Constantinos G. Fountas Immigration Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Understanding Asylum Laws

Friday, April 23, 2010 by Constantinos G. Fountas

In 1951 the United Nations held the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and devised asylum as legal protection for the enormous number of refugees after World War II. The U.N. expanded asylum guidelines in 1967 to include refugees from anywhere in the world. Most countries in the world today support asylum.

Asylum cases can be difficult to prove

Immigration law firms in Las Vegas and all over the United States face challenges in asylum cases. Most asylum seekers flee for their lives and do not have time to gather documentation that substantiates their plight before leaving, nor do they understand asylum laws or think about legal status. Criteria used to adjudicate asylum include fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. When seeking asylum you must already be in the United States or at a U.S. port of entry.

Proving that someone meets the criteria necessary to be granted asylum is usually very difficult. Anyone seeking asylum in Las Vegas needs a competent Las Vegas immigration lawyer to help them prove their case. In 2008 the acceptance rate for asylum cases was approximately 46 percent. People represented by lawyers have a much better chance of being granted asylum. The lawyer must provide evidence that the fear of persecution is well-founded, such as probable torture or imprisonment.
People with criminal records, suspected of terrorism and other serious crimes that endanger society are not eligible for U.S. asylum.

United States grants more asylums than any other country

According to United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) statistics, out of all countries worldwide, the United States admitted 63 percent of the total refugees admitted around the world in 2004. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) usually allows individuals who are granted asylum to adjust to permanent resident status after one year of U.S. residence.

Fountas & Associates—las vegas immigration laws & immigrat ion lawyers in las vegas
3340 Pepper Lane, Suite 103
Las Vegas, NV 89120

Posted at 13:55 PM

Topic: Immigration