</style>
<img
src=https://img.magnific.com/premium-photo/highlighting-refugee-stories-experiences-world-refugee-day_120816-409659.jpg>
</div>
Your home country is plagued by violence, civil war, political instability, and widespread corruption. Fearing for the well-being of your family, you conclude that you have no choice but to seek safety in the United States.
There are several pathways to seek protection in the United States, including asylum, refugee status, and humanitarian parole. If the threats to you and your family are immediate and severe, you may choose to travel to the United States and apply for asylum upon arrival. However, asylum is not guaranteed, and approval depends on the facts of each case. Alternatively, if you remain outside the United States and are seeking protection from persecution or serious harm, you may apply for refugee status through the refugee resettlement process. In certain urgent humanitarian circumstances, individuals may also be eligible for humanitarian parole, which allows temporary entry into the United States on a case-by-case basis. Countries approved for humanitarian parole are Ukraine, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
Which do you choose?
[[Seek Asylum at the border]]
[[Pursue Refugee Status]]
[[Humanitarian Parole]]
</style>
<img
src=https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/05/10/multimedia/10dc-border-explainer1-lwpf/10dc-border-explainer1-lwpf-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
As you move north, the danger does not disappear.
In the Darién Gap: Armed groups target migrants, people are kidnapped for money, families are injured and separated in the chaos. Near the border, Mexican and U.S. policy prevent many vehicles from coming near the border and most asylum seekers are forced to walk around 200 miles in the hot desert. Many people who attempt to flee to the United States become too fatigued from this journey to even make it all the way to the border.
Some parents make an impossible decision:
They send their children ahead alone, hoping they will be safer without them.
Now you must decide what to do.
[[ Stay Together]]
[[Send Child Alone]]
</style>
<img
src=https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.1uOCoOZxhCaab_UfgwysQQHaE7?r=0&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3
</style>
</div>
You are outside the United States. You may apply for refugee status from abroad.
This process can take years, and only a limited number of people are accepted each year. You decide to take a chance and begin the process of filing for refugee status with the UN.
[[Continue]]</style>
<img
src=https://www.usnews.com/object/image/00000179-b410-d66f-affd-b5bc8fc80000/210528-migrants-border-editorial.jpg?
</div>
You decide to stay together. Every step toward the border feels dangerous, but at least you are not separated from your family. As you approach the border, a criminal gang involved in human trafficking intercepts your group and demands money for safe passage, leaving you with a difficult choice: pay their extortion demands, attempt to flee and risk retaliation. You are deeply afraid that this trafficking group will take advantage of knowing you will pay whatever it takes to keep your children safe. This could mean giving up all of your money and facing the risk of having none to protect your family later on...
[[Pay extortion demands]]
[[Attempt to flee]]
You make one of the hardest decisions of your life.
You send your child ahead, alone or with other migrants, hoping they will have a better chance at safety. You have a distant cousin living in the U.S. currently seeking asylum as well so you make arrangments for your child to live with them until you can reach the United States yourself. Your child will first be taken into custody by U.S. officials and placed in a separate system for minors while they look for your cousin.
You can continue your journey toward the United States or observe the asylum process from the perspective of a child immigrant.
[[Continue -> Arrival]]
[[Child's Journey]]</style>
<img
src=https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/01/05/multimedia/05dc-immig-1-9286/05dc-immig-1-9286-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You made it to the U.S. border!
How do you try to enter?
[[Go to a port of entry -> Port Entry]]
[[Cross between ports -> Between Ports]]</style>
<img
src=https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2022-10-16T004729Z_1554126780_RC2N1X94WK08_RTRMADP_3_USA-IMMIGRATION-GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA-1704320959.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513&quality=80>
</div>
Fearing for your safety, you pay the gang's extortion demand. Although you are allowed to continue your journey, you lose a significant portion of your remaining money and are fearful that criminal groups may target you again. Nonetheless, you contine your jourey to the United States.
[[ Arrival]] </style>
<img
src=https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cpsprodpb/167DE/production/_129662129_cdcbfd586daaf72c865f1a80c01428e685f971d7.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You run.
Your heart is pounding as footsteps close behind you.
You manage to escape.
[[Continue -> Arrival]]
]
(else:)[
You try to get away, but they catch up to you.
Everything happens too quickly.
[[Continue -> Captured]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2018/12/19/USAT/71ce6e33-89c3-42ee-a243-1a478eb14801-AFP_AFP_1BI0WI.JPG?width=660&height=501&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp
</div>
You walk up to an officer and ask for protection.
[[Encounter Customs and Border Protection (CBP) -> Encounter CBP]]
</style>
<img
src=https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/03/two-men-scale-cyclone-fence-78460703.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=744?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You have crossed the border between ports. You now need to decide if you want to find a Customs and Border protection officer and request protection to seek asylum or attempt to enter the U.S. undocumented.
[[Find CBP officer -> Encounter CBP]]
[[Attempt to enter undocumented -> Undocumented]] </style>
<img
src=https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/05/10/multimedia/10dc-border-explainer1-lwpf/10dc-border-explainer1-lwpf-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 14)[
You manage to cross the border without being stopped.
No one notices.
You are now inside the United States, undocumented.
[[Continue -> Undocumented Path]]
]
(else:)[
You are spotted before you can make it through.
Officers approach.
[[Continue -> Encounter CBP]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://i1.sndcdn.com/artworks-6VgmVMMiylCmfY36-6FDAsw-t500x500.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?w=790&f=12524333d0fca772381cb284b5cda401?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You encounter U.S. Customs and Border Protection and tell an officer that you want to apply for asylum.
