With her asylum status she can legally work and is eligible for social services.

"I got asylum status seven years ago," he said.

Official policy under the Reagan administration greatly hindered Central Americans from obtaining asylum status, however.

Immigrants like the Shneiders, who came on visitors' visas, must first obtain political asylum status before becoming eligible for a green card.

He was then granted asylum status by the United States government.

He was later released when the judge ruled that he could not be held due to his political asylum status in the UK.

Over the last few days, 184 of the 658 refugees chose to fill out questionnaires that formed the basis for initial evaluation of asylum status.

An immigration judge revoked his asylum status on Jan. 28.

Some youngsters claiming to be children are assessed as adults, which affects their asylum status.

It also contains the decision to be taken on granting asylum status and the minimum conditions for people to request asylum in Europe.