Frequently Asked Questions
What is asylum?
Asylum can allow someone to stay in the United States if they are afraid of returning to their home country. Asylum is a form of protection offered by the United States government to qualifying immigrants.
What is gay asylum?
If you are afraid to return to your home country because you are gay, you may qualify for a special form of asylum. The United States believes gay people fall into a special group that deserves protection.
Do I qualify for gay asylum?
Every case is different. If you fear returning to your country because you are gay, you may qualify for gay asylum. You should consult an attorney to discuss your specific situation.
Is asylum a path to citizenship?
Yes, it can be. If you are granted asylum you can apply for a green card after one year. If you are granted a green card through asylum you can apply for citizenship four years later.
How much does it cost to apply for asylum?
The cost of hiring an attorney depends on the case. Caleb Arring makes efforts to offer affordable services and provides interest free payment options. Caleb wants to make professional assistance affordable for LGBT immigrants.
Contact Caleb for a free phone consultation.
Should I hire a lawyer?
It can be extremely valuable to hire a good attorney to represent you in your asylum cases. An attorney is trained to notice issues in your case that you would not notice. An attorney can determine if you may qualify for exceptions to any laws that would bar you from qualifying for asylum. It is also very helpful to have an attorney prepare you for, and take you to your interview.
Caleb's office will prepare and submit your application with you. An attorney will also advise you what documents are important to your case and submit your documents for you. An attorney will also prepare you for your interview, and attend your interview with you.
Without an attorney you run the risk of making mistakes on your application or failing to submit documents that are required or helpful to your case.
Which lawyer should I choose?
There are many things to be aware of when choosing an attorney.
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Make sure the person you hire is an attorney. Search online to verify someone is an attorney and has not been disciplined by the State Bar.
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Look for an attorney who takes mainly immigration cases to ensure they have experience with immigration law.
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Find an attorney you are comfortable with. You will have to talk about personal things with your attorney, you want to feel safe opening up to the person.
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Ask the attorney what is covered by their fee. Make sure the attorney will also handle submitting documents, preparing you for and taking you to your interview.
Caleb has handled many asylum cases, many of whom identify as LGBT. Caleb handles only immigration cases.
I've been in the United States for over one year, can I still apply for asylum?
Yes, you may still qualify for asylum. There are many exceptions to the rule that requires an asylum application be filed within a year of arriving in the United States. An attorney can help you determine if you qualify for an exception.
