Experienced in Houston Immigration & Personal Injury.

Asylum can help people who have been the subjects of persecution, torture, or harm in their home countries obtain relief from removal from the United States. Asylum relief is based on the definition of “refugee,” which refers to someone who:

• As a result of a well-founded fear of being persecuted on the basis of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group, was outside of his or her native country; and
• Due to that fear, was unable or unwilling to avail him or herself of the persecution in that country.

Thus, in order to qualify for asylum, one must establish he or she meets the criteria to be a refugee.

One of the most common questions asked to a Houston asylum lawyer is whether or not you meet the grounds to qualify as a refugee. Refugees can only qualify for this formal classification if the person has no choice but to flee their country due to suffering, harm, or reasonable fear of future harm as the result of basic traits about them. This might include political opinion, sexuality, religion, race, or nationality. Only certain parties will qualify for asylum.

A Houston asylum lawyer will help review your individual case to give you further information about whether or not you meet these grounds.

While many immigrants who enter the country illegally are deported, there are several reasons why someone who is lawfully present in the United States might be deported. There are six reasons that an immigrant may face deportation, including:

• The immigrant enters the country unlawfully
• The immigrant violates the terms of admission in the United States based on his status or works in the country without permission.
• The immigrant is convicted of crimes that range from aggravated felonies to crimes of moral turpitude
• The immigrant is a member of a prohibited organization
• The immigrant becomes a public charge within five years of entering the United States
• The immigrant’s asylum application has been denied or referred to an Immigration Judge

Naturalization is the process by which United States citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills certain requirements. Naturalization requirements include the following:

• You have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years, or for 3 years if you have obtained residence through your spouse.
• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have good moral character. This could mean that you volunteer in your community, have a stable work history, or simply do not have a criminal record.
• You can prove continuous residence and physical presence for the 5 or 3-year period leading up to your application, which means that you cannot have been outside of the United States for longer than 180 consecutive days or 1 year in total.
• You pass the citizenship exam, with some exceptions for the elderly and mentally ill.

Those who have been a permanent resident of the United States for a minimum of five years have been a permanent resident for three years or more while married to a U.S. citizen, or if you have served honorably in the U.S. military are eligible to apply for naturalization. This can be achieved by filling out and submitting Form N-400. You will also be required to take a naturalization test and pass.