Eligibility for Asylum in Maryland
Asylum is one of the many immigration services the United States offers to those trying to escape persecution in their native land. However, a substantial amount of paperwork must be completed in order to obtain asylum. Many questions may be asked of the applicants, thus requiring the services of a dedicated immigration attorney. A lawyer could help walk you through the application process and inform you of your status for acquiring eligibility for asylum in Maryland.
Criteria for Being Granted Asylum in Maryland
Eligibility for asylum in Maryland depends on whether the applicant is a refugee who physically present in the United States. A refugee could be defined as someone who fears of returning to their home country because they suffered past persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution upon return. An asylum applicant may also need to show that they were being persecuted, or fear persecution, on account of their religion, race, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or their political opinion.
Applicants may also need to show that their home country is unable or unwilling to protect them should they return, and that relocating within their own country is not possible. An application should be filed within one year of entry into the United States, however, there may be some exceptions to this deadline. Consult with an immigration attorney for more information on these exceptions.
Proving Fear of Persecution
It is not required that the asylum applicant suffered past persecution, an applicant may also be able to show a well-founded fear of persecution should they return to the country from which they were seeking asylum. The well-founded fear would have to be deemed reasonable. Objectively, a reasonable person under the same circumstances would fear persecution, but subjectively, it can be whether the applicant possessed that fear.
Anyone applying for asylum can show that they have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution by submitting statements from witnesses, and/or their own statements, regarding what happened previously or what would happen upon their return based on objective evidence. This objective evidence can include police reports, news articles, hospital records, country condition reports, or anything that can support their asylum claim showing they have been persecuted or have a reasonable well-founded fear of persecution.
Differences Between Jurisdiction for Requirements for Eligibility
There are no differences in asylum requirements from state to state because immigration law falls under federal law. The same rules and regulations apply throughout all jurisdictions. However, certain case law regarding the persecution and what may constitute a particular social group may be Circuit Court specific.
Contact an Attorney for More Information
The process of immigrating to the United States is a long and strenuous process. Fortunately, this process could potentially be expedited for those seeking asylum. However, in order to be granted asylum in the United States, applicants would have to prove many aspects regarding the reason why their country of origin is unsafe to live in. Considering the sensitive nature of obtaining eligibility for asylum in Maryland, it is important to retain the services of an immigration attorney to increase the likelihood of submitting a successful application.