CASE: Asylum

CLIENT: Chinese

LOCATION: Cleveland, OH

Our client, a Chinese asylum seeker in Cleveland, OH, retained us on January 11, 2013 to help him with his asylum case. He came to the United States in September 2012 with a B-2 visitor’s visa from China. He came here with his wife and son who also came here on a B-2 visitor’s visa.  He wanted to seek asylum relief with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

While he was in China, he was persecuted and mistreated by the government based on his Christian faith and practice. He and his wife were also persecuted due to violation of the one child family planning policy as well. Our client was severely beaten and mistreated by the Chinese police in numerous occasions. He is scared to go back home to China, fearing that he will be persecuted again.

We helped him prepare for his asylum application, going over several drafts until his claim was as detailed as possible. Names, addresses, dates, and all possible issues relevant to his asylum claim were addressed. We also asked her to provide supporting documents corroborating his claims. Our firm also did some research on articles pertaining to his particular claim, and the type of persecution that Chinese Christians would suffer.

The asylum application was filed in March 5, 2013 which was within one year of his entry to the United States.  Thereafter, the CIS issued an interview notice for his asylum case, scheduled for December 18, 2013 at the Cleveland, OH USCIS Office. Prior to his interview, our office prepared him thoroughly for his case at our office to make sure he was able to address questions the asylum officer would ask. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our office also accompanied our client at his interview.

On April 30, 2014, the USCIS approved our client’s asylum case. He is now an asylee and will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status in one year.  His wife and son also became derivative asylees. He also would obtain his work permit in about two weeks.

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CASE: Asylum in Immigration Court

CLIENT: Chinese

LOCATION: Cleveland Immigration Court

Our Chinese client came to the United States on a B-2 visa in September 2009. He was persecuted and harmed in China based on his religious beliefs and its related activities, so within one year of his entry (in October 2009), he filed an asylum application (Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the CAT) to the USCIS.

He was interviewed at the Asylum Office in Los Angeles, but his case was referred to an immigration judge in December 2009. The Notice to Appear was issued and our client was placed in removal proceedings. The USCIS thought that our client’s testimony was different from that of his written statement and referred the case to the Court.

The case was initiated at the Los Angeles Immigration Court. However, our client moved to Columbus, Ohio in 2011. After he moved to Columbus, OH, our client contacted our office in early April 2011, and eventually retained our office on April 11, 2011. Once retained, our office immediately filed a Motion to Change Venue which was eventually approved by the Los Angeles Immigration Court. Our client’s case was then transferred to Cleveland, OH.

Our client was scared to go back home to China, fearing that he will be persecuted based on his religious belief and his active participation in religious events which are considered anti-government activities.

While our client was in China, he attended numerous underground home church meetings. As a result, he was arrested and detained by Chinese police and experienced harm and mistreatment.

We helped him supplement his asylum application and represented him in his immigration court hearings. We also asked him to provide supporting documents corroborating his claim, some of which were letters family and church members in China, and documents related to his religious activities. Our firm also did some research on articles related to his claim, and the type of persecution he will experience in China if sent back.

Our client’s individual hearing was scheduled on March 3, 2014 at the Cleveland Immigration Court. Attorney JP Sarmiento from our firm prepared him extensively. He also represented our client at his Individual Hearing.

During the hearing, our client testified about his past persecution in China and the likelihood of future persecution. After the hearing, the Immigration Judge re-set the case for a decision hearing which was originally scheduled for September of this year. Nevertheless, on April 24, 2014, the Immigration Judge issued a written decision and granted asylum relief for our client. He is now an asylee who will get his work permit in a short period of time and will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in one year.

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CASE: Asylum in Immigration Court

CLIENT: Cameroonian

LOCATION: Cleveland Immigration Court

Our Cameroonian client came to the United States as an arriving alien in May 2012. She was detained at Eloy Processing Center for three months, and later paroled into the United States. A Notice to Appear was issued and our client was placed in removal proceedings. After she got the Notice to Appear and first Master Calendar hearing notice, she contacted and retained our firm in April 2013.

