Deportation / Asylum

Deportation

Relief from deportation, or the withholding of removal, allows non-U.S. citizens to legally live and work in the U.S. However, it does not allow them to apply for permanent residence, bring their spouses or children to the U.S., or travel outside of the U.S.

You are eligible to apply for withholding of removal if you meet any of the following conditions:

  • Can demonstrate that your life or freedom is "more likely than not" to be threatened in your proposed country of deportation; or
  • Can demonstrate that you are "more likely than not" to be tortured for any reason by 1) a government official or 2) another person and the government is willfully blind to the torture.

The attorneys at Altman and Altman LLP are well aware that deportation can be a time-sensitive issue of utmost seriousness and are here to assist you.

To apply for withholding of removal, you must file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, along with any other documents indicated in the form. Upon filing the form, you will receive a receipt notice containing a fingerprint appointment and an interview notice. Decisions will be made within 180 days of the filing date.

Our attorneys will be sure to assist you in proving that you are indeed eligible to be granted a withholding of removal, guide you in correctly filing all of the necessary forms, and most importantly, give you the best advice needed to provide you relief from deportation.

Asylum

Asylum is the granting of legal refuge to non-U.S. citizens. It can be granted to those who are either legally or illegally present or arriving in the U.S.

You are eligible to apply for asylum if you:

  • Possess a "well-founded fear" of persecution in your proposed country of deportation.

In 2007, the U.S. Government granted asylum to more than 12,000 people, and this number continues to grow at an extraordinary rate every year. Seeking asylum entails a complicated procedure, and applications are subject to rigorous review by both the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. The attorneys at Altman and Altman LLP wish to assist you by providing you with the best chances of successfully obtaining asylum.

To apply for asylum, you must file Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, along with any other documents indicated in the form within one year of your arrival in the U.S. You may also request asylum for your spouse and/or children under the age of 21 in your asylum decision by indicating your family relationships on the form. Upon filing the form, you will receive a receipt notice containing a fingerprint appointment and an interview notice. Decisions will be made within 180 days of the filing date.

It is imperative that you file your application correctly and have a credible fear of persecution, for you will be ineligible to seek asylum more than once if your previous request was denied by the Immigration Judge or Board of Immigration Appeals (unless you have demonstrated a significant change in circumstances since your last request). Our attorneys will assist you in proving that you have a credible fear of persecution that necessitates asylum and in filing a sound application.

Because asylum requests undergo such stringent evaluation by the U.S. government, we will do everything that we can to ensure you the greatest likelihood of obtaining asylum, whether it is just for you or for you and your loved ones.

Resources

Forms