![]() You might even want to write this question down and regularly look at it as you write your personal statement – if you notice that you are writing something that does not go toward answering this question, you might want to shift your focus back to answering this question. In general, the more thoroughly and directly you can answer this question, the stronger your personal statement. There is one question that is at the heart of your personal statement: What persecution did you experience or are you afraid of experiencing if you were to return to your country, and by whom? The entire reason for you writing your personal statement is to answer this one, key question. How should I go about writing my personal statement? The government officer is on the lookout for dishonesty and will pick up on any hint of it. Here, it is important to emphasize that you must always tell the truth and avoid exaggeration. Second, assume that the reader is skeptical of your story and needs to be persuaded. Even if this turns out not to be true (government officers do tend to have at least a general sense of the events in a variety of countries), it is always good to explain everything to the reader to ensure that they understand and are able to follow your story. However, there are certain things you can safely assume about your reader that will result in a stronger personal statement.įirst, you can assume that the government officer reading your personal statement knows nothing about you and your home country. Unfortunately, you will probably know little or nothing about the specific government officer who will be reading your personal statement. What should I know about the government officer who will be reading my personal statement? I’m ready to start writing my personal statement. ![]() ![]() In short, time spent pouring your attention and effort into your personal statement is time well spent. It has the power to determine whether your application is granted or denied. The personal statement is the key part of the application that explains to the government why you should be granted protection in the United States. In short, the personal statement is the center of the asylum application – all other parts of the application stem from it. It is also helpful to know how your personal statement fits within the larger asylum application. Instead, asylum only provides protection to people who fear or have experienced persecution that is motivated by certain specific reasons, or “grounds.” The persecution must be motivated by the victim’s race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or their “membership in a particular social group.” For more details on these grounds and asylum generally, see our blog post here. Importantly, asylum does not offer protection against all forms of persecution that someone fears or has experienced. What should I know about asylum before starting my personal statement?īefore starting your personal statement, it is helpful have a basic understanding of what asylum is and, in particular, what it does and does not protect against. If you feel like you have no one to talk with, several good, free, and confidential services are available, like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline (1-80) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-80). It is also okay to ask a friend, loved one, or someone you trust for help. It is okay to take breaks from writing to give yourself a rest. ![]() Writing about them can be extremely difficult. Not only that, a strong personal statement will describe these events with complete honesty and very specific details. Second, the events that cause someone to seek asylum can be some of the most emotionally and physically difficult events imaginable. It is almost always worth the effort to seek professional legal assistance with your asylum application. If cost is an issue, there are many organizations that offer free, high quality legal help to those seeking asylum but are unable to pay, including Human Rights First, the National Immigrant Justice Center, and HIAS. Before you get started on your personal statement, please keep a few things in mind.įirst, asylum is a complicated area of law, and it is strongly recommended that you seek assistance from an immigration lawyer if you are thinking about applying.
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