Applying for Asylum in the U.S.

San Francisco Asylum Attorney with an Immigration-Specific LLM & Hundreds of Cases Handled Since 2014

The United States has long offered protection to those fleeing persecution abroad. The Refugee Act of 1980 established the framework still in use today: asylum is available to individuals who suffered persecution in their country of origin or who would face persecution if forced to return. At Harrison Law Office, we represent asylum seekers in San Francisco with the urgency and precision these cases demand. Attorney Blake Harrison has handled hundreds of immigration cases since 2014, and consultations are available at no cost.

To qualify, you must demonstrate persecution based on at least one of five protected grounds:

The five grounds for asylum protection:

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

You must generally file within one year of first arriving in the United States. A spouse and unmarried children under 21 may be included on the same application.

If you or a family member is fleeing persecution, don’t wait. Call Harrison Law Office at (415) 212-6817 or contact us online to schedule your no-cost consultation with an asylum attorney in San Francisco.

How Do I Apply for Asylum?

There are two pathways. Affirmative asylum is filed using Form I-589 directly with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by individuals who are not in removal proceedings. A USCIS asylum officer reviews the claim and conducts an interview. Defensive asylum is raised before an immigration judge at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) by individuals already in removal proceedings.

If an affirmative application is denied, the case is typically referred to immigration court, where a defensive claim may then be raised. A denial in immigration court can be appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals. There is currently no fee to file an asylum application. The President sets annual limits on refugee admissions, which have historically ranged from 15,000 to 90,000.

Bars to Asylum & Filing Deadlines

The one-year filing deadline is a firm rule with narrow exceptions. Changed circumstances that materially affect eligibility, or extraordinary circumstances directly related to the delay, can extend the deadline, but both exceptions require careful documentation and aren’t easily established. Missing the deadline without qualifying for an exception can end an otherwise valid claim.

Criminal history can also affect eligibility. Certain convictions create an absolute bar to asylum; others affect the claim without disqualifying it entirely. Prior persecution of others and certain prior deportation orders are additional bars. Anyone with an arrest or conviction on their record should consult an asylum attorney in San Francisco before filing. Attorney Harrison monitors policy changes and communicates directly with clients about how those changes affect their specific cases, which matters most when deadlines and eligibility bars are at stake.

Withholding of Removal & Convention Against Torture Relief

When asylum is unavailable due to a bar, two alternative forms of protection may apply. Withholding of removal requires showing it is more likely than not that life or freedom would be threatened upon return, a higher standard than the well-founded fear standard for asylum. It doesn’t lead to a green card and doesn’t permit international travel, but it can prevent deportation to a dangerous country.

Convention Against Torture (CAT) relief applies when an individual can show they would likely face torture by or with the acquiescence of their home government if returned. CAT relief is independent of the five protected grounds required for asylum, making it an option when persecution-based claims face legal obstacles. Knowing which form of protection fits a given set of facts is a meaningful part of what we bring to every case.

Are Background Checks Conducted on Asylum Seekers?

Yes. Biographical information for all applicants is sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement databases. Applicants between 12 years and 9 months of age and 79 years of age also have fingerprints taken. Those fingerprints are sent to law enforcement and used to verify identity during the interview process.

What Happens After I Am Granted Asylum?

Asylum opens several immediate and long-term benefits. Knowing what’s available and when helps asylees plan the steps ahead.

Immediate Benefits & Travel

You may stay in the U.S. indefinitely as long as you maintain good standing. Work authorization is available immediately upon grant of asylum. International travel requires a Refugee Travel Document obtained before departure. You can also apply for a Social Security Card and for Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance.

Family Members

You may file for your spouse and unmarried children to join you in the U.S. within two years of being granted asylum. An Affidavit of Relationship can be filed to allow parents to be admitted as well.

Path to a Green Card & Citizenship

After one year of asylum status, you may apply for a green card. After receiving permanent status, you must wait four years before applying for U.S. citizenship.

Can Asylum Be Revoked?

Yes. Asylee status can be terminated if you no longer have a well-founded fear of persecution or if you commit crimes that make you ineligible.

Asylum in San Francisco: What Applicants Need to Know Now

The local immigration court landscape is in active disruption, and the changes directly affect asylum seekers with pending or upcoming cases.

San Francisco Immigration Court Closures & the Concord Transfer

EOIR has announced the permanent closure of the San Francisco Immigration Court location at 100 Montgomery Street, with the Sansome Street location at 630 Sansome St. coming under the administrative control of the Concord Immigration Court effective September 4, 2026. Cases are being assigned to Concord or heard remotely, and EOIR is issuing new hearing notices to affected parties.

Missing a hearing because a notice went unread can result in an in absentia removal order, a serious and difficult-to-reverse consequence. For asylum seekers with pending cases, actively monitoring EOIR notices isn’t optional. This is exactly the situation where having counsel who tracks case status and court updates makes a concrete difference. We provide clients with same-day services and direct communication as court schedules and policies shift.

Who This Affects in San Francisco

San Francisco’s communities include individuals from a wide range of countries and backgrounds, many of whom face asylum challenges tied to country-of-origin conditions, language barriers, or the complexity of membership-in-a-particular-social-group claims. Attorney Harrison’s LLM with a concentration in immigration law, earned at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, is directly applied to these cases. Multilingual services are available so language doesn’t have to be a barrier to effective representation.

Why Work with Harrison Law Office on Your Asylum Case

Immigration law is our dedicated focus. Attorney Blake Harrison has represented clients in hundreds of immigration matters since 2014, including asylum and other humanitarian visa cases. That depth of experience matters when a case involves overlapping bars, competing forms of relief, or a filing deadline that requires immediate action.

What clients can expect when working with us:

• Immigration-specific LLM: Attorney Harrison holds a Master of Laws with a concentration in immigration law from Golden Gate University in San Francisco
• Direct case-status communication: Clients receive regular updates on policy changes and how those changes affect their case
• Same-day services and flexible availability: Quick turnarounds matter when asylum deadlines are involved
• Multilingual support: Services are available for non-English speakers, making representation accessible across language backgrounds
• Honest guidance: We assess each client’s circumstances directly and give straightforward advice about available options
• No-cost consultation: Initial consultations are available at no charge

Contact an Asylum Lawyer in San Francisco

Immigration laws and policies change. Our attorneys stay current on those changes and how they affect your case.

Need help filing for asylum in the U.S.? Call Harrison Law Office at (415) 212-6817 or contact us online for a no-cost consultation.