Asylum and Humanitarian Relief

If you have fled persecution, are afraid to return home, or are seeking protection under U.S. humanitarian immigration laws, you need an attorney who understands both the legal standards and what it takes to build a credible, well-documented case. Kinzy Law has represented asylum applicants and humanitarian relief seekers since the late 1990s, across a wide range of country conditions and procedural postures, and handles these matters with the seriousness they deserve.

What To Know Right Now

Humanitarian cases are being decided under tighter timelines and closer credibility review than in the past. Interviews and hearings are more demanding, corroborating evidence carries more weight, and small inconsistencies can do real damage to an otherwise strong case. The response is preparation: a careful written statement, thorough country-conditions and corroborating evidence, and a client who is ready for the interview or hearing. The earlier that work begins, especially given the deadlines described below, the stronger the case tends to be.

Asylum: Protection for Those Who Fear Persecution

U.S. asylum law protects people who fear persecution in their home country on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.

Asylum cases are won on preparation: a strong, consistent written statement, supporting evidence (country-conditions reports, medical and psychological evaluations, witness statements, documentation of harm), and skillful handling of the interview or hearing. Affirmative asylum is filed with USCIS and decided by an asylum officer; defensive asylum is raised in immigration court during removal proceedings. The firm handles both, including cases that move from one track to the other.

The one-year deadline. In general, an asylum application must be filed within one year of the applicant’s last arrival in the United States. There are exceptions for changed or extraordinary circumstances, but they are narrow, and missing the deadline is one of the most common ways a strong case is lost. If you are near or past one year, it is worth getting advice quickly rather than assuming the door is closed.

Withholding of Removal & CAT: Protection When Asylum Is Not Available

When someone does not qualify for asylum, for example because of the one-year deadline, withholding of removal and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) may still prevent deportation to a country where they face harm. These forms of relief carry a higher standard of proof than asylum but are not subject to the same eligibility bars, including the one-year deadline.

One important difference to understand: withholding and CAT protect a person from being removed to the country of danger, but unlike a grant of asylum they do not by themselves lead to a green card or bring family members. Understanding that distinction up front helps set realistic expectations about what each form of relief can and cannot do.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

TPS provides temporary protection from deportation and work authorization for nationals of countries designated because of armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary conditions. Designations and re-registration windows change, so timing matters. The firm handles initial TPS applications, re-registrations, and adjustments of status for TPS holders who become eligible for a green card.

Protection for Crime and Trafficking Victims: U Visas and T Visas

U visas are available to victims of certain qualifying crimes who have been helpful to law enforcement; T visas are available to victims of human trafficking. Both can lead to permanent residence and eventually citizenship. These cases require coordination with law enforcement (for the U visa certification), careful, trauma-informed work with the client, and substantial documentation.

A practical note on timing: U visa demand far exceeds the annual cap, so waits are long. While a case is pending, applicants who meet the requirements may receive work authorization through a bona fide determination, which the firm pursues where it is available.

Protection for Survivors of Abuse: VAWA Self-Petitions

The Violence Against Women Act allows survivors of domestic abuse by a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, parent, or adult child to self-petition for permanent residence without the abuser’s involvement or knowledge. The firm handles VAWA self-petitions with confidentiality and care.

A Note on Your Safety and Privacy
If you are in an unsafe situation, your privacy matters. You are welcome to contact the firm confidentially, and if it is safer to reach you at a particular time or through a particular method, you can say so. If you are using a shared or monitored device, consider reaching out from a device the other person cannot access. If you are in immediate danger, call 911 first.

Why Our Practice: Experience That These Cases Require

More than 20 years handling humanitarian immigration, with Spanish, Hindi, and Urdu language capability and culturally aware representation. The firm’s attorney has appeared in immigration courts in Chicago, Texas, and elsewhere, and bring BIA appellate experience across dozens of matters for cases that need to be carried further. Above all, these cases are handled with honesty: you will be told plainly whether you have a case and what it would take to pursue it.