In the United States, applying for asylum is a completely different process than arriving to the country as a refugee. Asylum seekers also tend to be of different nationalities than refugees.
There are two paths to asylum
There are two ways to request asylum.
- If someone has been in the US for less than a year, or is seeking asylum at a port of entry, it is considered affirmative asylum.
- If someone is facing deportation from the US or is caught trying to enter the US illegally, they can attempt to claim asylum in order to stay. This is known as defensive asylum and has a very different timeline of events that feels more like a legal trial than a bureaucratic waiting game.
Since there are a lot more variables with that kind of asylum, we’ll focus on the affirmative asylum process.
There’s a LOT of paperwork
It’s not the longest government document ever, but the 12 pages of questions and 14 pages of instructions are understandably extensive. There are several fields that require “detailed and specific” accounts of persecution or fear of persecution, as well as requests for dates and events that could have taken place years ago. If spouses or children are to be included on the application, there’s even more to provide, including photographs.
Also, if someone is newly in the United States, they may immediately run into a problem that could follow them throughout the asylum process: Providing a reliable address where they can be contacted.
… and a biometrics appointment
Once the process has begun, applicants will be scheduled for a “biometric services appointment,” usually conducted at one of dozens of Application Support Centers located around the country.
During this period, other security measures, like background and security checks, will also be conducted.
Applicants may face challenges in getting to and from appointments. Some states have only one or two Application Support Centers, meaning applicants may have to make costly and time-consuming travel arrangements.
… and an interview
After the biometrics appointment comes an interview with an asylum officer. The scheduling process for this interview is actually kind of backwards: The USCIS prioritizes more recent filings to discourage people from filing for asylum for fraudulent reasons and biding their time while the proceedings drag on.
… and then a tense wait
After the intervew, the fate of an asylum seeker lies in the asylum officer’s hands. A few other people also must sign off on the decision, including a supervisory asylum officer. According to the USCIS, the decision may come within two weeks after the asylum interview.
An approval, or “Grant of Asylum,” officially gives someone asylum status and allows them to apply for things like a green card and immigration benefits. A “no” comes in the form of a “Notice of Intent to Deny,” which includes a short window for appeal.
It’s a months-long process
Even then, the final decision isn’t always final
When the decision comes back, it may not be a simple “yes” or “no.” Sometimes unfinished background checks or other clearances haven’t been completed yet, and applicants will be given a recommended approval until everything is sorted out.
Applicants who were in the United States illegally may have their case referred to an immigration court, which turns the decision over to an immigration judge.
Source : CNN