Pending Asylum Applicant Receives Quick Marriage Visa Approval

Client: Family
Client’s Country of Origin: Burkina Faso
Case Type: I-485 Application for Marriage Visa/Asylum
Date of Application: October 2018
Date of Approval: June 2019

Our client, a citizen of Burkina Faso, came to the US originally seeking asylum. During his time in the states, he obtained work and delivered medication to pharmacies around town. While on the job, he met a woman technician and became drawn to her. Soon later, they began talking and started a relationship, and eventually, the technician became his wife.

Once the two united in marriage, our client considered applying for a marriage green card. However, he was still on pending asylum status. Our client retained Herman Legal Group counsel to receive guidance on what steps to take in order to obtain lawful permanent residency as quickly and efficiently as possible. Attorney Erin James assisted with the foregoing matter.

Because asylum cases may take months to years before an interview date is assigned, Attorney James knew how to stagger the process. She helped our client file an I-485 application for a marriage visa and informed a couple of the interview process.

The asylum interview was scheduled first. Attorney James attended that interview with our client, along with the letter stating that the client has a pending marriage green card application, and requested to administratively close the asylum case, which was closed that day.

In light of concerns of marriage fraud, the USCIS conducts strict interviews seeking answers in specificity and unanimity. At our client’s interview, complications arose. Due to a language barrier, our client could not comprehend all questions posed by the officer. As a result, our client was not providing concrete answers. The interview became tough as the officer grew frustrated, impatient, and began searching for flaws in the marriage.

In the end, our client relieved the tension and told authentic stories about the marriage that eventually got the officer enjoying them. Within a few days, the couple was approved for a marriage visa.

Our client and his wife were very happy about the outcome.

Dept. of Homeland Security Reports Proposed Plan to Increase Application Fees Across the Board

Yesterday, the DHS has published in the Federal Register its proposed changes to the USCIS fee schedule. In general, the plan seeks to surge application filing fees for many immigration benefits.  After examination of current fees and expenditures, acting direction of USCIS Ken Cuccinelli concluded that “current fees do not recover the full costs of providing adjudication and naturalization services, and [. . .] would leave the agency underfunded by approximately 1.3 billion per year.”

Major changes include primarily the increased fee for US citizenship. Currently at $725, applicants for citizenship can now expect to pay $1,170—roughly a 60% increase of the current filing cost.  This increase is the first time in history that naturalization will cost over $1,000.  Advocates criticize that this proposal attacks low-income, eligible immigrants who already lag behind in the process to naturalize, due to the cost barrier of the application fee.

Secondly, the USCIS plans to implement a $50 fee for asylum applications. Currently, there is no charge for U.S. asylum applications.  This change will make US one of the few countries that charge asylum seekers for protection.

The USCIS also plans to eliminate fee waivers for a variety of immigrant applications, US citizenship again being one of them. This proposal is significant as data reports nearly half the amount of applications for US citizenship receive a fee waiver, once again generating a financial barrier to eligible immigrants to become lawful citizens.

Aside from increased fees, there are some proposed decreased costs. Among them is the decreased rate of renewal of permanent resident green card. Currently at $455, applications for renewal will become $415.

Moreover, lawful permanent residents should take note that these fee changes have been published and will be implemented prior to the upcoming election.

While saving money on a visa renewal seems advantageous, advocates strongly encourage eligible green card holders rather apply soon to naturalize before fees go up, and potentially gain citizenship in time for voter registration for the 2020 November elections.

Other notable rate changes are listed below. Exhaustive list may be found on the Federal Register.

Public opinions will be received and considered by the DHS within the following 30 days. The proposal is expected to go into effect December 2, 2019.

How the USCIS Identifies Frivolous Asylum Claims?

Claiming asylum has never been the most popular means of entering or remaining in the US. Nevertheless, about 100,000 people apply for asylum in the US every year, representing an increase of at least 1,700 percent over 2007. The percentage of asylum claims that are approved have decreased for the last several years, even as the percentage of claims dismissed as frivolous has risen.

Not all unsuccessful asylum claims are frivolous — and some claims that are tagged as frivolous are actually honest applications submitted by well-meaning people. If you are considering submitting an asylum claim, you will need to know what features of your application might raise suspicions, as well as what consequences you might suffer if your claim is identified as frivolous.

