The United States extends many protections to individuals who successfully gain asylum, and those protections allow noncitizens to escape the persecution in their home countries. Most significantly–asylees are safe from being returned to their countries of origin.
Asylees also may find opportunities in the U.S. after receiving their asylum status. Asylees can receive work authorization, receive a Social Security card, request permission to travel abroad, and request to bring family members to the U.S. Certain government services, such as Medicaid or Refugee Medical Assistance, may also be available.
After one year, an asylee can apply for lawful permanent resident status (i.e., a green card)–and once the asylee becomes a lawful permanent resident, after four more years, he or she can obtain U.S. citizenship.