While asylum applications are somewhat lengthy and require certain types of information and documentation from the applicant, one of the most key pieces of the application is the personal statement. When
applying for asylum, you write a personal statement and sign it under oath. The personal statement not only gives the applicant the chance to present certain information, but it also allows the applicant to put a human face on the application. The first portion of the personal statement should contain certain biographical information, including full name, birthdate, and birthplace. In this section, you also should describe what family members you have, such as their relationship to you, where they live, the kind and frequency of contact that you have with them, and their immigration statuses. Next, you must describe all of your immigration history in great detail, taking care not to omit any portion of your history. You should document every time you left your native country and entered the U.S., as well as the outcome of each entry into the U.S. Your personal statement also should include a detailed criminal history, including the dates that you were arrested, the name and location of the courts in which your cases were heard, and the charges that you faced. If you were convicted of any crime, you should document the date of your conviction, the penalties that you received as a result of your conviction, and any rehabilitation that you underwent following your conviction. Next, you should give detailed information about any military service that you had in your native country, including the dates of service, the type of service, the rank that you held, any training that you had, and any combat involvement. You also should document your entire employment history, including whether your employment was lawful. You also should describe your ties to your current community in great detail, such as involvement in sports clubs, community organizations, volunteer work, and churches. Additionally, you should include any schooling that you have undertaken and any academic degrees that you hold. Finally, you should write a detailed account about your life in your native country and the reasons that you fear persecution if you were returned to that country. You will need to explain whether you actually experienced persecution in the past, who persecuted you, and when the persecution occurred. You also should describe the type of persecution that you experienced, as well as the underlying reasons for your prosecution. Immigrants already in the U.S. may have a valid asylum claim based on their fear of persecution if deported to their home countries. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we care about you and your family, and want to help you preserve your home in the United States. However, if you are in danger of deportation, you need legal representation right away. We focus our law practice solely on deportation defense cases, which allows us to expend all of our efforts in standing up for the rights of those who are facing potential deportation, including those who are seeking asylum. Our California deportation defense lawyers know how to gather persuasive evidence to support your case and we know all of the procedural ins and outs of the U.S. deportation system. Allow us to handle your deportation case by contacting us today to schedule your consultation.