Applying for Asylum and Refugee Status

There is very little that is as dangerous as facing a possible unfair jail sentence or execution due to political uprisings or unrest in the place where you are a natural citizen. When this happens, many people sometimes find themselves facing situations where the country, nation and home they are from is no longer a welcome place for them. This means that they must flee their country in a hurry, sometimes with only the clothes on their back and their immediate family members. When this happens, many people seek asylum or Refugee Status in the United States. An asylum refugee, with Asylum or refugee status may be the only way to save your life when you are in a country that is dealing with political unrest. There are some basic differences between asylum and refugee status however.

What Asylum Means

Although asylum and refugee status are similar they are not the same. Some of the differences are:

• You have to be on United States soil in order to qualify for asylum.
• Asylum in the U.S. is given without regard to religion, race, nationality, political preference or social group membership
• Have lived in the state where the request for citizenship was filed for at least 3 months
• Asylum should be applied for within 1 year of coming to the U.S.

What Refugee Status Means

refugee convention has refugee definition which differentiates it from immigration asylum. Some of the main differences between asylum and refugee status are:

• Refugee status must be sought from the United Nations not the United States.
• Seeking refugee status is not as difficult as obtaining asylum.
• Refugees live outside the United States.
• The United nations helps refugees facilitate their application for citizenship to another country such as the United States

Things You Should Know About Asylum & Refugee Status

• Seeking Asylum does not automatically grant asylum for you and your family.
• Refugee status must also be sought for each individual family member.
• You must meet the eligibility requirements and file an application for asylum.

There are many other considerations that need to be made with respect to asylum and refugee status. One of the major considerations is the fact that you may be held in a detainee or detention camp for as long as several years while you are awaiting placement if you are a Refugee. Conditions are often less than desirable in refugee camps even though the conditions in the camp are better than those outside the camp.

Many people resort to using illegal means to gain access to the United States because they believe they can make a way for themselves as long as they are on U.S. soil. This is partially true because there are many illegal aliens in the country but as long as you are not a resident, you are not eligible to live in the U.S. legally and are at risk of being extradited back to your home country or town or place of residence without warning or recourse.

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