Turmoil in nations across the world makes it unsafe for some people to remain in their home country. Some of those individuals opt to come to the United States to try to work toward a safer and more stable life.
Individuals in this position can seek asylum in this country, but this can generally only be done once they’re already in the U.S.
Reasons for filing an asylum application
Persecution in their home country is one reason why people will seek asylum. This can come because of their religion, race, political opinion or a host of other reasons. The reason for seeking asylum must be made clear and must meet required criteria.
A person who’s seeking asylum can also include their spouse and unmarried children under 21 in their application as long as they’re already in the U.S. If the spouse and children aren’t in the U.S. the asylum applicant must wait until their application is approved to petition to bring them to the U.S.
Employment for asylum seekers
A person who applied for asylum can apply for authorization to work in the U.S. This isn’t possible right away. There’s a total of 180 days that must elapse between the application for asylum and the issuance of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The application for the EAD can be submitted 150 days after the asylum application, but there’s an additional 30-day waiting period before it can be issued.
Very specific steps are required after a person submits an application for asylum. It’s critical that all these are followed precisely. Any missteps or oversights can lead to a delay – or a rejection – in a decision about asylum, and it can also delay the issuance of an EAD.