Asylum Attorney
Helping Immigrants Seek Asylum in the United States
Asylum is a legal status that offers special legal protections to individuals who fear returning to their home country due to past persecution or have a well-founded fear or persecution due to race, nationality, religion, political opinion, or membership in a specific social group. If granted asylum, you will be allowed remain in the U.S. You are also able to apply for a green card within one year of being approved for asylum.
Asylum can provide a crucial form of protection. However, not everyone qualifies. To be eligible for asylum in the U.S., you must:
- Submit an application for asylum within one year of your arrival to the U.S.
- Prove that you have suffered past persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution by the government of your home country or an entity that the government can or will not control.
- Prove that the persecution you would face in your home country is based on your religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
In some circumstances, you may apply for asylum even if you have been present in the U.S. for more than one year. This is possible if you can prove that extraordinary circumstances prevented you from submitting the application within one year of entering the U.S. or if you can show conditions in your home country have materially changed since you entered the U.S., or if your own personal circumstances have changed such that the threat you will face if you are forced to return to your home country is materially affected. However, even if you meet one of these exceptions, you still must still file within a “reasonable period of time.
How to Obtain Asylum?
There are two main ways to obtain asylum status in the U.S: 1) Affirmative asylum, or through 2) Defensive asylum:
Affirmative Asylum Application
- A person can apply for asylum through an affirmative application directly to USCIS without being placed in removal proceedings.
- This requires submitting an application to USCIS and then attending in an interview at your local USCIS Asylum office.
Defensive Asylum Application
- If you have been placed in removal proceedings and you are defending against deportation from the U.S. In this case the application submitted directly to an immigration court. Once your asylum application is accepted by the immigration court, the immigration judge will set time for an individual hearing where you will defend your claim for asylum.
The process for seeking asylum is serious, complex and complicated. If you are considering filing for asylum you should consult with an experienced immigration attorney who can explain the process and help you make an informed decision on how to proceed.
You can schedule a free consultation at any one of our locations in Maryland, Washington, D.C., or Virginia today at (855) 954-4141.

Client testimonials
What our clients have to say about our experienced immigration attorney-
Mr. Pablo and his team were very friendly and knowledgeable
“Mr. Pablo and his team were very friendly and knowledgeable in the area of immigration legal support. I am proud to be a naturalized citizen soon and without their support it would not have been possi ...”
- Jamie -
Excellent at What They Do, Very Kind and Efficient
“Excellent at what they do and everyone is very kind and efficient, especially Miss Giselle and lawyer Pablo, I couldn't choose a better firm, thank you very much!!!”
- Nicole -
Very Satisfied with Portner & SHURE, P.A.'s Work
“I am very satisfied with the work of Portner & SHURE, P.A. They managed to resolve my case sooner than I expected. I recommend their service. They will give you very good results in a short time. And ...”
- Carlos -
Thank You Mr. Pablo Pérez for Helping Me Reunite
“Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Pablo Pérez. I thank you very much for helping me reunite with my family. It took me years to try to get the visa center to unblock this whole process for me, ...”
- Teresa -
They will not disappoint you.
“I'm very pleased with how my attorney Pablo Perez and his team handled my case. Very responsive, always returned my calls and answered my questions and concerns. They kept me updated with any changes ...”
- Former Client -
I highly recommend.
“Good and professional firm that is handling my immigration case & always making sure we fully understand the process & reasonable rates I highly recommend.”
- D.D. -
Great experience!
“Great experience! Quick and easy process from client point of view. Thank you Pablo and team for all the help!”
- Former Client -
I really appreciate all her hard work!
“Karen was my immigration lawyer at Portner &Shure. My case was not the easiest case, it consisted of a lot of paperwork and submitting alot of documents which was hard to find. We were trying to get ...”
- Anon -
In the future I will use them again
“I recently had trouble with my wife’s permanent resident card we noticed that it was expired. So I contacted Portner & Shure and was rapidly set up with an appointment with them.”
- K.F. -
Guided me with the RFE process
“Karen Williams guided me with the RFE process. She helped me throughout the difficult scenario, till I got my EAD card, staying calm and confident. Thank you Karen.”
- D.N.S.

WHY HIRE US?
EXPECT MORE WITH PORTNER & SHURE-
We offer legal representation in Spanish.
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We have aggressive litigation tactics, skill, and passion.
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We have offices in Maryland, Virginia & Washington, D.C.
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Over 30 Years of Experience Serving Clients
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We have received countless 5-star Google & Facebook reviews.
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We have recovered over $400 million on behalf of our clients.

When you hire Portner & Shure, you can expect more from your representation. In addition to getting an attorney, you will get a committed advocates you has your best interests at heart.