You expected your claim to begin immediately, but the officer explains that too many people are already waiting to be processed.
Because of limited processing capacity, you may be placed on a waitlist before you can even begin the asylum process.
Some asylum seekers wait in border cities for weeks or months before their number is called.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
The port of entry is not accepting additional asylum seekers today.
Your name is added to a waiting list.
You must remain near the border and wait for your opportunity to return.
[[Continue -> Metering Waitlist]]
]
(else:)[
An officer permits you to begin the intake process.
You are taken for processing and screening.
[[Continue -> Detained]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://gript.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fingerprints-shutterstock_524699446-2.jpg?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You are taken into detention while immigration officials process your case.
During intake, officers take your fingerprints and photographs to record your identity and create an official file. You are searched, given instructions about the facility, and begin waiting for the next step in the asylum process. The environment feels unfamiliar and uncertain. You do not know how long you will remain there or what will happen next.
[[Continue to Asylum Request -> Asylum Request]]
You tell officials you are afraid to return to your home country.
You are placed into expedited removal, meaning you could be deported quickly unless you pass the next step: Credible Fear Interview (CFI). However, 10% of asylum seekers end up being released from detention before they can take their CFI.
[[Continue -> Chances of Release]]
</style>
<img
src=https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.d964cd04be3a9dde78244b1341e4d97f?rik=2zcUwFvwXPG6Sw&pid=ImgRaw&r=0
</style>
</div>
Overall, each pathway involves different eligibility requirements, procedures, and levels of uncertainty, and the appropriate option depends on your individual circumstances and where you are in the process. Thank you for taking the time to engage with and complete this scenario, and for considering the difficult decisions involved in seeking safety and protection.
If you would like to begin this journey again, continue back to start!
[[Start: Seeking Protection]] You are released but still must attend your Credible Fear Interview at an asylum office.
[[Attend interview -> CFI Result (Released before)]]You have a Credible Fear Interview while in detention.
[[Receive result -> CFI Result]]You attend your Credible Fear Interview.
An officer asks you questions about your past, your journey, and why you are afraid to return.
Your future depends on how they interpret your answers.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
After some time, you are given a decision.
The officer finds that you have a credible fear of persecution.
You will be allowed to continue your asylum case.
[[Continue -> Positive CFI]]
]
(else:)[
After some time, you are given a decision.
The officer does not find that you have a credible fear.
You may request a judge to review your case.
[[Continue -> NegativeCFI]]
]You passed the Credible Fear Interview.
You are allowed to continue your asylum case.
But what happens next depends on your detention status.
[[ Release Decision]]
You did not convince the officer.
You may ask a judge to review.
[[Ask for review -> Judge Review]]
[[Do not appeal -> Deport]]You request a judge to review the negative Credible Fear Interview decision.
The judge reviews the officer’s notes and your case.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 25)[
After reviewing the case, the judge disagrees with the original decision.
The denial is overturned.
You are allowed to continue your asylum case.
[[Continue -> Positive CFI]]
]
(else:)[
After reviewing the case, the judge agrees with the original decision.
The denial is upheld.
You will be removed from the United States.
[[Continue -> Deport]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://www.rosinalaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/What-Happens-When-I-Get-Placed-Into-Deportation-Proceedings.jpg?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
After reviewing your case, officials determine that you do not qualify for protection in the United States.
You are placed on a flight and returned to your home country.
The journey back feels different from the one that brought you here. This time, you know that the people who threatened, targeted, or persecuted you may learn that you tried to leave.
News travels quickly in many communities. Friends, neighbors, local officials, criminal groups, or other actors may become aware that you attempted to flee and seek protection abroad.
For some people, a failed attempt to leave can increase the danger they face upon return.
You reunite with your family, but the uncertainty remains. The reasons that caused you to flee have not disappeared, and returning home does not guarantee safety.
Your search for protection has come to an end, but the risks that drove you to leave may still be waiting.
[[End]] (set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 15)[
After your Credible Fear Interview, you receive a decision.
You will be released from detention while your case continues.
You are given documents and instructions you must follow carefully.
(set: $detained to false)
[[Continue -> Release]]
]
(else:)[
After your Credible Fear Interview, you receive a decision.
You will remain in detention as your case continues.
(set: $detained to true)
[[Continue ->Detained AMI Decision]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://www.lincolngoldfinch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/us-asylum-what-happens-after-youre-approved.jpg
</style>
</div>
You are granted asylum!
After one year, you can apply for a green card.
Later, you may apply for citizenship.
You are finally safe.
[[End]] You are released, but your freedom comes with strict conditions.
You must attend regular check-ins, follow curfews, and possibly wear an ankle monitor.
Every decision matters.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
You follow the rules carefully.
You attend every check-in and avoid anything that could draw attention.
Your case continues.
[[Continue -> Released AMI Decision]]
]
(else:)[
Something goes wrong.
You miss a check-in or violate the conditions placed on you.
You are taken back into custody.
(set: $detained to true)
[[Continue ->Detained after Release]]
]Approximately 10% of asylum cases are selected for an expedited process known as an Asylum Merits Interview (AMI). In this process, an asylum officer conducts a second, more detailed interview and has the authority to grant asylum directly if the applicant meets the legal requirements. A successful AMI can allow an applicant to receive asylum without having to proceed through immigration court hearings.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 20)[
While you are detained, your case is selected for a faster process.
You will have an Asylum Merits Interview instead of waiting for court.
[[Continue -> AMI Decision]]
]
(else:)[
Your case is not selected for a faster process.
You will continue through the standard immigration court system.