She was persecuted and harmed in Cameroon based on her political opinion and political activism, so within one year of her entry, she filed an asylum application (Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the CAT)

Our client was scared to go back home to Cameroon, fearing that she will be persecuted based on her political opinion and her past participation in certain organizational activities. While she was in Cameroon, our client joined marches against the government’s actions and participated in political activities for Southern Cameroonians. As a result, she was arrested and detained multiple times by the Cameroonian police and has experienced harm and mistreatments in numerous occasions.

We helped her file her asylum application and represented her in immigration court hearings. We also asked her to provide supporting documents corroborating her claim, some of which were a letter from her parents, colleagues and friends in Cameroon, Cameroonian medical documents of our client’s injury, and her membership certification with the organization. Our firm also did some research on articles related to her claim, and the type of persecution she will experience in Cameroon if sent back.

Our client’s individual hearing was scheduled on September 30, 2013 at the Cleveland Immigration Court. Attorney Sung Hee Yu from our firm prepared her extensively twice, both of which lasted several hours. He also represented our client at her Individual Hearing.

During the hearing, our client testified credibly as to her past persecution in Cameroon and likelihood of future persecution. After the hearing, the Immigration Judge granted asylum relief for our client. She is now an asylee who will get her work permit in two weeks and will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in one year.

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CASE: Asylum

CLIENT: From Zimbabwe

LOCATION: Austin / Houston, TX

Our client, a Zimbabwean asylum seeker from Austin, Texas retained us on April 8, 2013 for an asylum case. She is an F-1 student currently working under an OPT. She wanted to seek asylum relief.

While she was in Zimbabwe last year, she was forced to attend a political rally for the government and she was severely beaten and harassed by government militia. Persecution occurred due to her political opinion and the political affiliation of her parents and brother. She was hospitalized because of this persecution and had to leave Zimbabwe. She is scared to go back home to Zimbabwe, fearing that she will be persecuted again.

We prepared her asylum application, going over several drafts until her claim was as detailed as possible. Names, addresses, dates, and all possible issues relevant to her asylum claim were addressed. We also asked her to provide supporting documents corroborating her claim. Our firm also did some research on articles pertaining to her particular claim, and the type of persecution that members of anti-government political activists suffer in Zimbabwe.

The asylum application was filed in May 17, 2013. On June 24, 2013, the CIS issued an interview notice for her, scheduled for July 10, 2013 at the Houston, Texas USCIS Asylum Office. Prior to her interview, Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu prepared her thoroughly over conference calls to make sure she was able to address any possible question the asylum officer would ask. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu also went to Houston and represented our client at her asylum interview.

On July 25, 2013, the CIS in Houston approved our client’s asylum case. She is now an asylee and will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status in one year.  She also would obtain her work permit in about two weeks.

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CASE: Asylee Green Card

CLIENT: Chinese

LOCATION: Virginia

Our client and his family members came to the United States from China with a B-2 visa and through our representation, was granted asylum on February 2011 by the USCIS.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, an asylee may apply for lawful permanent resident status after he or she has been physically present in the United States for a period of one year after the date he or she was granted asylum status.

Around February 2012, one year after he got his asylee status in the United States, our client contacted our office again and sought legal assistance for his and his family members’ green card application.

We prepared and filed his I-485 Green Card Application on March 7, 2012. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notice and fingerprint appointment all came on time. On March 4, 2013, the USCIS approved our client’s Adjustment of Status application. He and his family members are now permanent residents of the United States.

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CASE: Asylum

 CLIENT: Zimbabwean

 LOCATION: San Antonio / Houston

Our client, a Zimbabwean asylum seeker from San Antonio Texas retained us on November 29, 2012 to help her with her asylum case. She was an F-1 student at ta US college. She wanted to seek asylum relief with the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

While she was in Zimbabwe last summer, she was raped due to her political opinion and political affiliation of her parents. She is scared to go back home to Zimbabwe, fearing that she will be persecuted again.

We helped her prepare her asylum application, going over several drafts until her claim was as detailed as possible. Names, addresses, dates, and all possible issues relevant to her asylum claim were addressed. We also asked her to provide supporting documents corroborating her claims. Our firm also did some research on articles pertaining to her particular claim, and the type of persecution that members of anti-government political activists suffer in Zimbabwe.

We also cited several case law relevant to asylum in our brief, including several that held that rape was  a form of persecution.

