A friend of mine (mature female) is considering to seek asylum (on religious grounds) in Canada. She still holds a valid visit visa to US. After discussing with friends it seems Canada is the best option for her since she has friends in Canada but knows no one in USA.
Can she still apply for asylum in Canada or should she go to US and seek asylum there?
Does this make her case weak if she goes to Canada instead of US?
she can seek asylum in canada and make her case strong having good knowledge about canada culture. I hope she can easily get asylum in canada. USA visa will not make any issue.
she can seek asylum in canada and make her case strong having good knowledge about canada culture. I hope she can easily get asylum in canada. USA visa will not make any issue.
Having good knowledge about Canada and it's culture won't make her asylum application stronger. It won't make any difference to her application.
If she has used her USA visa recently to visit the US it could cast doubt on the genuineness of her asylum application in Canada since the obvious question will be why didn't she claim asylum there if she was really in a bad situation.
If she wants to claim asylum in Canada, she should not enter the US and then apply for asylum at a Canadian land border. She should enter Canada directly (i.e. fly directly to Canada). The Third Country Agreement states that you must claim asylum in the first safe country you reach.
Having good knowledge about Canada and it's culture won't make her asylum application stronger. It won't make any difference to her application.
If she has used her USA visa recently to visit the US it could cast doubt on the genuineness of her asylum application in Canada since the obvious question will be why didn't she claim asylum there if she was really in a bad situation.
If she wants to claim asylum in Canada, she should not enter the US and then apply for asylum at a Canadian land border. She should enter Canada directly (i.e. fly directly to Canada). The Third Country Agreement states that you must claim asylum in the first safe country you reach.