[[Continue -> Continue Case]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://www.newsamericasnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Form-I-589-Application-for-Asylum-and-for-Withholding-of-Removal.jpeg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=IK14rJBEWnANXUSeGclKh5c2NOxhdC3Tk3qJT67FD6I=?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
Continuing with your case, you must file your asylum application (Form I-589) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within one year of entering the United States.
As you prepare your case, you realize one of the most difficult parts of applying for asylum is completing the paperwork.
The forms require you to explain, in detail, the events that forced you to leave your home country. You must describe threats, violence, persecution, and other traumatic experiences, often reliving some of the most painful moments of your life.
At the same time, remembering exactly what happened can be challenging. Trauma affects memory, and many asylum seekers struggle to recall dates, locations, and specific details. Events that felt impossible to forget may now seem fragmented or out of order.
You worry about making mistakes. Small inconsistencies can raise questions, even when they are the result of stress, fear, or the passage of time.
As you work through the forms, you try to balance two difficult tasks: telling your story honestly and remembering enough details to prove why you need protection.
[[Continue to NTA]]The judge denies your case.
You are ordered removed from the United States.
[[ Deport]] After waiting, you get a decision but you are not told how it was made.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 37)[
You receive a message.
You have been approved for humanitarian parole.
[[Continue -> Parole Approved]]
]
(else:)[
You receive a message.
Your application was not approved.
[[Continue -> Parole Denied]]
]
</style>
<img
src=https://www.scoopfmhaiti.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/4fd8e8_6b41575815e5429ab2fef3f6b1b3d8d7mv2.webp?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=l0b7c2_SPrdZU575j4uuu4sc7iRmqiUVBXtUkwDGx5Y=
</style>
</div>
You are approved!
You board a plane and travel safely.
When you arrive in the United States:
You are not detained and you do not have a Credible Fear Interview
But this is ''temporary''
If you want to stay permanently, you still need to apply for asylum.
→ [[Continue your case -> Continue Case]]</style>
<img
src=https://media.istockphoto.com/id/155347016/photo/humanitarian-parole-application-rejected.jpg?b=1&s=170667a&w=0&k=20&c=eKoLBq3e3bJ5QdJBwl9CkXOwfo2bFaK63_Fn2PiXNgw=
</style>
</div>
Your application is denied and you are not given a reason why.
You still are not safe where you are so now you must decide what to do next:
[[Try the journey to the border ->Seek Asylum at the border]]
[[Stay and wait for another chance -> Wait]]You decide to wait but waiting does not remove the danger around you.
Your future is uncertain.
[[Seek other ways of protection ->Start: Seeking Protection]] You hear about another option: humanitarian parole. Some people can enter the United States legally by plane instead of crossing the border but it is not easy to get.
To apply, you need:
A sponsor in the U.S.
Government approval before traveling
Access to a phone or computer
Humanitarian Parole applications have a 37% success rate
[[ Parole Decision]] </style>
<img
src=https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2024-05/migrantestrailermexicali-aeee31.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You are taken.
You are moved from place to place, forced to work.
Days pass. Then weeks.
You do not know when—or if—you will ever be released.
[[End]]
]
(else:)[
You are caught before you can escape.
They take what you have—money, documents, anything of value.
Time passes.
You are eventually released, but you have lost resources and feel less safe than before.
Your journey is now even more difficult.
[[Continue to border -> Arrival]]
]
You crossed the border without being caught.
At first, it feels like a victory.
But as the days pass, you begin to understand the challenges of living without legal status. You are constantly aware that an encounter with law enforcement, an immigration check, or a mistake could change everything.
For now, your focus is on surviving and building some stability.
What do you do?
[[Look for work -> Undocumented Work]]
[[Stay with family or friends -> Undocumented Family]]Due to overcrowding and limited detention capacity in CBP facilities, some asylum seekers are released into the United States before receiving a Credible Fear Interview (CFI) and are instructed to continue the asylum process after release.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 10)[
You are unexpectedly released from detention.
You are given paperwork and instructions.
You must still attend a Credible Fear Interview—but now you will do it outside detention.
(set: $detained to false)
[[Continue ->Released before CFI]]
]
(else:)[
You remain in detention.
You are told your interview will take place while you are in custody.
(set: $detained to true)
[[Continue ->Detained for CFI]]
]You have your Asylum Merits Interview.
An officer reviews your full case and asks detailed questions.
Your case is decided quickly.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 40)[
After a short wait, you receive a decision.
You are granted asylum.
[[Continue -> Win Asylum]]
]
(else:)[
After a short wait, you receive a decision.
Your case is not approved.
You will now be placed into the immigration court process.
[[Continue -> Continue Case]]
]
Re-detention does not necessarily terminate an asylum claim; the case will continue while the applicant remains in custody.
[[ Continue Case]] Approximately 10% of asylum cases are selected for an expedited process known as an Asylum Merits Interview (AMI). In this process, an asylum officer conducts a second, more detailed interview and has the authority to grant asylum directly if the applicant meets the legal requirements. A successful AMI can allow an applicant to receive asylum without having to proceed through immigration court hearings.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 20)[
While you are released, your case is selected for a faster process.
You will have an Asylum Merits Interview instead of waiting for court.
[[Continue -> AMI Decision]]
]
(else:)[
Your case is not selected for a faster process.
You will continue through the standard immigration court system.
[[Continue -> Continue Case]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://visitsanfrancisco.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/best-view-loews-regency.jpg
</style>
</div>
You present your case in immigration court.
The judge reviews your testimony and evidence.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
After a long wait, the decision arrives.
The judge grants asylum.
[[Continue -> Win Asylum]]
]
(else:)[
After a long wait, the decision arrives.
