Under most circumstances, a client must apply for asylum within one year of entrance into the United States. They must be unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin due to a legitimate fear of future persecution. A person who has fled their home and come to the United States is eligible for asylum if they can prove a well-founded fear of persecution based on one or more of the following grounds:
- Religion
- Race
- Nationality
- Political opinion
- Membership in a particular social group