Asylum-Based Green Cards: Eligibility and Application Process

An asylum-based green card offers a route to permanent residence for those who have been granted asylum in the United States. This is the next important step for an asylee to attain stability and create a long future in the U.S. The green card provides permanent legal status, enabling the asylee to live, work, and eventually apply for U.S. citizenship.

To be eligible for an asylum-based green card, you need to have had asylum status in the United States for at least one year. You will also need to prove that you continue to meet the requirements for asylum-that is, you have a credible fear of persecution in your home country based on your race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. Another crucial requirement is the good moral character, and you should not have resettled in another country since being granted asylum.

The process begins with filing Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You’ll need to include supporting documents like proof of asylum status, a medical examination report (Form I-693), and identification such as a passport or birth certificate. Depending on your situation, additional documents like tax returns, marriage or divorce certificates, and evidence of your physical presence in the U.S. may also be required.

After filing, you may have to go through a biometrics appointment where USCIS collects your fingerprints, photo, and signature for a background check. Sometimes, an interview is scheduled by USCIS in regard to the details of your application for confirmation of all the eligibility requirements. It is important that one should be ready to answer any question about asylum status or update of the conditions that relate to your grant of asylum.

If approved, you will get a green card and permanent residency, with a chance to work toward U.S. citizenship. The issuance date of your green card is usually dated one year earlier, which helps speed up your eligibility for citizenship. Your permanent resident status under the green card protects you and opens up new opportunities so that you can freely build your life here in the United States. Proper preparation and taking care in your application can go a long way toward an easy process.