The judge denies your case.
[[Continue -> Removal]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://images.fineartamerica.com/images/artworkimages/mediumlarge/2/chicago-skyline-kubrak78.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=IK14rJBEWnANXUSeGclKh5c2NOxhdC3Tk3qJT67FD6I=?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You present your case in immigration court.
The judge listens to your testimony and reviews your evidence.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 25)[
After a long wait, the decision arrives.
The judge grants asylum.
[[Continue -> Win Asylum]]
]
(else:)[
After a long wait, the decision arrives.
The judge denies your case.
[[Continue -> Removal]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/houston-texas-sunset-view-downtown-600nw-2040237839.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=IK14rJBEWnANXUSeGclKh5c2NOxhdC3Tk3qJT67FD6I=?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You present your case in immigration court.
The judge reviews your testimony and evidence.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 3)[
After a long wait, the decision arrives.
The judge grants asylum.
[[Continue -> Win Asylum]]
]
(else:)[
After a long wait, the decision arrives.
The judge denies your case.
[[Continue -> Removal]]
]You flee your home country and cross into a neighboring country. You are no longer in immediate danger, but you are not safe yet. You find out the country you fled to requires health screeens. This is first step of the refugee process to test for any major infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and hepatitis B. If you do not pass these health screens you will not be able to continue your journey to refugee status.
[[Continue -> Health Screening]]</style>
<img
src=https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.L4u5EtkdX1TdH7AIbvj00AHaEK?r=0&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3
</style>
</div>
Before your refugee claim can move forward, you complete an initial health screening conducted by local authorities or organizations working with the United Nations. The screening checks for urgent medical needs, communicable diseases, and other health concerns that could affect your placement and access to services..
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 75)[
You pass the screening.
[[Continue -> Documentation Check]]
]
(else:)[
You are told you need treatment before continuing.
[[Continue -> Medical Delay]]
]As you prepare to register, officials ask whether you have any documents that can help establish your identity and the circumstances that forced you to flee.
Throughout their journeys, many refugees lose important belongings. Passports, birth certificates, school records, and identification cards may be left behind during hurried departures, destroyed during conflict, confiscated by authorities, or lost while traveling across multiple borders.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You still have documents.
(set: $hasDocs to true)
[[Continue -> Register UN]]
]
(else:)[
Your documents are lost or taken. You arrive at registration without any official identification documents.
Officials explain that documents are not required to apply for refugee status, but they can help establish your identity and support your claim.
Someone suggests contacting your country's embassy or consulate to see whether replacement documents can be obtained.
The idea makes you uneasy. Depending on why you fled, contacting representatives of your home country may feel risky. Still, you have few other options.
(set: $hasDocs to false)
[[Contact your countries embassy to get new documents]]
[[Continue without documents -> Register UN]]
]
You are referred for medical treatment before your registration can continue.
The clinic is crowded, and resources are limited. Some people have been waiting for days or even weeks to see a doctor.
You wait alongside other displaced families, unsure how long the delay will last or whether your condition will improve.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You recover enough to continue.
[[Continue -> Documentation Check]]
]
(else:)[
Your condition worsens.
You are unable to continue on the path for Refugee status but hope is not lost. You can either end your journey here or seek out other options.
[[Start: Seeking Protection]]
[[End]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://s3.amazonaws.com/berkley-center/MuslimRefugeesUnitedNationsHighCommissionerRefugees_500.jpg
</style>
</div>
After reaching a place of relative safety, you begin the formal registration process with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Registration officers collect information about your identity, family members, country of origin, and the events that forced you to flee.
Your photograph and biometric information may be recorded, and you are asked to provide any documents you may have that can help establish who you are.
This information will be used to determine what protection and assistance you may be eligible to receive.
(set: $registered to true)
[[Continue -> Camp Life]]</style>
<img
src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f5068d2/2147483647/strip/true/crop/1334x889+100+0/resize/840x560!/quality/90/?url=https:%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F5MmJIWmq-fs0JLM6SE3DNsyBknQ%3D%2F0x0:1534x889%2F1534x889%2Ffilters:focal(767x445:768x446)%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F24940205%2Fmerlin_37268268.jpg
</style>
</div>
After registering, you are directed to a refugee camp established to provide temporary shelter and basic services for displaced people.
The camp is crowded. Families live in tents, temporary shelters, or communal housing while they wait for information about their cases.
Food, water, medical care, and education are available, but resources are limited and often stretched thin by the needs of thousands of people seeking safety.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You find basic shelter.
[[Continue -> Waiting Period]]
]
(else-if: $roll <= 80)[
Food and water are limited.
(set: $stress to 1)
[[Continue -> Waiting Period]]
]
(else:)[
Violence breaks out in the camp.
[[Continue -> Camp Conflict]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://secure.i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01997/famine-tents_1997489c.jpg
</style>
</div>
After completing registration, there is little to do but wait.
Refugee systems around the world are often overwhelmed by the number of people seeking protection. Cases can take months or even years to move through the process.
You spend your days waiting for updates, attending appointments, and trying to build a routine while living with uncertainty about what comes next.
Months pass.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
You remain stable.
[[Continue -> Marriage Documentation Problem]]
]
(else-if: $roll <= 85)[
Your case is delayed.
[[Continue -> Waiting Period]]
]
(else:)[
You face danger even here.
[[Continue -> Ongoing Risk]]
]
Months have passed since you arrived at the camp.
People wait for decisions on their refugee claims, news from loved ones, and opportunities for a better future. The uncertainty takes a toll on everyone.