Red Flag

Common Red Flags

To prevent your application from being deemed frivolous, and to maximize your chances of being granted asylum, keep in mind the following tips:

• Don’t wait until the one-year deadline is about to expire before applying, and don’t wait until you have been placed into removal proceedings before applying. If you are in the US under a valid visa, don’t wait until your visa is about to expire before applying. All of these behaviors are likely to cause immigration authorities to wonder whether you are simply using an asylum claim as a way of extending your stay in the US.
• If you have ever submitted an asylum claim before, you need to make sure that the information in the two applications is completely consistent, except for updated information in your new application.
• Be careful about hiring someone to prepare your asylum application for you, especially if they are not a lawyer. Some operators are well-known to US immigration authorities for submitting frivolous applications on behalf of their clients.
• Make sure that every document you submit is not only genuine, but that it looks genuine. Even a sloppy photocopy could put your application in jeopardy.
• Make sure that your photographs strongly resemble you, and that they were taken relatively recently.
• Don’t return to your home country after the persecution that you claim, even before you file an asylum claim. Doing so will cause immigration authorities to question why you would visit a country that you claim to fear returning to.
• If you have family members applying for asylum with you, make sure that the content of their applications is absolutely consistent with the content of your application.
• Learn every fact in your application by heart before you attend your asylum interview. You need to be familiar enough with it so that you can remember everything even when you feel nervous or pressured. Nevertheless, don’t memorize word-for-word answers. Remember the underlying facts, not the exact words you will use to communicate those facts.
• Do not avoid eye contact with the interviewing officer. In some cultures the avoidance of eye contact is seen as respect for authority. In the US, however, many people see it as evidence of dishonesty.
• Don’t bring any notes with you to your asylum interview. Referring to notes will make your story look concocted.
• Avoid exaggerated reactions — don’t be too nervous, but avoid exaggerated friendliness towards the interviewing officer.

Immigrants Crying

Consequences of Fraud

Remember that your application will not be declared frivolous simply because the immigration officer reviewing your case doesn’t believe your story. Without more, not being believed will result in the denial of your asylum claim. Your application will not be deemed frivolous unless:

• You have been notified of the consequences of filing a frivolous asylum claim;
• An immigration judge finds that you knowingly filed a frivolous asylum claim;
• The evidence indicates that an important aspect of your claim was deliberately falsified; and
• You must have been granted an opportunity to explain any suspicious aspects of your claim.

If your asylum claim is deemed frivolous, you could be denied the right to receive any future US immigration benefits except for a very few narrow exceptions. Even if you are in the US on a valid visa at the time, your visa might be canceled as a result of your asylum claim being deemed frivolous, and you might be deported. When it comes to the consequences of filing a frivolous asylum claim, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure.

Вопросы, которые вы услышите на собеседовании при предоставлении убежища

По результатам собеседования ваше ходатайство о предоставлении убежища в США может быть принято или отклонено. То, насколько подробно вы сможете рассказать свою историю и отвечать на вопросы в соответствии с предоставленными вами письменными материалами, а также внешними источниками информации, будет иметь решающее значение для успеха. Ваше поведение на собеседовании также повлияет на оценку, которую сотрудник иммиграционной службы дает вашему заявлению.

Собеседование

Конечно, существует бесчисленное множество потенциальных вопросов, которые вам могут быть заданы. Ниже приведены некоторые распространенные вопросы, к которым вы должны быть готовы:

• “Кто причинил вам вред (или заставил вас бояться приченения вреда)? Было ли в этом замешано правительство? Если нет, то сделали ли они что-нибудь, чтобы попытаться остановить это?
• “Как они причинили вам вред?” Помните, что “только психологический” вред также может считаться реальным вредом и, следовательно, преследованием.
• “Почему они причинили вам вред?” Будьте как можно более конкретны касательно мотива преследования, которому вы подверглись. Будьте готовы объяснить, откуда вы знаете, какие это были мотивы, помимо лишь предположения.

Афганцы

Важно, чтобы мотив преследования, которому вы подверглись, был тесно связан с вашей расой, религией, националистическими, политическими взглядами или принадлежностью к какой-либо социальной группе. Помните, что “группа” не обязательно должна быть официальной организацией. Например, ваш пол или ваша сексуальная ориентация могут квалифицироваться как “группа”.

• “Можете ли вы безопасно жить где-нибудь еще в стране, даже если переезд вызовет неудобства?” Например, даже если вам угрожают банды наркоманов на севере Мексики, вам могут отказать в убежище, если можете безопасно жить на юге Мексики.
• “Вы когда-нибудь раньше обращались за убежищем в США?” Помните, что если вы уже подали ходатайство о предоставлении убежища в США и оно было отклонено как незаконное или необоснованное, вам может быть отказано в будущих иммиграционных льготах в США, включая предоставление убежища.
• “Есть ли у вас легальный иммиграционный статус в какой-либо третьей стране?”
• “Вы боитесь возвращаться в свою родную страну? Если да, то на чем основан ваш страх?” Чем более объективны ваши основания для страха (“Согласно этой информационной статье, половину моей общины уже посадили в тюрьму за свои убеждения”), тем выше будут ваши шансы на получение убежища.
• “Сколько раз вы были в США?”
• “Когда вы в последний раз въезжали в США?” Если вы въехали незаконно, “Можете ли вы подтвердить точную дату вашего последнего въезда?” Эти вопросы предназначены для того, чтобы определить, соблюдали ли вы правило, согласно которому у вас есть только один год с даты последнего въезда в США для подачи заявления о предоставлении убежища. Может быть трудно доказать, когда вы точно въехали, если вы въехали незаконно.
• “Вы когда-нибудь совершали преступление, в США или где-либо еще?” Помните, что незначительное преступление не обязательно означает, что ваше ходатайство о предоставлении убежища обречено на провал.
• “Сообщили ли вы о преследовании в полицию в вашей родной стране? Если нет, то почему?”
• “У вас есть семья в США? Есть ли у вас семья в вашей родной стране? Обращался ли кто-нибудь из вашей семьи убежищем ранее?”
• “Как зовут ваших детей?”
• Вернулись ли вы на родину после того, как подверглись там преследованиям? Если да, то почему?”
• “У вас есть какие-нибудь дополнительные доказательства, которые вы можете предоставить мне сегодня?” Это вопрос о доказательствах, которые вы еще не предоставили вместе с заявлением.
• “Вы хотели бы мне сказать что-то еще?” Воспользуйтесь этой возможностью, чтобы исправить любые ошибки или неправильные сведения относительно вашего заявления.

