Asylum: protection for people who cannot safely return
Asylum protects people already in the United States, or at a port of entry, who have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution on one of five grounds. Affirmative asylum is filed with USCIS on Form I-589; defensive asylum is raised in immigration court when removal proceedings are already under way. The application must be filed within 1 year of arrival unless an exception applies. A grant leads to a green card after 1 year, and to family reunification for a spouse and children.
Education, not legal advice.
Talk to an attorney who does Asylum work