Monroe Asylum Lawyer

Asylum Attorney in Monroe, NC

Everyone has the right to pursue safety and a better life for themselves and their family. If persecution or violence in your home country has caused you to flee, you can apply for asylum in the United States. However, the immigration system in the U.S. is complicated, and making mistakes on your asylum application could lead to denial. Working with a Monroe asylum lawyer provides you with valuable, experienced legal guidance throughout the process.

Hire an Asylum Lawyer

Applying for asylum can be challenging, as there are strict requirements you must meet and specific petitions you must file. Working with an experienced Monroe asylum attorney helps verify that you’re eligible to apply for asylum and can prevent you from making mistakes on your application. What’s more, your attorney will be up to date on current U.S. immigration laws that can impact your case in Monroe.

When you’re applying for asylum, you don’t want just any lawyer. You want an experienced attorney on your side with years of experience and a successful track record. You want the team at Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC. In 2023 alone, there were over 945,000 petitions for asylum in the U.S.

With over a decade of experience in nearly every type of immigration case, our lawyers know what it takes to create effective strategies to secure asylum for our clients. We work diligently to provide you with the legal support you need during this challenging time.

Eligibility for Asylum Seekers

Seeking asylum isn’t as simple as saying you don’t feel safe in your home country. There are strict eligibility requirements for people seeking asylum. These requirements include:

• You must be within the United States or at a port of entry.
• You must have suffered persecution or have a well-founded reason to suspect you will be subjected to persecution.
• Persecution must be founded on protected grounds, which include race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a minority group.
• The perpetrator of the persecution must be the government or an organization that the government will not stop.
• You must apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the U.S.

Receiving asylum can be quite challenging. While nearly a million people filed for asylum in 2023, only 54,400 were granted asylum. However, working with an experienced attorney can increase your chances of successfully receiving asylum-seeker status.

The Asylum Application Process

Applying for asylum can be a complicated process, especially when accounting for language barriers and the challenges that come with needing asylum in the first place. To apply for asylum, you will generally follow this process:

• Arrive within the U.S. and file an application for asylum within one year, barring limited exceptions.
• Submit biometrics and have a background check run on you.
• Attend an interview or hearing, depending on the type of asylum you’re applying for.
• Await the judge’s decision.

Depending on your circumstances, there are two options for asylum: affirmative asylum and defensive asylum. Affirmative asylum is filed directly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services as a proactive attempt to secure legal entry into the country. Interviews for affirmative asylum are less formal, and many people consider them less stressful.

Alternatively, defensive asylum is the option you’d use to avoid deportation after apprehension by the government or a denial of an affirmative asylum application. You will have to attend a hearing with a judge and an attorney from the government, and you will have to make your case to them for why you deserve asylum.

FAQs

How Much Does an Asylum Lawyer Cost?

How much an asylum lawyer costs depends on the complexity of your case and the experience of the lawyer. A complicated case that requires numerous appearances in court and hours of research and preparation will be more expensive than a simple case. Similarly, an experienced lawyer with a long track record of success will cost more than newer attorneys who haven’t managed as many cases.

Do I Need a Lawyer to File for Asylum?

While you are not legally required to have a lawyer to file for asylum, it’s not a great idea to go through this process alone. The U.S. has complicated asylum laws, and making mistakes at any point could mean your application will be denied. An attorney can help you identify all the necessary documentation you need, fill out and file your application, and represent you in court proceedings to help you secure asylum.

Is It Hard to Succeed in an Asylum Case?

It can be hard to succeed in an asylum case. However, your chances of success go up when you partner with an experienced attorney who can help you identify and fill out documents for your case and represent you in court. In 2022, only 18% of pro se asylum seekers had their petitions granted, compared to 49% who were represented by an attorney.

How Long Do I Have to Apply for Asylum?

You have one year from the date of your last arrival into the United States to apply for asylum in most cases. Missing that deadline can result in denial unless you qualify for an exception, which is only possible in rare cases. If the conditions in your home country have seriously changed or some extraordinary circumstances kept you from filing sooner, a judge may still consider your application.

Monroe Asylum Lawyer

In the United States, you have the right to seek asylum if you’re at risk of persecution or violence in your home country. Hire an asylum lawyer from Butler, Quinn & Hochman, PLLC today to help you secure asylum-seeker status and begin your new life in the U.S. We can help you analyze the necessary evidence to show you qualify for asylum, assist you in filing your application, and represent you in any court proceedings throughout the process.

Trust our experienced attorneys to give you the dedicated, compassionate support you need during the immigration process. Contact our office today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about our services and how we can assist you with your case.