waits
Including a spouse and children under 21
How an asylum case comes together
Most of the work happens before anything is filed. Your words come first; the evidence follows them.
- 01
Step 1: Your declaration
We write your story together, in Spanish or English, over several meetings. You read every draft before it’s final.
- 02
Step 2: The evidence
Letters from people who know what happened, medical or police records, and published reports on conditions in your country.
- 03
Step 3: Filing and fingerprints
We file the application and any family members with it. A fingerprint appointment follows.
- 04
Step 4: The interview or the hearing
An asylum officer or an immigration judge hears your case. We practice until you know what to expect.
Questions about asylum
Is there a deadline to apply?
Generally, you must apply within one year of your last arrival. There are exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances, so a late case is still worth talking through.
Can I work while my case is pending?
You can usually ask for a work permit once the application has waited a set amount of time. I track the date and file as soon as you can.
Can my family be included?
A spouse and unmarried children under 21 who are in the United States can usually be included in your application.
Will you share what I tell you?
What you tell me stays confidential. Please don’t send your story through the website form; we’ll go over it in person or by video.
Tell me the date you arrived
The arrival date sets the deadline. Bring your passport or any entry papers to the first meeting.