The asylum application was filed in December 14, 2012. On January 9, 2013, the CIS issued an interview notice for her asylum case, scheduled for January 28, 2013 in Houston, Texas. Prior to her interview, our office prepared her thoroughly for her case, going over two practice interviews via Skype to make sure she was able to address questions the asylum officer would ask.

On March 13, 2013, the CIS in Houston approved our client’s asylum case. She is now an asylee and will be eligible to apply for permanent resident status in one year.  She also would obtain her work permit in about two weeks.

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If you have any questions, please fill out the free consultation form below, and we will respond as soon as possible privately. 

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What happens when you filed an asylum application yourself, and after your interview, you get placed in removal proceedings and your asylum application is referred to the immigration court? Is that a denial? What should you do next?

You may feel that you are being deported, or that your case has no chance of winning at all. But that’s not really the case.

You can think of it as an opportunity to present your case better in Court. Maybe there were some elements you missed. Maybe you failed to support your case further initially.

We had a couple of cases recently, one for a client from Cameroon and another for a client from Ethiopia, where both filed their initial CIS asylum application themselves. No attorneys. Their cases were denied at the CIS level and referred to the immigration court, and then they retained our firm. And ultimately they had an opportunity to present their case better, and fortunately the Immigration Judge granted their cases.

One good thing about having your case in immigration court is that you have an opportunity to present your case through questions initially asked by your own attorney. So if there are any specific details or events that you want emphasized, the attorney can zone in on those in direct examination.

I remember our attorney Glen preparing both clients twice for hours prior to each of the individual hearings, with over a hundred questions each.

You see there are many issues involved in asylum applications, not just whether you were harmed or not. People simply focus on the harm they experienced, without tying it to other aspects of asylum law nor detailing the specifics of the event.

Is there a one year issue?

Are you part of a protected group?

Is the persecution related to you being part of that protected group?

Did the harm you or your family experienced rise to the level of persecution needed for asylum?

Is there a firm resettlement or relocation issue?

Are your supporting documents, the dates, places, and names listed on those, corroborating your testimony?

Are your supporting documents internally consistent with each other?

Is your written statement consistent with your testimony?

Is your claim detailed enough? Were there addresses, dates, names on every possible instance in your claim?

Maybe your initial claim had simply a month, but not a specific date.

Maybe your initial claim had simply a city, but not a specific address.

Maybe you did not specify how far the hospital is from the place you were persecuted. Or where it is located in the first place.

What is the name of the doctor?

Or how far and where was the police station is from where you were persecuted?

Any many others.

So take this as an opportunity for you to be more thorough in your claim. An opportunity to present it better, with more details and specifics. Asylum law is complex, with may issues and elements involved, aside from simply fearing returning home.

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CASE: Asylum in Immigration Court

CLIENT: Ethiopian

LOCATION: Cleveland Immigration Court

Our Ethiopian client came to the United States on a B-2 visa in January 2010. He was persecuted and harmed in Ethiopia based on his political opinion and political activism, so within one year of his entry, he filed an asylum application (Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the CAT) to the USCIS.

He was interviewed at the Asylum Office, but his case was referred to an immigration judge in September 2010. The Notice to Appear was issued and our client was placed in removal proceedings. The USCIS thought that our client’s testimony was different from that of his written statement and found that there is no future persecution.

After the case was referred to the Immigration Court, our client contacted our office in early December of 2010, and eventually retained our office on December 10, 2010.

Our client was scared to go back home to Ethiopia, fearing that he will be persecuted based on his political opinion and his past political participation which alleged to be anti-government activities.

While our client was a medical student in Ethiopia, he actively expressed his opinion regarding the problematic election process, called meetings in campus and informed fellow students about their voting rights. As a result, he was arrested and detained multiple times by the Ethiopian police and has experienced harm and mistreatments in numerous occasions.

We helped him supplement his asylum application and represented him in immigration court hearings. We also asked him to provide supporting documents corroborating his claim, some of which were a letter from his family member in Ethiopia, and his membership certification with the different organizations. Our firm also did some research on articles related to his claim, and the type of persecution he will experience in Ethiopia if sent back.

