To get asylum in the United States, an applicant must demonstrate a well-founded fear that, if returned home, they will be persecuted based on one of five characteristics, one of which is religion.u00a0 The well-founded fear component is the stickiest. If the applicant can prove past persecution occurred, then a well founded fear is reasonable and and future persecution is presumed.u00a0 However the applicant must show that relocating to another part of their country would not help them avoid persecution. In other words, the persecution must be a nation-wide problem. The persecution must carried out by the government or by a group that the government is unwilling or unable to control.u00a0 Simple and occasional threats usually won't do. Threats must be consistent, systematic, and of grave magnitude. Serious physical harm through the use of force is often enough to establish persecution. Physical restrictions, without more, do not usually establish persecution.The application for asylum must usually be made within 1 year of entry into the United States, but waivers are available.The process begins by filing a asylum application form, including the required supplemental documents, and dropping it off at the local asylum office.u00a0 There will be an interview with an asylum official within a couple months after filling out the paper work. At that time the official will determine whether you should be granted asylum or not.If you're already in removal proceedings, asylum can be applied for by informing the court, at the first hearing, that you plan on applying for asylum. The court will usually give you 90 days to gather the documents and fill out the same form for submission at another hearing, at which point the judge will give standard warnings about asylum applications.u00a0 There will then be a third hearing where the applicant will give sworn testimony in court before the judge as to the persecution that caused you to leave your country, and to establish whether you were persecuted based on your religion, and whether the conduct rose to the level of persecution. The applicant will be questioned by a government attorney to determine if the applicant is testifying truthfully and whether the applicant's story amounts to a well-founded fear of persecution based on their religion.Asylum applications, either with the court or with the asylum office, are time consuming, complex and delicate. Given the stakes, it's a good idea to hire an experienced immigration attorney to do the papers for you and prepare you.