Asylum is What We Do Best – We Win Asylum Cases! If You’re Afraid of Going Back to Your Country Because of What Happened to You, Trust The Bueno Law Warriors – We Got You!
If you’ve run away from your home country because of persecution, and you’re afraid to go back because of what has happened to you, seeking asylum may be the solution.
Asylum is protection that the U.S. government grants to certain individuals who have been harmed or who fear being harmed due to their race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or affiliation with a particular social group (such as the LGBTQ+ community).
Immigration laws are constantly changing, and seeking asylum can be incredibly intimidating, but with our San Rafael asylum lawyer on your side, you can shift from victim to warrior! We frequently represent clients in immigration court as well as before the Asylum Office. We have won 100% of our LGBTQ+ asylum cases, most outside the one-year deadline.
You shouldn’t have to live one more minute in fear – call us today to request a consultation. We are in the business of changing lives, and we can help you change yours too!
Who We Help
We are passionate about serving the disempowered and the marginalized of Latin America who are in need of legal help navigating the asylum process, including women, victims of domestic violence, and the LGBTQ+ community.
We can help you if you are:
- An LGBTQ+ individual who is afraid of going back to your country;
- Someone who was involved politically and faced persecution because of it;
- A person who suffered domestic violence in your country;
- A member of any indigenous groups that are mistreated in your country of origin;
- Unwilling or unable to return to your country of nationality or birth because you are in danger or death, harm, or unjust imprisonment
- Have been persecuted on account of your race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, nationality, membership in a particularly social group, etc.
- Have a well-founded fear of persecution because of the above
If you are not sure whether or not you qualify for asylum, there is no harm to reach out to us to see if this is the best path to freedom and safety in the U.S. for you or if we can suggest other avenues! (For example, if you were a victim of domestic violence or forced labor in the United States, a VAWA petition or T-visa may be the solution instead of asylum.)
Our team speaks English, Spanish, and Portuguese so we will be able to communicate with you and make sure you understand your rights and options! Many of our team members are also members of the LGTBQ+ and immigrant community; we get you, and your fight is our fight.
How Does Asylum Work?
There are two different types of asylum: affirmative asylum and defensive asylum (at Bueno Law, we can help with either!). The simplest way to understand the difference is that affirmative asylum is for people who are not in removal (deportation) proceedings and defensive asylum is for people who are.
Affirmative Asylum
With affirmative asylum, we can help you complete and file Form I-589 with USCIS (U.S. Customs and Immigration Services). It is best to do this within one year of your entry into the United States! Eventually, you will be contacted by USCIS for an interview. After attending that interview, the USCIS officer who conducted it can approve your claim for asylum or refer your case to the court for a review and decision.
Our experienced San Rafael asylum lawyer can guide you through completing and filing the form without mistakes, compiling relevant evidence and documentation, preparing you for the interview, and representing you in court if you are referred.
Defensive Asylum
With defensive asylum, you must fight for your asylum case before an immigration judge, usually after you were stopped at a U.S. port of entry without legal documentation, or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stopped you trying to enter the U.S. illegally. In either case, you are facing deportation, and asylum would be your defense for avoiding deportation.
In this case, you will go before a judge to hear arguments, and Bueno Law can stand up for you in the courtroom! We will present a persuasive case for why you should be granted asylum and stay in the country.
We’re an Office of Immigrants, For Immigrants – We Understand You Because We ARE You!
Our San Rafael asylum lawyer is here to help. We know what it’s like to be persecuted to the point where fleeing your native country is necessary, and we also know the pain, trauma, and anxiety associated with being threatened and harassed.
Our lead attorney, Fernanda Bueno, is an immigrant herself, and a survivor of domestic violence; many members of our team have personally been through the asylum or other immigration process, and we’ve guided numerous clients through the process as well (Fernanda has 16 years of legal experience!).
All that to say – we get you, and the challenges you face. We have more empathy for you because of that, and we will also fight harder for you because of that. You can trust that your asylum case is personal to us, and that we will do more than just paperwork; we want to give you your personal power back by working to help you find safety, freedom, and a soft place to land.
Are You Ready to Change Your Story? Call Our San Rafael Asylum Lawyer Now to Request a Consultation!
Any immigration case is time-sensitive, because getting the legal status you need enables you to start living the life you want – to change your future and your family’s. Immigration can also take a long time. Contact us as soon as possible to discuss your situation with us! We are compassionate, we are good listeners, and we can answer your questions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asylum
What are the benefits of receiving asylum in the U.S.?
Asylum recipients are allowed to live and work in the U.S., apply for a Social Security card, request asylum for family members, and eventually apply for permanent residency (a green card) and U.S. citizenship. Being granted asylum can offer you the safety and freedom you deserve, which is why it’s our bread and butter at Bueno Law. We know asylum law and we work to help change your life!
Can I apply for asylum if I entered the U.S. through the border?
Yes! Individuals who entered the U.S. through the border are still eligible to apply for asylum – that won’t disqualify you – but you must demonstrate a credible fear of persecution if you were to return to your home country. Our San Rafael asylum lawyer can help you gather the right evidence to demonstrate this.
Can I work in the U.S. while my asylum application is pending?
You can apply for a work permit 150 days after submitting your asylum application, provided your case is still pending and you haven’t received a decision (which can sometimes take months or years). Our team can help you understand your options and help you with applying for a work permit as well!