Can I apply for asylum if I am not at a port of entry?
Yes, you can apply for asylum in California even if you are not at a port of entry. To be eligible to apply for asylum, you must show that you have a “well-founded fear” of persecution because of your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. If you are not at a port of entry, you may still be able to apply for asylum and for other forms of immigration relief. Generally, to apply for asylum or other forms of relief without being at a port of entry, you must travel to the United States and present yourself to an immigration officer at a designated port of entry or at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. After arriving, you will be placed into “removal proceedings”—a form of judicial proceeding in which you can apply for relief from removal through an immigration court. During the removal proceedings, you will have the opportunity to apply for asylum or without being at a port of entry. Keep in mind, you cannot enter the U.S. without permission, even if you are applying for asylum. Entering the U.S. without permission is considered illegal entry, and can have serious consequences for your ability to stay or live in the U.S. in the future. For this reason, it is best to speak with an attorney before coming to the U.S. for counsel and guidance about what steps to take.
THELAW.TV ofrece respuestas en español a todas las preguntas sobre la ley de inmigración.Sí, puede solicitar asilo aunque no se encuentre en un puerto de entrada. La Ley de Inmigración de California permite a los solicitantes de asilo instar su caso si son detenidos en cualquier lugar de los Estados Unidos. Los solicitantes pueden aplicar para el asilo dentro de un plazo de un año después de haber llegado a EE. UU. Los solicitantes deben completar el Formulario I-589: Solicitud de Asilo y Protección contra la Devolución. Esto se puede presentar personalmente en una oficina de inmigración o por correo a la oficina local de USCIS. Una vez que se presenta la solicitud, el solicitante puede seguir adelante y presentar una audiencia de asilo para presentar pruebas que demuestren la necesidad de protección al gobierno. Los abogados de inmigración también pueden ayudar a los solicitantes a prepararse para su audiencia de asilo. Luego, un funcionario de USCIS revisa el caso y decide si el solicitante es elegible para el asilo.
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