One afternoon, shouting breaks out near the food distribution area. Small arguments quickly draw larger crowds, and before long unrest spreads through parts of the camp.
You find yourself close to the conflict you sought to avoid.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
You avoid serious harm.
[[Continue -> Waiting Period]]
]
(else:)[
You are injured.
(set: $healthRisk to true)
[[Continue -> Waiting Period]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://acsg-portal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Picture-1.jpg
</style>
</div>
After years of waiting, you are finally scheduled for a Refugee Status Determination (RSD) interview.
An officer asks detailed questions about your life, the events that forced you to flee, and why you believe returning home would place you in danger.
You are encouraged to provide as much information as possible. Any documents, photographs, or other evidence you still possess may help support your claim.
The information you provide today will play a major role in determining whether you are recognized as a refugee under international law.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(set: $threshold to 35)
(if: $hasDocs is true)[
(set: $threshold to $threshold + 15)
]
(if: $roll <= $threshold)[
You are recognized as a refugee.
[[Continue ->Approved RSD]]
]
(else:)[
Your application is denied.
[[Continue -> Denied RSD]]
]
Although you have escaped the immediate dangers that forced you to flee your home country, safety is not guaranteed.
Refugees can still face discrimination, crime, exploitation, and insecurity in the countries where they seek protection. Some live in areas with limited government services or struggle to access legal protections.
Each day brings new challenges, and the future remains uncertain.
[[Continue -> RSD Interview]]
After reviewing your testimony and supporting evidence, officials determine that you meet the international legal definition of a refugee.
You are formally recognized as someone who cannot safely return to your home country and who is entitled to international protection.
The decision brings relief, but it is not the end of your journey.
Being recognized as a refugee does not guarantee that you will be resettled to another country. Most refugees spend years in the countries where they first seek protection, and many are never offered resettlement at all.
[[Continue -> Resettlement Chance]]Your claim is denied.
You remain without protection. You can either choose to stay in this country unprotected or seek protecting via another immigration path in another country.
[[End]]
[[Start: Seeking Protection]] Less than 1% of the world's recognized refugees are resettled to a third country each year. Most refugees either remain in their country of asylum, integrate locally, or eventually return home if conditions improve.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 1)[
You are selected for resettlement.
[[Continue -> Country Assignment]]
]
(else:)[
You are not selected.
You remain where you are.
You can either choose to stay in this refugee or seek protecting via another immigration path in another country.
[[Start: Seeking Protection]]
[[End]]
](set: $roll to (random: 1, 3))
(if: $roll is 1)[</style>
<img
src=https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIP.ku6_diV-i8oIQwab7Pl0GAHaD2?r=0&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain&o=7&rm=3
</style>
</div>
You are resettled in the United States.
]
(else-if: $roll is 2)[</style>
<img
src=https://images.stockcake.com/public/6/a/c/6ac2aebc-9af5-424a-9065-900396e58bc5_large/patriotic-canadian-vista-stockcake.jpg
</style>
</div>
You are resettled in Canada.
]
(else:)[</style>
<img
src=https://img.freepik.com/premium-photo/flag-germany-is-tricolor-flag-consisting-three-equal-horizontal-bands-black-red-gold_14117-105276.jpg
</style>
</div>
You are resettled in Germany.
]
[[Continue -> Arrival/Resettlement Agency]]</style>
<img
src=https://i2-prod.glasgowlive.co.uk/incoming/article14971498.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/4__GFMP_SDR_200618-refugee-welcome_a03.jpg
</style>
</div>
After years of uncertainty, waiting, interviews, and paperwork, you finally arrive in your new country. At the airport, representatives from a refugee resettlement agency are waiting to welcome you. They help you collect your belongings, arrange transportation, and bring you to temporary housing.
Over the next few weeks, the agency helps you complete many important tasks: enrolling children in school, applying for benefits, attending medical appointments, and learning how to navigate unfamiliar systems.
For the first time in a long time, you are beginning a life that is not defined by survival alone. Yet everything feels unfamiliar. The language, customs, laws, transportation systems, and even everyday routines are different from what you have always known.
You are safe, but a new challenge is beginning: learning how to build a home in a place you have never lived before.
[[Continue -> Early Adjustment]]You begin your new life.
You rely on the resettlement agency for support, but resources are limited.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
You settle into basic housing and begin adjusting.
[[Continue -> LanguageLearning]]
]
(else:)[
Housing is unstable, and support is limited.
You struggle to meet your basic needs.
(set: $stress to 2)
[[Continue -> LanguageLearning]]
]
``
Simple tasks that once required little thought—grocery shopping, visiting a doctor, talking with a teacher, filling out forms, or asking for directions—now feel much more complicated.
Many refugees attend language classes offered by schools, community organizations, or resettlement agencies. Progress takes time, and mistakes are a natural part of the process.
Each new word and conversation helps you become more independent, but adapting to a new language often requires months or even years of practice and patience.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You begin to understand and communicate.
This helps you access opportunities.
(set: $languageSkill to true)
[[Continue -> Employment]]
]
(else:)[
Progress is slow.
You struggle to communicate.
(set: $languageSkill to false)
[[Continue -> Employment]]
]
As your initial resettlement assistance begins to end, finding employment becomes increasingly important.
You start applying for jobs, but the process is not always easy. Employers may not recognize your education or work experience from your home country. Language barriers, transportation challenges, and unfamiliar hiring practices can make it difficult to compete for available positions.
Still, finding stable employment can provide financial independence and help you build a new life in your new community.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(set: $threshold to 40)
/* Language bonus */
(if: $languageSkill is true)[
(set: $threshold to $threshold + 20)
]
(if: $roll <= $threshold)[
You find a job.