Our client’s individual hearing was scheduled on February 19, 2013 at the Cleveland Immigration Court. Attorney Sung Hee (Glen) Yu from our firm prepared him extensively twice, both of which lasted several hours. He also represented our client at his Individual Hearing.

During the hearing, our client testified credibly as to his past persecution in Ethiopia and likelihood of future persecution. After the hearing, the Immigration Judge granted asylum relief for our client. He is now an asylee who will get his work permit in a short period of time and will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in one year.

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Also feel free to contact our office anytime for free consultations. <a href=”https://plus.google.com/107743308565341841259?rel=author”>Google</a>

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CASE: Asylum in Immigration Court
CLIENT: Cameroonian
LOCATION: Cleveland Immigration Court

Our Cameroonian client came to the United States on an F-1 visa in December 2011. She was persecuted and harmed in Cameroon based on her political opinion and political activism, so within one year of her entry, she filed an asylum application (Asylum, Withholding of Removal, and relief under the CAT) to the USCIS.

She was interviewed at the Asylum Office in Chicago, but her case was referred to an immigration judge in July 2012. The Notice to Appear was issued and our client was placed in removal proceedings. The USCIS thought that our client’s testimony was different from that of her written statement.

After the case was referred to the Immigration Court, our client contacted our office in late July of 2012, and eventually retained our office on July 30, 2012.

Our client was scared to go back home to Cameroon, fearing that she will be persecuted based on her political opinion and her past participation with human rights activist groups. While our client was a college student in Cameroon, she became a human rights activist involved in educating and informing fellow students on campus about their basic fundamental rights. Our client organized some student movement activities, joined student marches against government’s actions and participated in political activities. As a result, she was arrested and detained multiple times by the Cameroonian police and has experienced harm and mistreatments in numerous occasions.

We helped her supplement her asylum application and represented her in immigration court hearings. We also asked her to provide supporting documents corroborating her claim, some of which were a letter from her parents, colleagues and friends in Cameroon, Cameroonian medical documents of our client’s injury, and her membership certification with the different human rights organizations. Our firm also did some research on articles related to her claim, and the type of persecution she will experience in Cameroon if sent back.

Our client’s individual hearing was scheduled on October 19, 2012 at the Cleveland Immigration Court. Attorney Sung Hee Yu from our firm prepared her extensively twice, both of which lasted several hours. He also represented our client at her Individual Hearing.

During the hearing, our client testified credibly as to her past persecution in Cameroon and likelihood of future persecution. After the hearing, the Immigration Judge granted asylum relief for our client. She is now an asylee who will get her work permit in two weeks and will be eligible to apply for permanent residency in one year.

FREE CONSULTATIONS

If you have any questions, please fill out the free consultation form below, and we will respond as soon as possible privately. 

For other asylum success stories, please click here.

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CASE: 2nd Circuit Appeal / Asylum / Christianity – Religion
CLIENT: Chinese
LOCATION: Virginia

Our client came to the United States without a valid visa and passport from China in 1996.  In 2006, our client filed an asylum application based on the fact that he has two children. This application was referred to the New York Immigration Court.  In April 2007, the New York Immigration Court granted our client’s asylum application. The government appealed and in August 2008, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) reversed the Immigration Court’s decision. In 2009, our client filed an amended application so that he can pursue his claim based on religion – that he was baptized subsequent to the Board’s decision.  Unfortunately, in October 2009, the Immigration Judge denied the asylum application, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture claims. Our client filed an appeal immediately, but the BIA dismissed the appeal. The BIA found that the time limitation barred our client’s asylum application.

In November 2011, our client contacted our office for her Second Circuit Appeal. Our office determined that our client has a good chance for winning an appeal with the Second Cicuit. Our client retained our office on November 30, 2011 for his appeal to the federal Second Circuit Court. On April 13, 2012, our office filed a brief to the Second Circuit stating that the Board of Immigration Appeals abused its discretion when they denied our client’s asylum application.  Specifically, we argued that although the asylum was filed outside the one year period, the time limitation does not bar our client’s asylum application due to the fact that he became a Christian less than a year before he filed his second asylum claim. On July 12, 2012, the Second Circuit Court remanded our client’s case to the BIA for further consideration of our client’s previous asylum claim.

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