Asylum is a form of protection that allows individuals to remain in the United States instead of being deported to a country where they fear persecution or harm. U.S. law provides the opportunity for people fleeing their home countries due to such fears to apply for asylum. If granted asylum, individuals receive protection and the right to stay in the U.S. To qualify for asylum, the harm or threat of harm must be based on one of the following grounds: race, religion, nationality, political opinion (or a perceived political opinion), or membership in a “particular social group.”

You may include your spouse and children who are physically present in the United States as
dependents on your affirmative or defensive asylum application at the time you file or at any time until a final decision is made on your application. To include your child as a dependent on your application, the child must be under 21 years old and unmarried