It is not easy, but it provides stability.
[[Continue -> Cultural Adjustment]]
]
(else:)[
You struggle to find steady work.
Financial stress builds.
(set: $stress to $stress + 1)
[[Continue -> Cultural Adjustment]]
]Life in your new country feels unfamiliar.
You must learn new social norms, customs, and ways of interacting with others. Conversations, friendships, and community events may feel different from what you are used to.
Over time, you begin building relationships and finding your place in your new community.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 50)[
You slowly adapt.
You begin to understand how things work.
[[Continue -> Long Term Outcome]]
]
(else:)[
You feel isolated.
It is difficult to feel at home.
(set: $stress to $stress + 1)
[[Continue -> Long Term Outcome]]
]Time passes.
Your life begins to take shape in this new country.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 40)[
You build a stable life.
You find community and a sense of belonging.
[[End]]
]
(else-if: $roll <= 75)[
You survive, but challenges remain.
Life is better than before, but still uncertain.
[[End]]
]
(else:)[
You continue to struggle with isolation, work, and adapting.
The transition has been difficult.
[[Win Refugee]]
]Years after leaving your home, your journey has finally brought you to a place of safety.
You navigated health screenings, registration, life in a refugee camp, long periods of waiting, and a detailed refugee status interview. After being recognized as a refugee, you were among the small percentage of people selected for resettlement.
The transition was not easy. You adapted to a new language, searched for employment, and learned how to navigate an unfamiliar culture and community.
Today, you have begun building a new life.
While challenges remain, you are no longer living in fear of the persecution, violence, or conflict that forced you to flee your home.
Your story as a refugee does not end here—but a new chapter has begun.
[[End]]
Your father makes a difficult decision.
The journey north has become too dangerous.
Rather than risk keeping the family together, your father asks trusted family friends in Mexico to help you reach the United States.
You do not understand all of the details.
You only know that your mother is somewhere in the United States and that your father hopes she can keep you safe.
[[Continue -> Journey North]]You travel with family friends through Mexico. They help you find food, places to sleep, and transportation. Eventually, you reach the United States border.
The adults stop walking.
They point toward a group of Border Patrol officers in the distance.
"Walk toward them," they tell you.
"When they ask questions, tell them your mother's name."
You take a deep breath and begin walking alone.
[[Continue -> Border Custody]]</style>
<img
src=https://krdo.b-cdn.net/2021/03/lihJhedc-hypatia-h_e3ee3803d77e6e3d9858e97ab50334e2-h_8b61be11e8c0ca68759c89f357eefe18_preview.jpg
</style>
</div>
Border Patrol officers take you into custody. You answer questions as best you can. Officials record your information and enter it into a computer system. You assume they know who you are and that they will quickly contact your mother.
You are wrong.
[[Continue -> Processing Error]]During processing, officials record your name incorrectly. Because your name is entered incorrectly, your information becomes difficult to locate within the system. You do not know this has happened, you only know that each day feels longer than the last.
[[Continue -> Mother Search]]Meanwhile, your mother learns that you have entered Border Patrol custody. She begins calling government offices and detention facilities. Officials search their records.
"No child by that name exists," they tell her.
Your mother calls again.
And again.
And again.
Each time she receives the same answer.
[[Continue -> Evidence Submission]]Desperate to find you, your mother submits photographs. She sends school records and provides family information. Each document confirms that you are her child.
Still, officials cannot locate you.
Your file remains hidden beneath the incorrectly recorded name.
Months pass.
[[Continue -> Interpreter Issues]]While in custody, officials attempt to interview you.
Several times, they provide interpreters who do not speak the language you are most comfortable using.
Questions become difficult to understand.
Answers become difficult to communicate.
You try your best, but adults continue making decisions around you.
[[Continue -> Finally Located]]Months after entering custody, officials finally connect your case to your mother's search.
For the first time, someone realizes that the child they have been looking for may already be in government custody.
There is hope.
But the process is not finished.
[[Continue -> DNA Test]]Officials request a DNA test. A cheek swab is collected from you and another is collected from your mother.
The results confirm what your family already knew:
You are related.
You expect to be reunited immediately but instead, you continue waiting.
[[Continue -> More Waiting]]Days become weeks.
Weeks become months.
Even with the DNA results, paperwork moves slowly. You remain in government custody. and your mother continues making phone calls and asking questions.
Nobody can explain exactly how much longer the process will take.
[[Continue -> Reunification]]After many months, officials finally approve your release.
You leave custody and are reunited with your mother.
The separation is over, but the asylum process is not. You will now continue your journey with your mother, however, your father has only begun his travels to the U.S. Continue from his persepctive.
[[Continue -> Arrival]]</style>
<img
src=https://ifapray.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/GettyImages-1451581554_750x385_acf_cropped.jpg?c=original&q=h_447,c_fill?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
Your name is added to a waiting list.
Each morning, you hope your number will be called. Each evening, you return to the same uncertainty.
You cannot enter the United States yet.
The border city is crowded with other asylum seekers waiting for the chance to present their claims. Many have been waiting for weeks or even months.
The money you brought with you is running low. Some of what you had was already lost to extortion demands, transportation costs, and the journey north. You also quickly realize the border cities are not safe for your family as many young women and girls are particularly vunerable with increased reports of kidnappings.
Every morning, many people go to the port of entry to listen for their meter number to be called. Officials try to call numbers in the order that migrants arrived but this isn't always the case. Some days 10 people are called, some days 30, and some days no one at all. Due to this lack of predictability, many migrants in the border cities seek low wage jobs while waiting for their number but often times miss their number if they are away at work.
