I have a question. I am considering applying for asylum for my wife. She has been persecuted in her home country by the same people/groups that has persecuted me in the past. Her reason for persecution was that she is my wife (we married 2 years after I was granted asylum but were engaged when I left my home country). Her persecution is well documented. Now, the question is: Can this be a basis for asylum since she was persecuted for being my spouse and did not belong to any social/political group herself. How strong a case does this sound?
I went through the link Jack sent me and it does not include such a case in the list of "ineligible" candiates. The lawyer we are thinking of hiring to represent my wife also mentioned derivative asylum but I explained to him that most probably that is not an option for us since we were not married at the time I was granted asylum. He said that she has to have her birth certificate when she applies for asylum. Why is that? I did not have/submit my birth certificate when I applied. I did submit it when I filed my i-485.
We would really appreciate your valuable advice reagarding this.
Thanks,
Jameel
I went through the link Jack sent me and it does not include such a case in the list of "ineligible" candiates. The lawyer we are thinking of hiring to represent my wife also mentioned derivative asylum but I explained to him that most probably that is not an option for us since we were not married at the time I was granted asylum. He said that she has to have her birth certificate when she applies for asylum. Why is that? I did not have/submit my birth certificate when I applied. I did submit it when I filed my i-485.
We would really appreciate your valuable advice reagarding this.
Thanks,
Jameel