Asylum & Refugee Lawyers Maryville TN

Maryville Asylum Claims Lawyers

Strong advocacy for asylees throughout Maryville, Tennessee

Some parts of the world are nearly impossible to live in because governments won’t accept or are likely to seriously endanger people due to their associations, religious beliefs, gender, or family relationships. The number of asylum applications is in the hundreds of thousands each year, with about 15,000 to 80,000 being accepted depending on the politics at the time. At LaFevor & Slaughter, our Maryville asylum lawyers understand the complexities and logistics involved with seeking asylum in the United States. We’re ready to fight for your safety or the safety of a loved one.

Practice Areas

How can our Maryville asylum lawyers help?

Who is eligible for asylum in Maryville?

At LaFevor & Slaughter, our Maryville asylum lawyers represent applicants for asylum to help people live where they won’t be persecuted. All asylum applicants must be present in the United States and cannot be current US Citizens.

Our immigration lawyers represent three types of asylum claimants:

  • Applicants who are not in removal proceedings or “unaccompanied children” who may be in removal proceedings. Applicants can still file for asylum through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) even if they are not facing deportation. This type of claim is called an Affirmative asylum claim. If the claim is approved, the applicant will be able to stay in America. If the application is denied, the applicant will face removal proceedings in the immigration court.
  • Applicants who are in removal proceedings. This type of claim is called a Defensive asylum claim. Unlike criminal cases, these applicants must retain their own counsel – a lawyer is not provided for them. Many applicants who are facing removal may be charged with violating US immigration or federal or state criminal laws.
  • Expedited asylum:
    • “A person taken into custody within 14 days of entering the United States who is placed into ‘expedited removal’ proceedings may be put through a new process begun in 2022 which allows a USCIS asylum officer to review and adjudicate their asylum claim before they are placed into formal removal proceedings.”

Currently, only applicants who file affirmative application claims can file the online Form I-589: Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal. Even then, there are exceptions, such as that anyone in a proceeding in immigration court or before the Board of Immigration Appeals cannot file the online I-589 form.

What types of persecution must be present to file an asylum claim in Maryland?

To file an asylum claim an applicant must have suffered or must have a credible fear of being persecuted due to their:

  • Race
  • Religion
  • Nationality
  • Membership in a particular social group
  • Political opinion

The government will screen applicants to ensure the persecution or fear of persecution is real – that it’s a credible fear. Applicants must prove these conditions exist whether they stay in America or if they are returned to their native country.

Can I bring my family to Maryville if I’m granted asylum?

Applicants may include their spouse and children who are physically present in the US as dependents on an affirmative or defensive asylum claim, up until the time a final decision is made on the applicant’s petition. Applicants can also petition to bring their spouse and children to America if they are granted asylum through Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.

Applicants may complete a Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, to apply for their green card after a year has passed since their asylum request was granted.

How do you help asylum applicants obtain asylum in Maryville?

Our Maryville asylum lawyers understand how frightened you are because of your persecution back home and the intimidating process of filing an asylum claim here in the United States. Our lawyers will explain if you are eligible to file and help show that your claim for asylum is justified. Our immigration lawyers will ensure that you file the correct forms, with the correct information, at the correct time, and in the correct place. We do travel to Memphis and Atlanta on behalf of asylum clients who are being threatened with removal.

We help with all asylum issues, including answering questions about:

  • Will I be fingerprinted?
  • Will I be required to undergo a criminal background check?
  • How much does it cost to file for asylum?
  • How is my eligibility determined?
  • How long does the asylum process take?
  • Can I travel before (or after) asylum is determined?
  • Can children apply for asylum?

We offer a fair and reasonable payment plan to help you focus on your case. To us, your safety is more important than anything else.

Can I apply to work in the US based on a pending asylum application?

Yes. You’ll need to file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, so you can work in the US while your asylum claim is pending.

Groups that may be given priority status when seeking asylum

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Since 1990, the US has made about 610,000 immigrant visas from 16 countries with “unsafe conditions” eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to live and work legally in the US. There have been efforts to end and expand TPS protections.

Examples of unsafe conditions include rampant civil war or natural disasters. The 16 countries are:

  • Afghanistan
  • Burma (Myanmar)
  • Cameroon
  • El Salvador
  • Ethiopia
  • Haiti
  • Honduras
  • Nepal
  • Nicaragua
  • Somalia
  • Sudan
  • South Sudan
  • Syria
  • Ukraine
  • Venezuela
  • Yemen

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

According to the American Immigration Council, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law enacted in 1994 and amended in 2005 that allows domestic violence victims to obtain immigration relief independent of their abusive spouse or parent through a process called “self-petitioning.

The VAWA creates a T visa to provide immigration relief to victims of “severe forms of human trafficking.” Human trafficking includes:

Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by fraud, force, coercion, or in which the victim is younger than 18 years of age

The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude or slavery.

Abused spouses and children

USCIS states that the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) and its subsequent reauthorizations, provide noncitizens who have been abused by their US citizen or lawful permanent resident relative “The ability to independently petition for themselves (self-petition) for immigrant classification without the abuser’s knowledge, consent, or participation in the immigration process. This allows victims to seek both safety and independence from their abusers.”

At LaFevor & Slaughter, we understand that people who file for asylum are in danger. They need protection. Our Maryville asylum lawyers have the experience and skills to help you explain why you’re in danger and what you are experiencing. We promise we will never judge you. Our interest is to help people and their families live safe and secure lives.

Do you have a Maryville immigration attorney near me?

At LaFevor & Slaughter, our Maryville asylum lawyers meet clients at our office located at 317 Ellis Ave., Suite 317. We meet clients in person and by the use of video or phone. We’ll guide you through the claims process and work aggressively on your behalf to secure the right to stay in the United States.

Talk with an experienced Maryville immigration attorney today

We understand that staying in America is a matter of life and death for many asylum seekers. We’ll explain your rights, answer all your questions, and fight for the approval of your application. At LaFevor & Slaughter, our Maryville asylum lawyers provide compassionate advice for asylum seekers in the US and abroad. We work to understand the full scope of your situation and fears. We fight to obtain prompt hearings where you have a fair chance to present your reasons for staying in America. To schedule a consultation, please call us or complete our contact form today.