You need a place to stay and a way to survive while you wait.
What do you do?
[[Try to survive on your own -> Survive Alone]]
[[Seek shelter at a local church -> Church Shelter]]
[[Seek help from a nonprofit organization -> Nonprofit Help]]
</style>
<img
src=https://nextcity.org/images/made/CB_HugsNotWalls18_920_613_80.jpeg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You hear about a nonprofit organization assisting asylum seekers near the border.
Staff and volunteers help explain the process, connect people to temporary shelter, and provide information about local resources.
Demand for services is high, and not everyone can be helped immediately.
(set: $roll to (random: 1,100))
(if: $roll <= 70)[
A nonprofit worker is able to help.
You receive information about shelter, food, transportation, and what to expect while waiting for your number to be called.
[[Continue -> Waitlist Outcome]]
]
(else:)[
The organization is overwhelmed.
There are simply too many people seeking assistance.
You leave with limited information and continue searching for support.
[[Continue -> Church Shelter]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/768/cpsprodpb/14A17/production/_110230548_99339969-de96-4845-b3c6-3d70dd92b1e8.jpg?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
You decide to seek food and shelter without external help.
Many people around you have similar stories. Families are struggling to survive, and few have the resources to help someone else.
Without stable housing, every day becomes a challenge.
(set: $roll to (random: 1,100))
(if: $roll <= 30)[
You manage to get by.
The conditions are difficult, but you find temporary work, occasional shelter, and enough support to stay near the border.
[[Continue -> Waitlist Outcome]]
]
(else:)[
Your money runs out.
Without reliable shelter, safety becomes increasingly difficult to maintain.
You decide you need to seek help elsewhere.
[[Continue -> Church Shelter]]
]</style>
<img
src=https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/sites/default/files/styles/article_full/public/20181212T0818-MEXICO-PILGRIMAGE-GUADALUPE-582882.JPG?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
A local church opens its doors to migrants waiting near the border.
You are given a place to sleep, often on a cot, the floor, or even in the church pews themselves.
Volunteers provide meals, basic supplies, and information about the asylum process.
Life remains uncertain, but you no longer face every challenge alone.
[[Continue -> Waitlist Outcome]]</style>
<img
src=https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/01/RS34051_chaparral-FINAL-01-800x532.jpg?c=original&q=h_447,c_fill?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
Days turn into weeks.
You develop routines with the other people waiting near the border. Everyone is hoping for the same thing: a chance to enter the United States and begin the asylum process.
No one knows exactly how long the wait will last.
(set: $roll to (random: 1,100))
(if: $roll <= 35)[
At last, your number is called.
You return to the port of entry and are allowed to begin the asylum process.
[[Continue -> Detained]]
]
(else:)[
The waiting continues.
[[Continue -> Waitlist Outcome]]
]You attend your Credible Fear Interview.
An officer asks you questions about your past, your journey, and why you are afraid to return.
Your future depends on how they interpret your answers.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
After some time, you are given a decision.
The officer finds that you have a credible fear of persecution.
You will be allowed to continue your asylum case.
[[Continue -> Positive CFI (released before)]]
]
(else:)[
After some time, you are given a decision.
The officer does not find that you have a credible fear.
You may request a judge to review your case.
[[Continue -> Negative CFI (released before)]]
]You passed the Credible Fear Interview.
You are allowed to continue your asylum case.
But what happens next depends on your detention status.
[[ Release Decision (released before)]] (set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 15)[
After your Credible Fear Interview, you receive a decision.
You will stay out of detention while your case continues.
You are given documents and instructions you must follow carefully.
(set: $detained to false)
[[Continue -> Release]]
]
(else:)[
After your Credible Fear Interview, you receive a decision.
You are placed back in detention as your case continues.
(set: $detained to true)
[[Continue ->Detained AMI Decision]]
]You did not convince the officer.
You may ask a judge to review.
[[Ask for review -> Judge Review (released before)]]
[[Do not appeal -> Deport]]You request a judge to review the negative Credible Fear Interview decision.
The judge reviews the officer’s notes and your case.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 25)[
After reviewing the case, the judge disagrees with the original decision.
The denial is overturned.
You are allowed to continue your asylum case.
[[Continue -> Positive CFI (released before)]]
]
(else:)[
After reviewing the case, the judge agrees with the original decision.
The denial is upheld.
You will be removed from the United States.
[[Continue -> Deport]]
]You decide to contact your embassy for new documentation.
(if: $roll <= 10)[
After weeks of waiting and multiple requests, the embassy is able to locate records that confirm your identity.
New documentation is issued.
While it does not erase the difficulties you have faced, it may help support your refugee claim.
(set: $hasDocs to true)
[[Continue -> Register UN]]
]
(else:)[
Weeks pass without success.
Embassy staff cannot locate your records, refuse to issue replacement documents, or are unable to assist.
You remain without official documentation.
(set: $hasDocs to false)
[[Continue -> Register UN]]
]
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
Years have passed since you fled your home country.
While living in the refugee camp, you meet someone. Over time, the two of you build a relationship and decide that you would like to get married. However, there is a problem.
Your first spouse was killed during the conflict that forced you to flee, but you do not have an official death certificate. The attack happened during a period of violence, and no formal records were ever issued.
Local authorities explain that they need some form of proof that your previous marriage legally ended before they can approve a new one.
You gather witness statements and any information you can find.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 100))
(if: $roll <= 15)[
After reviewing camp records, witness testimony, and other available evidence, authorities determine that there is sufficient proof of your spouse's death.
You are granted permission to marry.
