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🇺🇸 United States · Asylum
4 mandatory requirements, 0 supporting factors, and 8 core documents — here is exactly what United States expects.
Missing any of these disqualifies an application outright — confirm them before investing in fees or document preparation.
Must have suffered past persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution on a protected ground
Persecution must be on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group
Must file within 1 year of last US arrival, or qualify for changed or extraordinary circumstances exception
Must not have been persecutor of others, convicted of a particularly serious crime, security threat, or firmly resettled in a third country
Passport or National Identity Document
Passport or other government-issued identity document from country of origin (if available)
Personal Statement / Declaration
Detailed written declaration describing the persecution experienced or feared and why you cannot return
Country Condition Evidence
US State Department Country Reports, news articles, NGO reports, and other evidence of conditions in your country
Police Reports, Medical Records, or Arrest Records
Official records from the country of persecution documenting harm suffered
Witness or Expert Statements
Written statements from witnesses to persecution or country condition experts
Photos of Harm or Persecution
Photographs documenting injuries, destroyed property, or other evidence of persecution
Birth Certificate
Birth certificate (if available) with certified English translation
Marriage Certificate (for included spouse)
Marriage certificate if including spouse as a derivative on the asylum application
Official source: government website. See also: costs & fees and processing time.
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