Практически невозможно ответить на каждый отдельный вопрос, который вам могут задать. Одна вещь, которую следует помнить, — это внимательно выслушать вопрос и ответить на вопрос, который действительно был задан, а не на вопрос, который, как вы ожидали, задаст сотрудник.

How to Prove Your Claim of Persecution in an Affirmative Asylum Application

To win your US asylum claim, you are going to have to prove that you were persecuted in your home country, or that you have a credible fear of persecution if you return. Furthermore, you must have been selected for persecution based on your race, religion, nationality, political views, or membership in a social group. Like just about any other legal term, the word “persecution” carries a meaning that is not exactly coincident with its dictionary meaning.

The Legal Definition of “Persecution”

The legal definition of persecution under US immigration law is rather vague, with one exception (see the quoted text below). Nevertheless, the following circumstances could support a claim of persecution:

• Physical violence or threats of violence, including but not limited to torture;
• Forced labor;
• Slavery;
• Unlawful detention;
• Psychological abuse;
• Economic harm (deprivation of food or shelter, for example)
• You are “forced to abort a pregnancy or to undergo involuntary sterilization, or . . . persecuted for failure or refusal to undergo such a procedure or for other resistance to a coercive population control program” This definition applies mostly to citizens of China.
• Other forms of abuse.

The persecution need not be inflicted by a government — being terrorized by vigilantes or drug gangs, for example, can qualify as persecution.

Your Personal Affidavit

To maximize your chances of success, you should submit a separate personal statement with your asylum application (Form I-589) that details the persecution you suffered or your credible fear that you will suffer if you return home. It is submitted in the form of an affidavit (a sworn statement), which means that you could be criminally prosecuted for intentionally including an important false statement.

Your statement should tell your entire story, and it needs to be compelling enough to convince the immigration offer reviewing your case to grant you asylum status. Since your statement needs to be credible as well as persuasive, you should add as many details as you can without falsifying anything. If you write it in a foreign language, it should be accompanied by a certified translation.

For many people, the most difficult part of preparing the personal statement is establishing a connection between the persecution and your membership in a particular demographic, religious or social group. An experienced immigration lawyer can help you draft your personal statement.

Your Testimony

You should know every detail of your personal statement by heart by the time your interview date arrives. Test yourself on the details if necessary, because any discrepancies between your testimony at the interview and the content of your personal statement could hurt your chances.

You are entitled to bring your attorney with you, and you may also bring an interpreter (in fact, this is required if you cannot conduct the interview in English). Remember — anything you reveal to US immigration officials, or to your attorney, will be kept strictly confidential.

Interview Tips

Following are some important tips on how to prepare for and conduct your asylum interview:

• Don’t be late! It makes a terrible impression.
• Prepare yourself physically and mentally. Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before.
• Rehearse telling your story until you know it by heart. When you tell your story to the immigration officer, however, don’t make it sound like you are reading from a script.
• Tell the whole story — don’t leave out anything of any consequence.
• Be honest! Don’t make up any details you have forgotten, because it could come back to haunt you later.
• Practice good body language. Don’t be afraid to make eye contact with the officer, because avoiding eye contact might convince the officer that you are not being truthful.
• Don’t fake tears, but don’t be afraid to cry at the interview if you feel like it. It won’t be held against you.
• Correct any mistakes that may appear on your application — your interview could be your last chance to do so, and discrepancies between your interview and your application don’t help your chances.
• Above all, retain an experienced immigration attorney to help you prepare and to accompany you to the interview.

Supporting Evidence

US asylum law requires you to at least attempt to gather evidence of the persecution that you fear. Do your best to document your claim extensively. The following types of evidence are commonly used to corroborate asylum claims:

• Doctor’s reports. You might consider visiting a doctor or mental health professional in the US if you exhibit signs of abuse.
• Newspaper clippings and other mass media accounts.
• Human rights reports issued by reputable organizations that describe conditions in your home country.
• Affidavits of witnesses to the persecution of you or of the group of which you are a member.
• Photographs and videos.
• Correspondence.
• Proof of your membership in a particular social group, if you are claiming asylum on this basis

An experienced immigration lawyer can provide you with critical assistance in proving your claim of persecution at all stages of the process.