Gaining asylum status and being allowed to work

The world can be a dangerous place and many people from other countries will seek to be allowed to come to the United States for asylum. A vast number of them come through Miami. There are many reasons why these individuals would be seeking to be protected from persecution. They include nationality, religious beliefs, race, being a member of a certain social group, and for political reasons.

A person who is eligible to be granted asylum might be able to stay in the U.S. There is a form that must be filled out within one year of arriving. It is also possible for a spouse and children who are in the U.S. to be included on the application for asylum. A child must be under the age of 21 and cannot be married.

A separate matter in relation to asylum is the ability to work. It is natural for a person who is seeking to be granted asylum to want to be productive and take part in the economy of the state and to help his or her family. However, a person who is applying for asylum cannot simultaneously apply to work in the U.S. The following circumstances must be in place for employment authorization: it must have been 150 days since the complete application for asylum was filed with any delays that were caused by the applicant excluded; and no decision has been made on the asylum application. Once asylum has been granted, the person can work immediately.

For people who have come to the U.S. and are seeking asylum or are in the process of seeking asylum and would like to try to be granted permission to work, having legal help is imperative. Speaking to an attorney who is well-versed in US immigration law can provide information and assistance with asylum and applying to be allowed to work.

Source: uscis.gov, “Asylum — Permission to Work in the United States,” accessed on April 18, 2017