While it cannot erase the loss you experienced, it allows you to begin a new chapter of your life.
[[Continue -> RSD Interview]]
]
(else:)[
Authorities determine that there is not enough evidence to legally verify your spouse's death.
Without official documentation, your marriage application cannot be approved at this time.
You remain together, but your legal status as a couple remains unresolved.
[[Continue -> RSD Interview]]
]Finally, after 5 years of waiting, you have been issued a Notice to Appear (NTA), which initiates immigration court proceedings and provides information regarding your hearing dates. It is important to attend all scheduled hearings and comply with any reporting requirements while your case is pending.
By this point, the United States feels like home. You have built relationships, found work, and established a routine. Years may have passed since you first arrived, and much of your life is now here.
Yet everything now depends on a decision made by someone who may have only met you for a few hours. As you wait for the ruling, it is difficult to concentrate on anything else. You think about the journey that brought you here, the people you left behind, and the life you have worked so hard to build.
As your case moves forward, you learn which immigration court will hear your asylum claim. You know that outcomes can vary dramatically depending on where a case is decided.
Your court assignment arrives.
(set: $roll to (random: 1, 3))
(if: $roll is 1)[
You are assigned to immigration court in San Francisco, California.
This court is known for being more favorable to asylum seekers.
(set: $court to "SanFrancisco")
[[Continue -> San Fransisco Court Process]]
]
(else-if: $roll is 2)[
You are assigned to immigration court in Chicago, Illinois.
Outcomes here are more moderate and less predictable.
(set: $court to "Chicago")
[[Continue -> Chicago Court Process]]
]
(else:)[
You are assigned to immigration court in Houston, Texas.
This court is known for being very conservative.
(set: $court to "Houston")
[[Continue -> Housten Court Process]]
]You begin searching for work.
Without legal work authorization, your options are limited. Employers may offer lower wages, unsafe conditions, or jobs that provide little security.
(set: $roll to (random: 1,100))
(if: $roll <= 60)[
You find regular work and begin saving money.
[[Continue -> Undocumented Community]]
]
(else:)[
You struggle to find consistent employment.
The stress of supporting yourself begins to grow.
[[Continue -> Undocumented Community]]
]Family members or friends offer you a place to stay.
Having support makes daily life easier, but you still worry about your future and whether you will be able to remain in the country long-term.
[[Continue -> Undocumented Community]]Months turn into years.
<br>
You build relationships, learn your community, and develop routines. You may find work, attend religious services, volunteer, or help support family members.
<br>
Yet uncertainty remains.
<br>
Without legal status, many opportunities remain out of reach, and you always worry about what could happen if immigration authorities discover your situation.
<br>
(set: $roll to (random: 1,100))
(if: $roll <= 40)[
You learn that you may be eligible to apply for asylum or seek legal assistance.
<br>
[[Continue-> Undocumented Legal Assistance]]
]
(else:)[
Years pass.
<br>
You continue living in the United States without legal status.
<br>
[[Continue-> ICE Encounter]]
]
One day, your routine is interrupted.
An encounter with law enforcement, a workplace investigation, or information shared with immigration authorities brings you to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Within hours, years of trying to stay unnoticed seem to disappear.
You are taken into custody and transferred to an immigration detention facility.
[[Continue -> ICE Outcome]]
While in detention, officials review your case and immigration history.
<br>
Because you entered the country without authorization and never obtained legal status, you face removal proceedings.
<br>
(set: $roll to (random: 1,100))
(if: $roll <= 20)[
A legal advocate discovers a possible avenue for relief.
<br>
You are given an opportunity to pursue protection through the immigration system.
<br>
[[Continue-> Detained]]
]
(else:)[
Your removal order is finalized.
<br>
[[Continue-> Deport]]
]After years of living in the United States without legal status, you learn that there may be a way to seek protection through the asylum system.
You meet with a legal services organization that agrees to review your case. They ask questions about your journey, your experiences in your home country, and why you are afraid to return.
The attorney cannot promise success. In fact, they explain that asylum cases are often difficult to win and can take years to resolve.
But they also tell you that you may have a chance.
For the first time in a long time, your future feels a little less uncertain.
You decide to move forward with an asylum application.
[[Continue -> Asylum Application]]</style>
<img
src=https://www.newsamericasnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Form-I-589-Application-for-Asylum-and-for-Withholding-of-Removal.jpeg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=IK14rJBEWnANXUSeGclKh5c2NOxhdC3Tk3qJT67FD6I=?itok=zZb98jjc?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale?s=594x594&w=gi&k=20&c=rGwBPeOBdan5SMp8n4jeZlQpAwi-_BingeoUGepWoso=?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale>
</div>
After meeting with a legal services organization, you decide to apply for asylum.
The process is more complicated than simply filling out forms. You must gather information about your life, explain why you fled your home country, and provide as much detail as possible about the harm you experienced or fear you may face if returned.
Much of your case depends on your own memories. You spend hours working with your attorney to reconstruct events, collect evidence, and prepare a written statement.
The process can be emotionally exhausting. Many asylum seekers are asked to revisit experiences they have spent years trying to forget.
Still, this application represents an opportunity—a chance to seek protection and remain in the country you now call home.
After months of preparation, your application is finally submitted.
[[Continue -> Filing Application]]Your asylum application has been filed.
You receive confirmation that your case has been accepted for processing.
Now begins another long wait.
You continue living in the United States while your case moves through the immigration system. During this time, you may attend appointments, gather additional evidence, and prepare for future hearings.
Your future remains uncertain, but your case is finally moving forward.
[[Continue ->Continue to NTA]]