Asylees and refugees are people who have a well founded fear that they will be persecuted in their home country because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group.

Refugees apply for refugee status at an USCIS office outside of the United States. If they are successful, the USCIS gives them travel documents that they use to enter the U.S. Asylees are people who are already in the U.S. or at an U.S. port of entry when they apply to live in the U.S.

Beginning April 1, 1997, a person must file for asylum within one year after arrival in the U.S. The only exception is if a person can prove that changed circumstances in the home country or extraordinary circumstances prevented the person from filing within the one-year limit.

For more information, contact us online or call us at (240) 390-0600.