Post Asylum Benefits
Once you have been
granted asylum, you have 30 DAYS to register in order to receive
benefits from the Government. There are several resettlement
agencies which can help you with this. It is very important that you
contact them. RIF can help you contact them as well. A list of
resettlement agencies is provided in the "Useful
Links" page of this website.
Employment
Authorization
Once you win
your asylum case, you can work legally in the United States.
You are not required to have an employment authorization document
(an EAD), your I-94 card that proves you are an asylee is sufficient
for working legally.
However, many asylees find that employers do not recognize the I-94
and require an EAD.
The first time you apply for an EAD, it is free. Subsequently,
the fee is $340.
To apply for an
employment authorization document (EAD):
- Fill out
Form I-765
- Copy of asylum approval
- 2 passport photos
Social Security
Once you are
granted asylum, you need to go to the Social Security office and
apply for a social security card. You must bring proof of your
asylee status.
Family Petition
Once you have
asylum you can file petitions to bring your children and spouse to
the United States. You MUST apply for them within two years of
winning your case.
The procedure is:
-
Fill
out
Form
I-730
-
Include
a copy of your asylum approval letter
-
Include
a copy
of birth or marriage certificate to prove your relationship
-
Include
one
photo of your child or spouse
In order to file
for your spouse, you must be married at the time you apply for
asylum. You must list your spouse on your asylum application. Also,
please be aware that any children born after winning asylum are
ineligible. Please be aware that you might be required to do DNA
testing to prove that you are the parents of your children.
Travel Document
You must speak
with an attorney before leaving the United States. Some people
should not leave the country even after winning asylum and if they
do, it can have very serious negative consequences.
Once winning asylum
you can apply for your travel document by filling out form I-131,
which can be found at
http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-131.pdf
Permanent Residence
(Green Card)
One year after winning asylum you can apply for permanent
residency, which is also known as a green card. |
