
Updated 3:37 PM ET, Tue May 1, 2018
(CNN) When we think of people coming to the United States to escape danger and persecution, we tend to think of refugees. But the caravan of Central American men, women and children currently languishing at the US-Mexico border has turned national attention to another type of endangered group: asylum seekers.
In the United States, applying for asylum is a completely different process than arriving to the country as a refugee. Asylum seekers also tend to be of different nationalities than refugees.
According to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security, China was the country with the highest number of citizens seeking asylum in the United States in 2015, followed by El Salvador, Guatemala and Egypt.
So what does the asylum process look like? And to whom does it apply?
Asylum status isn’t the same as refugee status
When people request asylum, they are essentially seeking protection from violence or persecution that keep them from feeling safe in their home country or keep them from returning safely to their home country. In order for someone to qualify for asylum, they must meet the definition of a “refugee” as laid out by the Immigration and Nationality Act.
And yes, there is a difference between a refugee and an asylum seeker. Refugee status is granted to people who are outside the United States. Asylum is granted to people who are either already in the country or are seeking entry and asylum at a border.
There are two paths to asylum
There are two ways to request asylum.
- If someone has been in the US for less than a year, or is seeking asylum at a port of entry, it is considered affirmative asylum.
- If someone is facing deportation from the US or is caught trying to enter the US illegally, they can attempt to claim asylum in order to stay. This is known as defensive asylum and has a very different timeline of events that feels more like a legal trial than a bureaucratic waiting game.
During this period, other security measures, like background and security checks, will also be conducted.
Applicants may face challenges in getting to and from appointments. Some states have only one or two Application Support Centers, meaning applicants may have to make costly and time-consuming travel arrangements.
… and an interview
After the biometrics appointment comes an interview with an asylum officer. The scheduling process for this interview is actually kind of backwards: The USCIS prioritizes more recent filings to discourage people from filing for asylum for fraudulent reasons and biding their time while the proceedings drag on.
The USCIS says the window for this interview typically starts at 21 days after an application is filed. However, in early 2018 the USCIS released new guidelines that said the scheduling process may take longer because of “workload priorities related to border enforcement.”
At the interview, an asylum officer will determine whether an applicant fits the definition of a refugee. Applicants are required to bring all of the documentsthey’ve racked up throughout the process, as well as things like birth certificates and marriage certificates. Some people may choose to bring a lawyer along, which is allowed. And if an applicant doesn’t speak English, they need to bring their own certified translator. According to the USCIS, the interview lasts about an hour.
An approval, or “Grant of Asylum,” officially gives someone asylum status and allows them to apply for things like a green card and immigration benefits. A “no” comes in the form of a “Notice of Intent to Deny,” which includes a short window for appeal.
It’s a months-long process
Applicants who were in the United States illegally may have their case referred to an immigration court, which turns the decision over to an immigration judge.
Source: CNN
Summary

Article Name
Applying for asylum in the US takes at least 3 months, 2 interviews and one big decision
Description
(CNN)When we think of people coming to the United States to escape danger and persecution, we tend to think of refugees. But the caravan of Central American men, women and children currently languishing at the US-Mexico border has turned national attention to another type of endangered group: asylum seekers.