individual cannot apply to be part of the political asylum population in the US. If an immigrant has been convicted of a crime, they may still be eligible for asylum, depending on the seriousness of the crime. However, if the person does not disclose all criminal history on Form I-589, they will be ineligible for asylum, and may end up in jail for perjury. Those convicted of serious crimes will not be accepted, as they will pose danger to those already living in the US.

Because the United States is in a high state of security due to the September 11 terrorist attacks, the US government will not approve anyone for asylum who poses a security threat to America. The Attorney General has the ability to determine if the person is truly a threat to the United States. If the Attorney General deems the person is not a danger, then they may apply for political asylum in US. Also, if the person seeking asylum has already been resettled in a safe country before coming to the US, then he or she is not eligible to apply for refugee status.

Seeking Legal Counsel when Applying for Asylum

While the USCIS website offers a lot of information for those who wish to seek asylum in the US, it is a technical process, with a lot of paperwork. As with most immigration applications, it can be helpful to seek legal counsel in applying for refugee status. A lawyer who is well versed in the asylum process can be extremely helpful when filing political asylum applications. The lawyer can help the applicant avoid mistakes that could cost them the approval of their application. While lawyers can be expensive, hiring one can save the heartache of being sent back to the country where the person is being persecuted.

Sources for More Information

For more information on seeking political asylum in the US, visit these websites:

www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/asylum/index. htm - This is the official USCIS site for information about Asylum. It provides detailed information about the asylum laws.
www.immigration.com/faq/politcalasylum.html -This website has a wealth of information about immigration in general, including a FAQ page about asylum.
www.visaus.com/asylum.html - This site has extensive information about how to qualify for refugee status in the US. It includes information on how to get legal advice if you do not have enough money for a lawyer.
www.usembassy.org.uk/dhs/uscis/refugee.html -This informative site from the Homeland Security Office provides information about the US Refugee Program.

The United States has made it possible for many people to apply for political asylum in the US. Numbers of people have been able to escape persecution in their countries because of the US refugee program. The program began with the Immigration and Nationality Act of the early 1950s, and has grown to meet the needs of the world, making the United States a safe refuge for many persecuted people.

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